Daily Archives: June 9, 2020

Written by Nihal Koshie | New Delhi | Updated: June 9, 2020 4:22:38 pm Top chess website has rated Nihal Sarin as World No.3 in the one-minute bullet format. (Express Photo)

A 16-year-old Indian Grandmaster is giving a Norwegian four-time World Champion a run for his reputation online.

On Friday, Nihal Sarin took on Magnus Carlsen in a series of one-minute chess shootouts. At the end of these bullet games, the score read: Carlsen 19, Sarin 13. Just a week earlier, Sarin had beaten Carlsen in a blitz game, where each player got three minutes to work out their moves.

To borrow from cricket, Sarin today could well be tagged as Indian chesss T20 specialist. Carlsen has described him as one of the best blitz players around. And the highly rated Chess.com has ranked him at No.3 in bullet chess after 15,431 games.

READ | From Kasparov to Carlsen: The greatest chess matches ever played

Bullet and blitz chess have become a favourite among players and fans and fuelled an online boom amid the Covid shutdown. FIDE, the games governing body, is yet to award ratings for online chess, but is looking to tap the sudden mass interest.

It would be fun if online goes mainstream, says Sarin.

With geography or hierarchy not a barrier, teenagers like him are able to take on top GMs by merely logging on and floating a face-off request. The latest shootout with Carlsen happened on Lichess, an open-source chess server run by a non-profit and powered by volunteers.

I just saw him (Carlsen) online, so I sent a challenge, says Sarin. The teenager estimates that over the years, he has played close to 200 bullet games against 29-year-old Carlsen and won a fourth of them.

Veteran Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay, who runs a chess school, says that a distinct advantage the new-age players have online is their lightning-fast control of the mouse.

READ | Introduction of computers has changed the approach to chess: V Anand

They have an expertise of not wasting time in moving the mouse, and also sharper reflexes because they have been playing online more regularly. Some tournaments have three-minute games, some one minute, so a fraction of a second makes a lot of difference. I take one second to make the move so generally I dont have any leftover time. Players like Sarin, after 10 moves, have accumulated five seconds. This means they are making a move in half a second, says Thipsay.

Sarin took his early steps by taking on anyone he could spot on chess forums, and developed a very different training method as compared to previous generations. When presented with a new opening or variation, he goes online and plays against several players to figure it out, instead of sitting over a board and analysing each move with a coach.

Online is primarily how I learned almost everything about chess. I get to test and learn the concepts first-hand. When you are about to make a move in a real game, you see things in those moments that will never occur to you while you are thinking or training for hours I just love doing it this way, says Sarin.

Coach and manager Priyadarshan Banjan explains: Mostly, he just plays and then analyses in his head and discusses with his training partners. That is his form of analysis.

Sarin and other top teenagers, like 18-year-old Alireza Firouzja from Iran who got the better of Carlsen in a series of bullet games last month, have also benefited from upgraded chess engines, which are computer programs that analyse the game.

When you analyse with an engines help at a young age, you develop a style that is more mathematical and engine-like. If I was to do that or (Viswanathan) Anand, it can help us but we cannot mould our style at this age. Firouzja or Nihal have been benefitting from the improved standard of the engines, and their style is moulded that way, says Thipsay.

GM Srinath Narayanan, Sarins training partner, says that in shorter-time control, the ability to come up with good moves in a second is important. Sarin and Firouzja are the flag-bearers of this generation because they have extensive online experience, and played more than 50,000 games, he says.

Ask Sarin if playing Carlsen face-to-face will be a different game altogether, the teenager doesnt agree. There will be a difference in setting and surroundings, that is all. I am not sure if it is a completely different scenario. At the end of the day, we are making similar moves, he says.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App.

See more here:

Indian chesss T20 specialist: Teen who took on world champion Magnus Carlsen - The Indian Express

6/3/2020 You are raring to get started with some of the amazing functions of ChessBase 15. But there is one last thing we need to consider before we dive into the substance and that is style! ChessBase 15 is fantastically customisable and here Nick Murphy will show you step by step how to get the look you want. Because it helps to enjoy your chess!

ChessBase 15 - Mega package

Find the right combination! ChessBase 15 program + new Mega Database 2020 with 8 million games and more than 80,000 master analyses. Plus ChessBase Magazine (DVD + magazine) and CB Premium membership for 1 year!

More...

We looked last week at the layout of the ChessBase 15 main screen. Now were going to examine how it looks when youre actually working on a game.

Board design

There are many ways to access a board from the main ChessBase screen, such as double-clicking a game in the database preview window. But the simplest way to open a new board, is by clicking the "board" button in the home tab section of the ribbon.

This opens-up the board window.

Its here where youll spend a lot of enjoyable time in ChessBase 15.

But as youre doubtless going to be spending hundreds of hours improving your chess with ChessBase 15, you'll want to customise the appearance to be the very best it can be for you.

View Tab

We start by looking at the "view" tab on the ribbon. Here youll find even more check boxes than we saw last time on the main screen. You can play around by checking and unchecking the boxes by clicking on them, exactly like we did last week.

I myself often check the box for "Extra Book Pane", which allows me to use two different opening trees at the same time.

But you should try out a few different layouts. Play around until you find the layout that works best for you.

Once youre happy with your layout, you can save it via the "view" tab and clicking the "save" button in the section for default layout.

