Cuando la Unión Soviética dominaba el ajedrez con una hegemonía aplastante, sólo un puñado de jugadores del resto del mundo eran capaces de competir con ellos por los primeros premios de cualquier torneo. Uno de ellos era el húngaro Lajos Portisch, cuyo perfil deportivo está muy ligado al número ocho. Disputó ocho veces el Torneo de Candidatos, fue octacampeón de su país y dedicó a su entrenamiento ocho horas diarias durante los treinta años que fue miembro de la élite.
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For some Muslim countries, the boycott of Israel extends even to child athletes. This is particularly evident in chess, a sport rich in young prodigies. At the World Youth Chess Championships (U7–U17) in Roquetas de Mar, Spain, which covers age categories from under-7 to under-17, players from Syria, Lebanon and Algeria are required to forfeit if paired against an Israeli opponent. But not everyone complies. There have also been heartwarming displays of sportsmanship, especially in the under-7 category.
Donald Trump’s second presidency, it was said, would not be like the first. He was back after a period in the wilderness, but with lessons learned; this time he was surrounded by an army of loyalists and not, as in 2017, by a team of aides willing to disagree with him now and then. Nor would it once again be a nonstop spectacle of leaks, backstage betrayals and impulsive firings communicated through social media.
© Kevin Lamarque (REUTERS)
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