‘The more I practise the luckier I get.’ This is the mantra used against those of us who are dumbfounded by the awfulness of picking up endless Yarboroughs at rubber bridge and playing against the only pair in the room to bid a slam in duplicate matches. But what about the other end of the
Ding Liren from China has become the 17th world champion, defeating the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana. The 14-game classical match saw triumph and tragedy on both sides, with six decisive games. But with honours shared at 7-7, the classical world championship was to be decided in a four-game rapid tiebreak, just as it was in
White to play and mate in two moves. Composed by Henri Gerard Marie Weenink in The Good Companion (1919). Answers should be emailed to chess@spectator.co.uk by Tuesday 9 May. There is a prize of £20 for the first correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal address and allow six weeks for prize
In Competition No. 3297, you were invited to provide a psychiatrist’s report on a well-known literary character. The germ of this challenge was an interview with Olivia Colman, who played Miss Havisham in a recent adaptation of Great Expectations, in which the actress said of her character: ‘It’s terrible what happens to Miss Havisham… If
Puzzle 26 is 6A 18 40 1A 27 40 6A 41 6A 37 40 24 10 40 6A. Across 11 Three-sided rig with natural fitting (10) 13 Ribald cop breaking PC’s temporary storage? (9) 15 At heart, the Lion joined by a Lamb (4) 16 Round wooden peg in face having twofold symmetry (7)
The unclued LIGHTS are horse-drawn carriages. First prize Katherine Gwynne, Topsham, Devon Runners-up Ben Stephenson, Ruswarp, N. Yorks; William Hare, London SE4
