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With these words of the Formula of Canonization, Pope Leo XIV officially proclaimed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis saints of the Catholic Church. pic.twitter.com/Kg7JwnZZFz
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) September 7, 2025
How long, O lord?
JUST IN: S?awomir Cenckiewicz (second from left below), national security advisor to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, said yesterday that during their recent visit to the Vatican, he discussed “the subject of Catholic Tradition & the injustices of Traditionis Custodes.”
Writing… pic.twitter.com/JSg4sw75dN
— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) September 7, 2025
In chessy news…. the FIDE Grand Swiss is taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 4-15 September. An open event and a women’s event are being played concurrently. Both tournaments are 11-round Swiss opens with classical time controls. Each tournament grants two spots in the next edition of the Candidates. They’ve reached Round 4.
Here’s a different kind of puzzle. Not too hard, but good. This fellow has instructional courses.
Brilliant Rook Sacrifice, But Why??? pic.twitter.com/s185He2hGh
— Igor Smirnov (@GMIgorSmirnov) September 7, 2025
[NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.]
Interested in learning? Try THIS.
Okay, here’s another one… this is not so easy. White to move. Find the winning continuation. HERE From chess.com
Get great beer from traditional Benedictine monks in Italy.
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Okay, here’s another one… this is not so easy. White to move. Find the winning continuation.
Did anyone else notice from the Canonization Mass— a bit of liturgical eye candy…the return of the pontifical dalmatic worn by the Holy Father? I believe it is the first time he has used it thus far, and it’s definitely the first time we have seen it on a Pope since Benedict XVI. It can especially be appreciated in the footage of the Offertory procession of the Vatican’s feed from today’s Mass. I’ll take this small consolation after the crass disrespect we saw inside Saint Peter’s this last week.
Is it just me or does Pp Leo sound like a pope?
On the Smirnov puzzle – unless I’m missing something:
If black takes the rook:
1) Rc8+ Rxc8
2) Qf3+
Now there are 2 ways to block the queen check but both lead to mate.
2… Qb7
3) Qxb7 mate
or
2)… Rc6
3) Qxc6+ Qb7 forced
4) Qxb7 mate
If black does not take the rook his only alternative is to block the rook check with the queen. But then:
1) Rc8+ Qb8
2) Qxb8 mate
Well. I see there’s a little Easter Egg in the comment section for the chessy folk.
https://youtu.be/UPw-3e_pzqU?si=E2Q0hj0fOp56CFOR
1. c4-c5
If . . . . . . . b6×c5
2. b5-b6
White’s passed pawn is closer to the finish line than Black’s passed pawn and is unstoppable because (i) Black’s king is too far away and (ii) Black’s knight’s intervention is limited by White’s king.
Else:
2. c5×b6 (not c5-c6 because Black’s knight can get to d6 before
White’s pawm can get to c8)
White’s passed pawn on the b column will achieve queendom and White will win as above.