Just over a month ago, an American and a Norwegian moved wooden chess pieces back and forth over a checkered board while chess fans around the world watched. I was one of them.
Like hundreds of thousands of others, I live-streamed the games on my desktop, popping in every so often to catch up on the moves. It was fantastic background noise for a research position which, among other things, involved reviewing news stories particular to a single issue from any of several dozen internet news sources. In fact, it was my job which made me take a long hard look at the process by which I was consuming the moves and news about the chess championship.
Just a few days into the championship, I noticed that it was bizarrely not straightforward to find the live match itself. It took a little effort, which I thought was strange because THIS WAS THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP! What was going on?
Later in the day, when I wanted to review the moves, it again wasn't easy to find a platform with an interactive board on which to play out the moves. All of the games and moves are categorized and easily found on Wikipedia today, but a chess player (at least one of my caliber) wants to see the moves played out, to click forward and backward, in an effort to try to understand the match. Again, this information isn't hard to find, but it wasn't coming easily, both on the day itself and weeks later.
There was a decent amount of coverage of the event, but trying to find a particular article a month later was a hassle. Therein lies the worst part of the internet. There is so much content being created that the experience of looking something up is different even a week after the event, much less a month or a year.
The Internet needs to be organized, and it needs to happen in real time. As you'll see below, this is one person's attempt to collate a wide variety of digital information about a single event. Wikipedia's great, but you don't get a sense for the history of a moment unless you read some of the articles and watch some of the live coverage. And you've got to read a few FiveThirtyEight columns to know what the data nerds are reading.
This isn't even close to exhaustive. I just tried to get a sampling of what's out there. Furthermore, these are all English sources. Who knows what the Norwegians were writing about their national chess hero, not to mention the rest of the world. And who knows what cool sources I missed.
This was a single event which lasted a few weeks in 2018. This catalog is meant to underscore how much information a single event can generate, how much washes over us, and in the end, how much we'll lose out on when these sources eventually get deleted. I don't have answers, but if there were something like Craigslist for all the content on the Internet, that'd be a great first step.
*****
***THE WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018***
*PRE-MATCH COVERAGE*
'I FACED OFF AGAINST THE WORLD'S BEST CHESS PLAYER'... Humorous article about a simul with Magnus Carlsen: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/i-faced-off-against-the-worlds-best-chess-player-you-will-totally-believe-what-happened-next/
SPOTLIGHT ON CARUANA... Article about the challenger Fabiano Caruana: https://patch.com/new-york/parkslope/park-slope-raised-chess-player-compete-world-championship
AND MORE... Another article focusing on the rise of Fabiano Caruana: https://theconversation.com/fabiano-caruana-is-poised-to-do-what-no-american-has-done-since-bobby-fischer-heres-the-path-he-took-to-get-there-94149
AND MORE... More hype about Caruana: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/28/fabiano-caruana-26-could-be-the-first-us-world-chess-champ-since-1972.html
AND MORE... From Slate... Ever comparing Caruana to Fischer... Audio commentary from Stefan Fatsis: https://slate.com/culture/2018/11/next-bobby-fischer-fabiano-caruana.html
AND MORE... The New York Times puts in its two cents about Fabi: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/03/sports/bobby-fischer-chess-caruana.html
NEWS BRIEF ABOUT CHALLENGER... Caruana wins Candidates Tournament and earns right to challenge Carlsen: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/27/brilliant-chess-game-immortal-loser-kieseritzsky/
'CHESS HAS NEVER BEEN AS COOL OR RELEVANT'... The Guardian covers the two players and the upcoming match: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/08/long-battle-expected-as-worlds-top-two-chess-players-meet-in-london
FIDE PRESS CONFERENCE... Interviews with all the notables before the match: https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/11238-fide-world-chess-championship-match-2018-press-conference.html
LONG OVERVIEW OF CHESS IN AMERICA... In depth article about the rise of chess in America, from Fischer to Caruana: https://www.si.com/more-sports/2018/11/07/us-chess-world-chess-championships-fabiano-caruana-magnus-carlsen
*JUST THE MOVES*
GAME 1... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937713
GAME 2... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937714
GAME 2... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937714
GAME 3... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937768
GAME 4... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937769
GAME 5... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937779
GAME 6... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937789
GAME 7... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937841
GAME 8... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937842
GAME 9... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937849
GAME 10... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937891
GAME 11... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937912
