Chess strength in general and chess strength in a specific match are by no means one and the same thing.

Ukraine had quite serious impact on the many Russians. They could see that ordinary people in Ukraine which is a bordering state, very close to Russia, the people of this state are, they didn't want to tolerate anymore the power abuse by Ukrainian officials.

When you put party over principles, you can't avoid tripping over your own hypocrisy and contradictions eventually. The GOP establishment refused to stand up to Trump during the primary because they wanted his voters in order to beat Hillary Clinton. Then he won the primary, and then the general, and the GOP both times decided it was better to cling to their grasp at power, to cling to Trump and all he stands for, a decision that should destroy the party or drag it down for a generation.

I don't have enough information, and enough courage, to come up with a definite version of events. And I think it is too dangerous for me to do so.

I think Russians today have a distorted picture of capitalism, liberal democracy and market economy.

Chess is a unique cognitive nexus, a place where art and science come together in the human mind and are then refined and improved by experience.

I may play some exhibition games so I don't want to quit the game of chess completely. I just decided and it's a firm decision not to play competitive chess anymore.