September 24, 2021

Chess, the Most Dangerous Game


Chess, the Most Dangerous Game
Don't let the peaceful photo deceive you: chess is a surprisingly violent pastime.
Jorge Royan, Wikimedia Commons

Chess aficionados are rarely considered malicious; they're usually pretty nerdy and introspective. Not so when it comes to Russian chess aficionados, apparently.

In Krasnoyarsk, a chess match resulted in such intense emotion that it turned deadly and resulted in a double murder.

Reportedly, two men (both 34) had gathered in an apartment stairwell for an impromptu game. After starting a second round, they were joined by a couple who lived in the same apartment building. When one of the men showed unwanted attention to the female bystander, her male companion stabbed both players, killing them both.

A 29-year-old whose name was not released has been detained in relation to the incident.

Even though chess is a game about battling, in our experience, it doesn't tend to get this out of hand.

You Might Also Like

Intrigue at the Monastery
  • March 11, 2021

Intrigue at the Monastery

Sredneuralsk Monastery becomes an action-packed place as police enter in search of a murder suspect.
Murder, He Meowed
  • September 07, 2020

Murder, He Meowed

A library's famous cat now resides with the big yarn ball in the sky, thanks to foul play.
Chess from Space
  • June 12, 2020

Chess from Space

These astronauts are taking chess to the next level—the cosmos!
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Dostoyevsky Bilingual

Bilingual series of short, lesser known, but highly significant works that show the traditional view of Dostoyevsky as a dour, intense, philosophical writer to be unnecessarily one-sided. 
Okudzhava Bilingual

Okudzhava Bilingual

Poems, songs and autobiographical sketches by Bulat Okudzhava, the king of the Russian bards. 
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Turgenev Bilingual

Turgenev Bilingual

A sampling of Ivan Turgenev's masterful short stories, plays, novellas and novels. Bilingual, with English and accented Russian texts running side by side on adjoining pages.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
Chekhov Bilingual

Chekhov Bilingual

Some of Chekhov's most beloved stories, with English and accented Russian on facing pages throughout. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955