From the chessboard to the war room

AGGRESSION, killings, invasions and other morbid masterstrokes happen in chess — but only in the minds of those who play the game. But now chess players are grappling with moves that impact the terrible yet avoidable world of actual combat.

Vladimir Kramnik, a legendary chess player, does not want to get involved in violence, except of course in a chess match. "I am against all wars a priori, without exception, but I do not see much point in publicly expressing this obvious idea. Except to seek public applause," he says.