Some sources state May 17 as the start date for the next Grand Chess Tour (GCT) event, the 2022 Superbet Rapid & Blitz, taking place at the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland, but that is the date set for "Player Arrival".
I had not been in touch with Bob Ciaffone for many years, but this USCF Master and very strong poker player was an important figure in my teenage years. I played countless blitz games against him, expert Dean Yarbro, and FM and former US Junior Champion Craig Chellstorp in the mid-'80s.
It wasn't a clean or a dominating performance, but it didn't matter: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave did a better job of keeping his nerves and fighting to the last than his rivals, and he was rewarded with the win in the prestigious Superbet Chess Classic.
