Daily Rome Shot 879

As you think about shopping for Christmas… please remember me when shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon, but, once in and browsing or searching, Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.

ALSO… regarding CHRISTMAS CARDS.

I am a frustrated man.  The PO BOX hasn’t been checked and items have not been forwarded.  So, I trust I will get a rather large batch.  (I hope so.)  However, please please PLEASE do NOT send packages without contacting me first.  PLEASE.  Packages get tricky, slow and costly to forward.

Meanwhile, yesterday in Toronto at the Chess Champions Finals there was a STUNNER of a game between Magnus Carlsen and my guy Wesley So. They had played to two ties and were set for an “Armageddon” game. The players make length of time bids to see who will have black. Black has less time, but a draw is counted as a win. A clearly disappointed Wesley was undercut in his bid by Magnus, who wound up with black.  Magnus is so good that if he wants a draw he’ll get a draw.  The closed Sicilian opening was a quiet and then Wesley, knowing he had to get a win and not let Magnus set up his position for a draw – BAM! – struck on the king side where Magnus had castled with an amazing knight sacrifice and then a rook sac. From there on it was attack attack attack and Magnus went down in flames. The video of the game is HERE.

Of course in the post match interview So characteristically gave glory to Christ for the win. HERE Nice to see. He went on to beat Nodirbek and is in full possession of the lead now. Tomorrow, if I understand rightly, he has to play the very tough Fabiano (world #2).

White to mate in 2.

NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.

Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE