
Kingpin Editor | Publisher | Chess player | Sceptic | Cake eater | writing a book on Sir George Thomas | All views my own | Bluesky @kingpined.bsky.social
Oxford
Joined June 2009
- Tweets8.8K
- Following1.2K
- Followers2.1K
- Likes9.9K
Another ugly, incorrect set @ftweekend #chesspedant
Jonathan Manley retweeted
#Schach
I watch a lot
eg world's best league @SchachBL in #FRG / #BRD
I played league #chess in #Deutschland 1986-87 & 2007-08
Partly why I wrote long review 4 @KingpinEd online mag
re bk by 2 German on #Hastings tourneys (1895-now)
kingpinchess.net/
@HIChCongress
Jonathan Manley retweeted
GM Jonathan Speelman turns 70 today.
Born in London, he was a central figure in the strong English generation of the 1980s: three-time British Champion (1978, 1985 and 1986), world No. 5 in 1988 with a peak rating of 2645, and a Candidates semi-finalist in 1989 after beating Yasser Seirawan and Nigel Short – before losing to Jan Timman.
Known for an original, unorthodox style and deep endgame analysis, he also beat Garry Kasparov in a televised speed event in 1989 and went on to win the tournament. A long-time chess columnist and author, Speelman remains active over the board.
'Seldom has an OBE been so milked.' chesshistory.com/winter/extr…
Jonathan Manley retweeted
youtube.com/watch?v=b-a5CHaT…
I News investigation of Vadim "Wadim" Rosenstein part 2 of 3 alleges:
Most of his Russian business was historically logistics services for Novatek, a major gas company owned by billionaires close to Putin Timchenko and Mikhelson. BTW Timchenko is a big sponsor of Russian chess.
Since Dec 2025 its official main business in Russia in its financial reporting changed from logistics to wholesale of household goods. The accounts show 90% of revenues now come from wholesale of household goods.
The Rosenstein family business in Russia has two parts. Vadim’s and that of his cousin Mikhail. The latter owns and heads a company called 2R Integra. Vadim’s Russian company VR RUS and Mikhail’s company 2R Integra share the same registered address in Russia (Moscow, Sovkhoz Krekshino Settlement, Ozernaya ul. D. 5 Str. 1). Mikhail was also a founder of VR RUS.
Mikahil’s revenues have increased by 40 times since 2022 when the war began to reach over RUB 2 billion per year. Mikhail’s company’s main foreign counterparty now is Polycab India Limited (India) which supplies defence cables (heat and fire resistant) which may be used in army tanks (and specifically in the turret rotation systems), rocket launch systems, chains used in aviation, warship and submarine construction for the military. 2R Integra obtained Russian state certification to import Polycab’s cables on 27 July 2026.
The 2R Integra website previously stated “We handle import/export of complex technical products (including sanctioned items)” according to the program.
Since the war began, according to customs records, VR RUS has imported from France, Germany, Czech Republic, Turkey various industrial goods, such as nickel-copper pipes, steel rope, etc, all supplied by his own companies in W. Europe and WKB Systems GmbH, which is controlled by Russian oligarch Viktor Budarin.
The film further cites German reports that he has supplied materials to Viktor Budarin’s Russian company that were used to construct buildings in occupied Mariupol, and that he has continued to supply the sanctioned Novatek.
His businesses in Russia have paid over RUB 400 million in Russian taxes in the last 3 years.
The video claims that the European External Action Service—the EU’s diplomatic service (in September 2026, no actual date given)—has noted a preliminary review into WR Group Holding GMBH and associated entities for potentially breaking the Russian sanctions regime. Key subjects of the internal review include WR RUS, 2R Integra and Inco Engineering (Prague).
This is the 2nd of 3 videos (there was nothing new to me in the first video, released about a week ago). The 3rdvideo will be released on 20 September, apparently showing how sanctions busting included importing via Kazakhstan, and how WR’s girlfriend Alina Silaeva has her own sanctions busting business involving falsification of flight documents for jets of Russian oligarchs.
Jonathan Manley retweeted
Today @nimzochess turns 75. A true scholar of the game with dozens of books to his credit, including the classics Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy: Advances Since Nimzowitsch and Chess Strategy in Action, he's been a key mentor to many, including me, and he's an absolute mensch.
Replying to @johnmitchinson
@johnmitchinson launches John Healy’s follow-up to The Grass Arena. @WiltonSquare
Jonathan Manley retweeted
Renowned Washington Square Park Player 'Chichi' Detained By ICE
chess.com/news/view/washingt…
Jonathan Manley retweeted
Great to see GM Mikhail Golubev keeping chess going in Odesa.
On my new channel #SlowKnightsChess I'll post videos from the Morshyn 🇺🇦 tournament. Only on Youtube. Feel free to subscribe: if I see your enthusiasm by the end of the event, I'll continue. The 1st video (from Odesa) + a cool position is already available
youtu.be/J5tQ_zJKHBo
Receipt for a year's subscription to the Café de la Régence given to Pierre-François Guingret, one of Napoleon's generals. #chess @EuropeEchecs
The world’s oldest #chess tournament and its most interesting characters celebrated by a great fan of @HIChCongress. With added research!📚🤓📖
An article I wrote for @KingpinEd ie editor Jon Manley.
The chess magazine that reaches the parts others don't reach
#Hastings
Jonathan Manley retweeted
Chess and Hastings- even better if you remember the Kingpin chess magazine. #chess
Jonathan Manley retweeted
Another reminder that British journalism's most prolific plagiarist was a columnist for The Times and The Spectator. He was exposed at great length in Private Eye in 2013 but rather than hound him to his fate both publications ignored it - as did mainstream media in general.



























