iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Who knew it's possible to have your own thoughts?

Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

The Guardian's amazingly evergreen chess correspondent Leonard Barden, who recently marked his 97th (!) birthday, is advising the English Chess Federation to hold an event in 2036. I honestly think, and hope, Barden will live forever.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan is crowned Britain’s youngest ever Women’s champion #BritishChessChamps

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Big game in R8 of the British Chess Champs today: the evergreen 9-time winner Michael Adams Vs the new gun Shreyas Royal. It's master vs pupil. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFi...

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Bodhana Sivanandan just took down Grandmaster Ameet Ghasi at the 2026 British Chess Championships in Coventry. And when I say took down, I mean completely destroyed. The 11-year-old is moving up a class.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Topalov with a zinger. Wow. [Stolen from Facebook]

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Renewing my season ticket. Should I? #COYS

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

And they say chess is not a dangerous sport?

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Betteridge's Law applies in all forms of journalism, even chess.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Can't beat a spot of good 'ol HTML

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Why watch footie when you can watch this. Pure tension. #fidecandidates

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Tudor needs to stop the boat analogies fast or we'll go down like the Mary Rose. #COYS

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Going to the Arsenal match dressed like this. #COYS

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Russian flags and anthems are back in chess. This is from the U9 Girls section of the FIDE U9-U17 Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship concluded on December 21 in Antalya.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 14/12/2025

We are about to see Russian teams re-admitted to international chess tournaments. The FIDE General Assembly is under way. FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich is addressing delegates. It will happen. It's a done deal.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Quite-literally bumped into this guy, GM Alireza Firouzja, yesterday at the London Chess Classic. It was in the toilets. I think he was a bit annoyed. The bang didn't put him off his game, though. Photos: John Saunders.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

How is Aronian only world number 23?

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

English chess fans delight: GM Shreyas Royal is being anything but peaceful at the Tournament of Peace 2025 in Zagreb. He is leading the field on 5.5/7 so far with a performance rating of 2752. Go on Shrez!

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

We'll see what happens to Mr Kramnik then.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

🎵Oh, Mickey, you're so fine... England's chess hero Michael Adams has started the FIDE World Cup with a trademark win. C'mon Mickey!!!

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Emil Sutovsky, the FIDE CEO who usually has a lot to say, hasn't posted on X since October 22. His last post was, at best, insensitive about Naroditsky.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

World Chess, one of the other platforms out there, tackles cheating. Play on it here: worldchess.com

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Daniel Naroditsky, the American chess Grandmaster, simply amazing commentator and all-round good guy, has died. Heartbreaking news.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

This is crazy. England's chess super talent Bodhana Sivanandan, 10, has just beaten former Women's World Chess Champion GM Mariya Muzychuk. Amazing result.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Crazy headline for a chess story:

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

FIDE really wants Magnus Carlsen back in the fold!

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Surrey are Nott the County Champions.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Lots of talk about Stu's head in chat.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Michael "The Spider" Adams vs Stuart "The Fox" Conquest for the title! Rapidplay playoff. Great finish to the British! @englishchess.bsky.social

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Poised to send out a press release when we have a winner at the British Chess Champs. It's a very exciting finish! Watch the final throes here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrJm...

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Britain's youngest ever GM Shreyas Royal beat Britain's newest GM Matthew Wadsworth in R7 today to join Britain's greatest ever GM Michael Adams at the top on 5.5 points. It's very close going into the final 2 rounds! #BritishChessChamps

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

"He's going to be Adams-level when he's older - maybe stronger! Of course, we've had promising juniors before who haven't delivered on their potential, but he seems like the real deal." Gormally on 11-year-old Supratit Bannerjee. #britishchesschamps Watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbYt...

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

The British Chess Champs are into R7 and set for a grandstand finish on Sunday. GM Mickey Adams, the eight-time winner, is half a point clear at the top. In R7 he's taking on the tricky, unconventional battler GM Daniel Fernandez. You can watch it live now here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbYt...

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

I'm feeling good because I just narrowly beat a 7-year-old while trying out @theworldchess.bsky.social Yikes.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Gutted that England lost. Build a statue for Woakes anyway. But test cricket is just magical. There's nothing like it in sport.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

The British Chess Championships are underway at the magnificent St George's Hall in Liverpool!

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Not at all sure about Grischuk's outfit here. He's just been knocked out by Aronian. #EsportsWorldCup

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

English chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan is rocking a 2482 performance rating right now at the Trophee Dole - Pasino Grand Aix 2025 in Provence. She's 10-years-old and in IM-norm territory. Wow.

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Leon Watson @leonwatson.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

The European Chess Union (ECU), which is firmly in the pro-Ukraine camp, has issued a statement on FIDE's decision to allow a Russian women's team to participate in the 2025 Women’s World Team Championship: www.europechess.org/ecu-statemen...

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