GAME 12... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937913
GAME 13... Tie-break... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937925
GAME 14... Tie-break... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937924
GAME 15... Tie-break... Moves and interactive board: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937923
*MATCH COVERAGE*
GAME 1 COVERAGE... The entire seven hour match with in-the-moment commentary from GM Peter Svidler and IM Sopiko Guramishvili: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG6wDxeit0k
AND MORE... Analysis after the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWP0ggStlVA
AND MORE... More analysis after the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWKKcdsKRMI
AND MORE... Article, video and game, including commentary: https://www.ichess.net/blog/world-chess-championship-2018-game-1/
AND MORE... Article and analysis of Game 1... Suggested alternatives by Kasparov: http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2018/11/10/2018-world-chess-championship-game-1/
AND MORE... The Guardian covers the result with quotes from players: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/09/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-game-1-live
AND MORE... The Chess World covers the game: https://thechessworld.com/articles/general-information/world-chess-championship-2018-game-1/
GAME 2 COVERAGE... Carlsen "grovels" to a draw: https://www.chess.com/news/view/world-chess-championship-round-2-carlsen-grovels-to-draw-after-caruanas-opening-surprise
AND MORE... From FiveThirtyEight... Championship "deadlocked" after Game 2: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-world-chess-championship-is-deadlocked-after-game-2/
AND MORE... From The Guardian... Carlsen "forced to hold on" in Game 2: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/10/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-game-2-live
AND MORE... Three-hour live coverage of match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAFhdYU3Tao
AND MORE... Post-game analysis by GM Huschenbeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_J2pK9cu4s
GAME 3 COVERAGE... "A finely balanced draw"... Match coverage with photos: https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-2018-game-3
AND MORE... From Chess.com... Chances on both sides: https://www.chess.com/news/view/world-chess-championship-round-3-caruana-repeats-rossolimo-but-still-cant-break-down-carlsen
AND MORE... From The Guardian... Photos and real-time commentary about Game 3: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/12/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-game-3-live
AND MORE... From The Guardian... Regular article about Game 3: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/12/magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana-draw-game-three-world-chess-championship
AND MORE... FiveThirtyEight coverage... "Computers are haunting the World Chess Championship": https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/computers-are-haunting-the-world-chess-championship-which-yes-is-still-tied/
AND MORE... "Unimpressive draw"... Some quotations from the competitors: http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/carlsen-caruana-world-chess-championship-2018/unimpressive-draw-in-game-three-of-the-carlsen-caruana-world-chess-championship-match
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrSEUaGkvgA
AND MORE... After-game analysis from Chess Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9s06VFBnfg
GAME 4 COVERAGE... From FiveThirtyEight: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-biggest-blunder-of-the-world-chess-championship-is-a-deleted-youtube-video/
AND MORE... Even more coverage of the game and the released Youtube video: https://www.chess.com/news/view/world-chess-championship-game-4-carlsens-english-nets-4th-draw-despite-release-of-caruanas-training-
AND MORE... The Guardian gets in on it as well: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/13/world-chess-championship-game-4-carlsen-caruana
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bGakxW6QB0
AND MORE... Post-game analysis by Agadmator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_T9_PyuuG8
GAME 5 COVERAGE... Gurgenidze opening not enough: https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-2018-game-5
AND MORE... The Guardian calls Caruana move a "Molotov cocktail": https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/15/world-chess-championship-game-five-magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana
AND MORE... "Today we finally had some excitement": https://thechessworld.com/articles/general-information/world-chess-championship-2018-game-5/
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hWvsHQthtY
AND MORE... Post-game analysis by GM Huschenbeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxvoxrCUfSs
GAME 6 COVERAGE... Review of all the matches, ending in the "thriller" of Game 6... Claims Caruana missed win: https://www.businessinsider.com/fabiano-caruana-missed-chance-world-chess-championship-2018-11
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REVLvjWrRu8
AND MORE... Post-game analysis... Called "instant classic": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yzaG0Ia_fs
GAME 7 COVERAGE... "Another day another draw": https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-2018-game-7
AND MORE... Article with photos: https://www.chess.com/news/view/world-chess-championship-game-7-a-2nd-queens-gambit-a-7th-draw
AND MORE... Players remain "deadlocked"... The Guardian covers Game 7: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/18/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-game-7-live
