Vladimir Putin is often described as being like a grandmaster in his moves on the diplomatic board. This is based on the clichéd view that Russian skill at chess is a function of national character — which it isn'

Levon Aronian: Armenia's world-title hope

The changing of the guard in the world of chess was achieved not by smash-and-grab play, but by herculean displays of patience

Chess may not seem suited to radio, but in the Sixties the BBC broadcast special programmes featuring the world’s greatest ever players