Well, I went to Wijk aan Zee in January because I thought I had to be present at this tournament at least once in my life. But I had so much fun that I'm going back next year as well - for the final 3 rounds, like this year.

Gold: from the BBC Archives - the 1972 documentary 'Bobby Fischer - This Little Thing with Me and Spassky'. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzlO... Apart from Fischer interviews, the film features archive footage from the 1959 Candidates, plus footage of the Teesside International of spring 1972.

1972: BOBBY FISCHER - This Little Thing with Me and Spassky | Classic BBC Documentary | BBC Archive

YouTube video by BBC Archive

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Petition for the clocks to go forward at 4pm on a Friday afternoon instead of in the middle of Saturday night...

Three World Champions. Tigran Petrosian and Boris Spassky, pictured at the 41st USSR Championship final in Moscow, October 1973. With his back to the camera - Mikhail Tal. (📷: V. Savostianov, TASS.) #chess

56 years old today - Ukrainian GM and former World #2, Vasyl Ivanchuk. Pictured here in 1991. (📷: V. Rodionov, Novosti Press.) #chess

Beinn Tulaichean (left; 946m), seen from near the summit of Cruach Àrdrain (1046m). Southern Highlands of Scotland. We climbed both mountains today. Some much-needed time away from the computer screen.

'The Master Game'. Robert Byrne (USA) v. Viktor Korchnoi (Switzerland) Top-class grandmasters on the BBC, and a classic game by Korchnoi. This episode was broadcast on BBC2 on Wednesday, 27th February 1980. #chess

He would have turned 82 today. #chess

Some photos of Boris Spassky’s memorial service in Moscow are available via the link below. The tenth World Champion was buried in the Troyekurovo cemetery earlier today. 🕯️ ruchess.ru/news/all/v_m...

В Москве прошла церемония прощания с Борисом Спасским

Церемония прощания с 10-м чемпионом мира по шахматам Борисом Васильевичем Спасским (1937-2025) прошла в Москве в Преображенской церкви, которая входит в комплекс Храма Христа Спасителя. Проститься со ...

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Pictured, according to the archive, in 1986 - grandmaster & Women's World Champion* Maia Chiburdanidze (b. Kutaisi, USSR, 1961). *She held the title from 1978-1991. (📷: B. Kaufman, Novosti Press.) #chess

Iraida Spasskaya - sister of Boris - also passed away this year, on 23rd January. A 4-time Soviet champion at Russian draughts (shashki), she was born in wartime evacuation in Sverdlovsk (modern Yekaterinburg) on 6th November 1944. Pictured here (right) in 1965. (📷: M. Berger, Novosti Press.)

Very sad news. Boris Spassky 1937-2025. RIP.

Hans Ree ('My Chess', 2013) again - on the level of chess content that at one time used to be printed by the national press (at least, in the Netherlands).

A journalist who once saw [Kasparov & Karpov] chatting together amiably enough asked one of the two - I forget which one - how he should square this with the reports about their supposed enmity. The answer he got was: "Who else can I talk about chess with?" - Hans Ree, ‘My Chess’ (2013).

I don't know if the fictional detective 'Morse' is well known outside the U.K. but the novels by Colin Dexter & especially the TV series, with John Thaw starring in the title role, were extremely popular here. Morse was a lover of crosswords.

Half a century ago today: the 1st round of the biennial international tournament in Tallinn. Among the pairings: Keres v. Marović. Spassky can be seen passing in the background. (📷: D. Prants, O. Vihandi, via muis.ee, meediateek.ee.) #chess

65 years old today - German (formerly Soviet) GM Artur Jussupow. World Junior (U-20) Champion in 1977, he was three times a Candidates' semi-finalist. Seen here in play during his Candidates' Quarter-final match v. Jan Timman in Tilburg, January 1986. (📷: J. Klok / ANP.) #chess

Two portraits of the great Aron Nimzowitsch, the first (by John Graudenz) from 1927, the second (Atelier Jacobi) from 1930. #chess

Born 75 years ago today in Cheliabinsk, USSR - Evgeny Sveshnikov (1950-2021), without doubt one of the most significant opening theoreticians of the 20th century. Pictured here at Wijk aan Zee, January 1981. (📷R. Bogaerts / ANEFO, via nationaalarchief.nl.) #chess

Bobby Fischer, pictured in play v. Yair Kraidman in the 2nd round of the international tournament in Netanya, Israel, 18th June 1968. The Israeli player pushed Fischer all the way but the game ended in a draw in 80 moves. (📷via jfc.org.il.) #chess

@gmjtis.bsky.social This is the film I was telling you about. Magical. www.youtube.com/watch?v=E48r...

The Love for Wood (chess documentary 1979 - ENG subs)

YouTube video by El Kitch

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What a final round! Having to miss the playoffs, as I need to catch the plane back to Scotland. My time in Wijk aan Zee was a total joy. Fantastic atmosphere, new friends made, & it was lovely to meet online acquaintances in person for the first time as well. #TataSteelChess

Another glorious morning in Wijk aan Zee!

A packed Café De Zon, with Ivan Sokolov on stage.

Finally made it to Wijk aan Zee. Plane from Aberdeen to Amsterdam early yesterday, visited Rijksmuseum & Max Euwe Centre, then train to Beverwijk, then walked the few remaining kms to the coast. I really like the place! Already made some friends here. And the weather could hardly be better.

The Dutch master Salo Landau (b. Bochnia, Poland, 1903) was one of several well-known chessplayers who lost their lives in the Holocaust. He died some time between December 1943 & March 1944 in the labour camp at Grodziszcze (Gräditz), Poland. #HolocaustMemorialDay

Half a century ago today - the drawing of lots for the 1975 edition of the Hoogoven tournament, at Wijk aan Zee. L to R: Svetozar Gligorić, Lajos Portisch, Robert Hübner, Jan Smejkal, Walter Browne, Hans Ree. (📷:https://noord-hollandsarchief.nl) #chess

Born 81 years ago today in Kladno (in what became Czechoslovakia) - Vlastimil Hort. In 1977 he reached the Candidates, and got as high as World #6. He is a 3-time German champion. Pictured here at Wijk aan Zee, 1982. (📷: H. van Dijk / ANEFO, via nationaalarchief.nl.) #chess

"Wijk aan Zee is a small town in the Netherlands that can be reached from Amsterdam by train or bus in an hour. Nothing special happens there most of the year, but in summer people like to go there to swim..."

6-time U.S. Champion, GM Walter Browne (1949-2015) was born 76 years ago today in Sydney (Australia). Pictured here in play at the 1971 Amsterdam IBM tournament (📷: H. Peters, R. Mieremet / ANEFO, via nationaalarchief.nl.) #chess