http://webcast.chessclub.com/preview/Watson/2009_10_20/Watson_preview.html
http://www.kingpinchess.net/
www.chesscenter.com/kingpin/Kingpin
Kingpin magazine is the enfant terrible of the chess world. In terms of satire it is similar to the English magazine, Private Eye:
with one important difference. There is less politics and local slang. Not that political issues are avoided. Far from it. FIDE and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov often make a guest appearance (as in the latest issue seen here) But then Kingpin spares no one, be it Kirsan or Kasparov. Chess is a zany world and this magazine with its cheerful malice is eminently qualified to comment on its absurdities.
Among the regular features I would single out Kibitzing by the Posioned Pawn. It's a terrific commentary on all that is wrong with the chess world. The wit is devastating and the attack hard-hitting. Of course it's not too hard to guess where it all comes from.
That is Jonathan Manley, Editor and irrepressible spirit behind this magazine.
Gary Lane's Agony Column comes next. Not so much on account of humour(some times it appears rather forced). But on account of positions selected by him. Here Gary is at his best, offering inimitable insight. In the following diagram Black is threatened with mate and the correspondent begs Gary how best he can resign and save face.Before you see Gary's response, you can try it yourself:
How was that? Here is another, defeat staring in the face of the White player:
My favourite, however, is a three-mover inspired by the Czech composer, Ladislav Prokeš(1884-1966)
An elegant mate from an economical setting!
Unlike magazines like the New in Chess, Kingpin does not go about covering elite events like the Linares and Wijk aan Zee. But it does offer entertaining games with light annotations interspersed with personal asides by the players themselves.
Tony Kosten’s reports from France belong to this category. There are also interviews with eminent players, several of which may be located on the site itself.For all its reputation as a satirical magazine Kingpin has no dearth of serious writing.
Articles by Richard Forster, C.P.Ravilious are particularly good on chess history. So are reviews by late Ken Whyld and Sarah Hurst. The same cannot be said of the writings of Antony Mann, Justin Horton and Chris Depasquale. They do make valid points, but these are buried under mounds of dry and dreary prose.
Similarly it is well-known that Kingpin has its “ regular customers” and over the years it has lampooned them time and again. Raymond Keene in particular is a prime target. But to some readers this can become a tiresome exercise. You can’t have Raymond Keeene for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nigel Short, however, is a more interesting subject:
The best writing in Kingpin, however, can bring both laughter and tears. A wonderful example Stuart Conquest’s tribute to his friend, late Tony Miles (1955-2001).
'Here is a nice anecdote from his poignant reminiscence. In 1992 both Tony and Stuart were playing in Crete and the organisers had thoughtfully provided a rental car for them.They were joined by the Russian grandmaster Semyon Palatnik. Tony usually drove them to the venue. But one day Palatnik asked if he could drive instead. “You drive?” asked Tony. “I drive in Russia” said Palatnik. They climbed in and there followed a hair-raising ride. Palatnik missed vehicles and pedestrians by inches, observed no laws of the road, refused to use his nirrors. It was only by a succession of miracles that they arrived unscathed.“I thought you said you drove in Russia,” said Tony, disbelievingly. Patanik nonchalantly replied, “I drive tank in Soviet Army.”
Kingpin magazine was first published in 1985 and so far it has produced 41 issues.Sadly, only 24 back issues are available today.I would love to track the rest of them!
Priceless stuff!
Disclaimer:Considering the controversies generated through 25 years of Kingpin's existence I have avoided contentious issues leaving it to readers to make up their own minds after going through the material placed at their disposal here. A case in point is the image of Raymond Keene "autographing" copies of Kingpin:
http://marshtowers.blogspot.com/2009/12/live-from-olympia_11.html
Well, did he?
More Links
Two of my personal favourites:
1)http://www.chess.co.uk/kingpin/Kingpin/lettertonic.htm
2)http://www.chess.co.uk/kingpin/Kingpin/tonymiles.htm
For more on Miles, see the following link:
http://www.chess.com/article/view/tony-milesits-only-me
3)A review of the latest issue is here:
http://www.chessvibes.com/reviews/review-a-summers-selection
4) Geoff Chandler reviewed the previous issue:
http://www.chessedinburgh.co.uk/chandlerarticle.php?ChandID=381
3)For a more comprehensive look at the magazine, see Taylor Kingston's article:
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/review245.pdf
4)Kingpin is often compared to Private Eye. Here is a link to the official site of the magazine:
http://www.private-eye.co.uk/