Fifty Shades of Ray

Reflecting on the year 2020, the author draws parallels between chess and broader societal changes, inspired by historical texts. He explores the surge in chess popularity due to Covid-19, the cultural impact of the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit," and the rise of teenage Grandmasters. The shift to online chess competitions and the emergence of chess entrepreneurs, including Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, are also discussed. Through these insights, chess serves as a lens to examine art, culture, and civilization.