ROME SHOT 889

Please remember me when  CHRISTMAS  shopping online. Thanks in advance. US HERE – UK HERE  These links take you to a generic “catholic” search in Amazon. Amazon remembers that you used my link and I get the credit.  WHY?  This helps to pay for insurance (massively hiked for next year), utilities, groceries, all the necessities.  You get the items you need and, at no extra cost to you, you provide important help for which I am grateful.

Photo by The Great Roman™

WELCOME REGISTRANT

a*****@gmail.com (not a great idea to use email as “handle/nickname”)

News from my adoptive parish.  Oh how I wish I were there.

Oggi, 23 Dicembre la nostra Arciconfraternita della SS. Trinità dei Pellegrini e Convalescenti ha offerto un pranzo di Natale per 140 bisognosi della nostra città sull’esempio di carità e accoglienza del fondatore San Filippo Neri. Grazie a tutti quelli che hanno collaborato! pic.twitter.com/q4DlPTr5BD

— SS. Trinità dei Pellegrini (@fssp_roma) December 23, 2023

In a nutshell, the Archconfraternity members performed a corporal work of mercy in feeding the poor with a meal for 140 people for Christmas.

In chessy news, it seems that Alireza had enough of embarrassing himself and did not add games to his cobbled-up tournament.  He had assembled a few high rated but pretty-much retired players to “farm” some rating points so as to surpass Wesley So and grasp at a spot in the Candidates next year (to play for the World Championship).  At the end of 5 of the 6 games, which he had -surprise surprise – won, he was ahead of Wesley.  His 6th game was a draw, which dropped him down again.  I hope that was a choice and not a compulsion.  Anyway, the world is also abuzz about the girl in England, 8, who is cleaning clocks on the board.  Bodhana Sivanandan was the best woman player in the European Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Zagreb.

How nice it would be to sit with a nice glass of wine and review these games… or play your own!  Get a set and get some wine.

Use FATHERZ10 at checkout

Every home should have a chess set.  Teach your children.  It is the gift of a lifetime.

White to move and mate in 3.

1. Nf6+ gxf 2. Rxg3+ Kh8 3. Rxf8#
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

Remote Chess Academy (which helped y game) has a big sale going on beginning TOMORROW.