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je_2zaLr5gU
AND MORE... Post-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCUQAMIZu3o
GAME 8 COVERAGE... From FiveThirtyEight: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/one-bad-pawn-move-has-kept-the-world-chess-championship-deadlocked/
AND MORE... Speculation about the match from The Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6413903/Chess-grandmaster-26-American-win-World-Championship-50-years.html
AND MORE... The New York Times weighs in on all the draws: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/19/sports/world-chess-magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana.html
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OPsdc1kPpQ
AND MORE... Post-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDPE1S-_YLM
GAME 9 COVERAGE... "I blew it"... The Guardian reviews Game 9: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/21/world-chess-championship-game-9-carlsen-caruana
AND MORE... Carlsen gets a black eye?... Review of Game 9: https://thechessworld.com/articles/general-information/world-chess-championship-2018-game-9/
AND MORE... Live coverage... From the St. Louis Chess Club... Features GM Maurice Ashley, GM Yasser Seirawan, and WGM Jennifer Shahade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwYr2Rm8AgQ
AND MORE... Post-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg4grvQc_cM
GAME 10 COVERAGE... From FiveThirtyEight: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/chess-world-celebrates-a-sensational-move-that-leads-to-a-championship-draw/
AND MORE... Live coverage from the SLCC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5xtOlfyyEQ
AND MORE... Post-game analysis from GM Peter Svidler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctiw40M-Fo4
GAME 11 COVERAGE... Tension "at peak": https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-championship-2018-game-11
AND MORE... Caruana "suffers successfully" in match... FiveThirtyEight comments: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/caruana-suffers-successfully-in-game-11-of-the-world-chess-championship/
AND MORE... Players "play to quiet Game 11 draw": https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/24/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-game-11-live
AND MORE... Live coverage from SLCC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVp3pcdwh0o
AND MORE... Post-game analysis from The Chess Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouIn3W8XEH4
GAME 12 COVERAGE... From FiveThirtyEight: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/carlsens-bizarre-decision-has-sent-the-world-chess-championship-to-overtime/
AND MORE... The New York Times covers the twelfth draw and transition to sudden death: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/sports/world-chess-championship-draw-tiebreaker.html
AND MORE... Head to tiebreakers: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/nov/26/world-chess-championship-game-12-carlsen-caruana
AND MORE... Live coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikiHTNQnh58
AND MORE... Chess conference with Fabiano and Magnus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzO7aFh8AMU
AND MORE... Post-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-xD_JTfxWE
GAMES 13 TO 15 COVERAGE... Carlsen wins... The Guardian provides updates: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2018/nov/28/magnus-carlsen-v-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-tie-breakers-live
AND MORE... Post-game analysis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLxSXuD9tv0
'EXCITING' POSITIONS FROM 2018 MATCH DISCUSSED... GM Ben Finegold discusses a few positions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5zWMIxeU78
INTERVIEW WITH CHESS PRESIDENT MERENZON... Between games 11 and 12, World Chess President Ilya Merenzon talks about monetizing chess interests: http://www.sportspromedia.com/quick_fire_questions/magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship-ilya-menenzon
WIKIPEDIA ENTRY... Best overview of the 2018 match on the net: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2018
WIKIPEDIA ENTRY... Best overview of the World Chess Championship in general: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship
*POST-MATCH COVERAGE*
CARLSEN WINS... From Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/carlsen-wins-2018-world-chess-championship-in-playoff
AND MORE... New York Times coverage of win: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/28/sports/magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championship.html
AND MORE... From CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/28/sport/magnus-carlsen-fabiano-caruana-world-chess-championships-spt-intl/index.html
AND MORE... From Thechessworld.com... Final three tie-break matches with commentary: THREE FINAL SPEED GAMES... Interactive speed games between players: https://thechessworld.com/articles/general-information/world-chess-championship-2018-tiebreaks-and-final-results/
AND MORE... Overview of the win... Includes video clips: https://en.chessbase.com/post/magnus-carlsen-world-champion-2018
AND MORE... Kasparov entitled to his 'stupid opinion' regarding Game 12 draw... Otherwise, Carlsen happy with result: https://www.channel3000.com/sports/magnus-carlsen-beats-fabianao-caruana-to-win-world-chess-championship/896989546
AND MORE... News blurb about Carlsen's win from Voice of America: https://www.voanews.com/a/norways-magnus-carlsen-defends-world-chess-title/4679221.html
AND MORE... The Week in Chess reviews Carlsen's win: http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/carlsen-caruana-world-chess-championship-2018
