Hello, and welcome to my blog! Have you ever stopped to think about how many stories we are told and believe without questioning them? We often encounter them in childhood or when first exploring a new hobby, and it is only years later that we re...
Hello, everyone! Chess is full of intriguing stories, but sometimes, the most remarkable ones are not about players or games; they are about the objects themselves. The aim of today's blog is to introduce my readers to some famous historic chess ...
Hello, dear readers! Following the success of my blog post interviewing my grandfather about chess, I decided that now would be a good time for a sequel. However, before writing it, I had to ask myself the obvious question: Who should I interview...
Hello everyone! After killing Magnus Carlsen, I was fortunate enough to be released from prison in under 15 days, thanks to my exemplary behavior and the support of this incredible chess community, which raised money to pay my bail. Thank you! ...
A tragic crime has taken place, and only you can help me solve it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This was supposed to be the most prestigious tournament I had ever organized. A small, exclusive event in New Zealand, bringing together some of the greatest p...
Hello everyone! Soon, the last round of the 2026 Candidates Tournament will be played. I am not sure about you, but I must admit that this has not been the most exciting chess event I have followed. While watching it, however, I had some thoug...
Kia Ora! Welcome to another review of a BlogChamps Season! These posts might not generate the most views, but they are definitely the ones I enjoy writing the most. Today, we will take a look at Season 10 of this amazing competition, the recentl...
Hello everyone! Today's post will have a more professional tone, but will still have that typical Vanessa touch. Long-time readers of my blog will remember that, in March 2024, I posted an article revealing my preferences for that year's Candida...
Hello everyone! Today, I will begin the text by taking you back two weeks in time. Before we move on to the main topic, let's revisit the Valentine's Day Contest hosted by BlogChamps. This amazing competition received 16 excellent entries, and y...
Dear readers, happy Valentine’s Day! This is the first time that I am publishing a blog dedicated to this special date, so I was not sure what kind of post would appeal most to my audience. Ultimately, however, I have decided to share anot...
Kia Ora! Today, I plan to keep the focus of my blog on my beautiful country, New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, to close friends. In this post, the aim is to tell you more about the history of chess on this lovely, isolated island. And why t...
Kia Ora! Welcome to my first blog post of 2026! Today, I am going to bring my readers a type of content that is very different from my usual style. I have been wanting to try something new here for a few months and waiting for the perfect opport...
Hello, dear readers, and welcome to my final post of 2025! Once again, I achieved my goal of writing two blogs per month. Thank you all for keeping me motivated! First of all, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and loved one...
Hello, and welcome to the final episode of this series! Today, I will be covering the first two decades of the 21st century, from 2000 to 2020. As you know, the idea is to explore the world of chess during significant historical events, and how ...
The world is changed. I feel it in the openings. I feel it in the endgames. I smell it in the wooden pieces. Much that once was is lost, for none now play who remember it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Back to Top It began with the forging of the ...
Hello, readers! Today, I present the fifth episode of this series, and the last one covering the 20th century. For many of you, it already seems like yesterday, but time flies. For those who don’t know, the idea is to explain how the che...
Kia ora! Welcome to another blog! As I informed you 15 days ago, today we will be talking about the latest edition of the best blogging competition on this website: BlogChamps Season 9! If you are an avid reader, you will probably already know...
Hello, everyone! I would like to start this blog with a question. Are you fully focused on what you are reading right now? Or are you multitasking while doing it? I don't intend to preach or contribute to the boring debate about the new generati...
Hello, dear fans of chess! As promised in my last blog, today I will share another 'Typical Vanessa' post. I hope you understand that this involves making many imaginative comparisons between our beloved game and something else that seems comple...
Hello, everyone! Time to continue this series that I must finish before the end of the year! While my regular readers already know what it is about, I will give a brief explanation for newcomers. The idea is to relate the chess scenario to sig...
Kia ora, dear friends! Welcome to my 50th post! You read that correctly. I know it’s almost unbelievable that I have already written so many, but it's true! Of course, I would like to celebrate this milestone with my readers. After all, it...
Hello, curious minds thirsting for the truth! This is Vanessa Holmes, the greatest chess detective on this website. Today, I invite you to join me in uncovering more undeniable facts about the world of our beloved game. Secrets that players and ...
Hey, friends! It looks like it's time for another blog! But how would I know that? Elementary, my dear Watson, or whatever your name is. In 2025, we have sophisticated equipment called clocks, which allow us to keep track of time. Therefore, I k...
Hello, friends! It's time to read another blog! Today, we will continue the series relating the chess scenario to some of the most significant events in history. The aim of this post is to explore how our beloved game evolved during the same per...
Hey, readers! Welcome to another blog! As you have surely seen from recent news reports, our world is once again witnessing an armed conflict in the Middle East, perhaps the most tense area on the planet. Obviously, my goal here is not to explai...
