Grandmasters can play ball

Photo by Albert Silver, Chessbase

It is but on rare occasions we get to see Grandmasters playing sports other than chess.

Participants of the [event]Sao Paolo-Bilbao Grand Slam Final 2012[/event] dressed up in rubber shoes and jerseys to play basketball the day before the opening ceremony. In the picture above you'll see [player]Levon Aronian[/player] tries to get past the defense of [player]Sergey Karjakin[/player] while [player]Magnus Carlsen[/player] waits in the background.

More photos in the Chessbase website.

Chess and Hedge Fund Management

This article from New York Times suggests that top chess players can actually make good hedge fund managers. It just shows how the deep analytical skills of chess players can help in jobs that involve complicated analysis like in a hedge fund.

So I guess besides enjoying playing chess, a good-paying job opportunity awaits you in case you don't really get it to the top of the chess world.

Chess and Bigamy

In chess, bigamy is acceptable, but monarchy is absolute.

-- Garry Kasparov, How Life Imitates Chess, on promoting a pawn into another queen

Bobby Fischer Playing Table Tennis

These are some rare moments that you see Bobby Fischer enjoying a game other than chess. The genius enjoyed playing table tennis (ping pong) as well.

Photo credit: The Kenilworthian

Life Beyond Women Chess

One factor, indeed, why women couldn't compete in chess as well as men is that they have to bear the child when they start their family.

Check out Chessbase interview with Judit Polgar on how her perspective in life has broadened beyond chess after getting married.