We're back up in the top-100 today, ranked 64th on GameKnot's team tables with a decent rating of 1307. Keep up the good work!

Vietnamese Cafes Feature Chess

The centre of Ha Noi is host to a collection of new cafes. Here, apart from enjoying the tasty coffee or the refreshing fruit juices, patrons spend their time browsing newspapers and magazines that the cafes regularly order. And as always, the ubiquitos chess boards pop up for admirers of the game.

For many, the game of chess can take up an entire evening at cafe. Even couples in love can share a love for the game. One can see young couples sitting together over a game, moving the pieces gently and attentively, and exchanging their thoughts and feelings.

No Longer Nerds

Some high school kids think the image of chess has changed from a game for geeks to one for the intellectually cool.

Adlai E. Stevenson High School Junior and chess aficionado Asher Meyers said, “I was just talking with a couple of friends and the other day they were playing at Starbucks and they actually started picking up girls by playing chess, so I think that pretty much sums it up.”

Need Cheap Chess Books?

I've been buying chess books at Borders or Barnes and Noble. Looks like I've been throwing away money.

Wholesale Chess is ramping up for a full launch of hundreds of new book titles, intended to all be priced at or below Amazon.com prices. "We want the chess players of the world to have One place they can come to for all of their chess needs, and to have them know that they will get their items immediately and at the guaranteed lowest prices," stated Erik Allebest, owner of Wholesale Chess.

No Chess in Iraq

Cricket is allowed but chess is "absolutely forbidden". Women may not shake hands with men. Music is permitted but only if it is not for enjoyment. Men cannot pray when wearing earrings.

These are the views of the most powerful man in Iraq. After the US invasion, various American officials and generals believed they occupied this position. They turned out to be wrong. As the election victory of the Shias has confirmed, the most influential figure in Iraq, dressed in tattered grey robe and black turban, is Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

Rising Again

It may not last for long, but Super Friends is back in GameKnot's top-100 today, with a team rating of 1303. That puts our group in 66th place on the team tables.