You can also choose from a range of preset "Standard Layouts", by clicking the Standard Layouts button and choosing from the menu that appears. And if you dont like all your changes, you can get back to how it looked originally by clicking the "Factory Settings" button.

Board Tab

For major changes to the look of the board itself, head over to the "Board" tab. Here you can flip the board easily [handy tip or you can press "Cntrl & F" on your computer keyboard]

Theres a few check-boxes here too. I like to have coordinates on my boards, though again, choose whatever suits you best.

The fun begins in the sections for "Board 2d" and "Board 3d".

Clicking on the corresponding buttons here allows you to change the colours of the "Squares", the design of the "Pieces", and even the colour of the "Board"

"3d Boards" takes you to the style of 3d boards that have been common in ChessBase now for a decade at least.

If you want to access the new super-cool raytracing boards, you can do that here too. Though Id recommend you only do that if you have a new, very powerful computer, as they are very resource intensive (even my computer doesnt take full advantage of them, as it is two or three years old now, though I still consider it my "new" computer!)

I definitely wouldnt recommend using the raytracing boards for analysing your games with a chess engine on your computer, as the analysis and the board will be competing for your computers processing power, so you wont be getting the full benefit for either. If you're using a cloud engine to analyse though, the two systems will work wonderfully together.

The raytracing boards are perfect for watching live grandmaster games in action! Its like youre right there in the playing hall, looking over Carlsens shoulder. Without the risk of distracting him

Board design

The last section worth mentioning here, is accessed by right-clicking anywhere on the board, and then choosing "board design" from the menu that pops up.

Here you can change the colour schemes and the pieces. There are sliders for changing the size of the pieces relative to the squares, and the width of the board margin. Even for determining how fast the pieces glide over the board ["Animation"].

Finally, if you want arrows or a slider underneath the board to help move through the games, you can select them here.

Conclusion

In short, there are many ways to alter the appearance of the ChessBase 15 chess board. It is worth taking a few minutes now to get that appearance how you like it.

After all, youre going to be using ChessBase 15 for years and years to come!

Well make a Grandmaster of you yet...

Read more:

Getting the most out of ChessBase 15: a step-by-step guide #4 The Board - Chessbase News

DaniilDubov has beaten Hikaru Nakamura in Armageddon to win the 2020 Lindores AbbeyRapid Challenge, claiming not just the $45,000 top prize but also a placealongside Magnus in the $300,000 Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour Grand Final. Afterlosing on the first day of the final the Russian grandmaster hit back on Day 2and then took the lead in the second game of the final day. Hikaru Nakamura bounced backin the next but was doomed to defeat after falling into a trap on move 12 of the decisiveArmageddon game.

We couldnt have asked for a more exciting knockout stage ofthe Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge, and we couldnt have asked for a moreexciting final day (replay the games here):

You can replay all the drama in our live commentary by PeterLeko, Peter Svidler and Tania Sachdev, who were also joined by Peter HeineNielsen and Jan Gustafsson:

Pascal Charbonneau later recapped the day's action:

And heres Daniil Dubov, whose first reaction on winning thetournament was perhaps not what you would expect!

First of all its a relief, obviously, and secondly itssome small disappointment. It has been a wonderful journey, actually. I dontmind having one or two rest days, but in general I would be ready to play moregames. But yeah, todays a good day, of course!

Lets take a look at the day game-by-game:

On paper Hikaru Nakamura began the day well. He had theblack pieces and, facing the English Opening line in which Daniil had scored awin on Day 1 of the final, he achieved a comfortable 25-move draw with apawn sacrifice. Daniil remembered analysing it with his coach Boris Gelfand,but went astray and was worse when the game ended abruptly after 23.Ba6:

Black repeated moves with 23Qd7 24.Bb5 Qc8 25.Ba6 and it was a draw. Daniil commented:

Its quite significant that he decided not to play on in theend. Qa8 - hes just slightly better. In general, throughout the match, I hadthis feeling hes absolutely sure he will win the Armageddon with Black. It wasactually weird. I had a feeling hes probably a favourite, but still, if yourethat sure, you can actually lose, in fact. He basically didnt try to play inGame 4, he was also slightly better in Game 1 and decided to repeat the moves.

Dubov said Blacks position would be much easier to playafter Qa8, noting that the engine agrees: its not even a bluff!

SoDaniil felt the game gave him some information about his opponents mood, and laterhed talk about how the 3-day match system suits his approach. On the first dayof the match hed begun with two losses to Hikaru, eventually losing 2.5:1.5,but felt it was about himself not his opponent: There are 200 people, at thevery least, who will beat me when Im playing like an idiot, so you dont needto be Hikaru for that. And hed learned something from the day:

When you play these matches Day 1, obviously you try to win,but its also very important to get some information. In these terms I was sortof satisfied with Day 1. So I realised what hes doing, it was obvious. Hesgoing to play it simple, he will play fast and he will just wait for me to dosomething sharp and then blunder in time trouble, or try to trick me, but hewill not play something very sharp himself. Then it was also obvious that hewill repeat this English Opening with Nb6 forever, which has always beenmysterious to me, but ok, if he plays it he plays it.

So in terms of getting information it was actually sort of adecent day. I normally tend to improve my play against someone when I play moregames against him, so I feel these long matches basically suit my, not evenchess style, but in general my way of thinking of chess. I think in general Itry to understand whats going on in the match, what my opponent is doing, andits not only in terms of moves but also in terms of his match strategy and ifhe plays fast or he tries to be more sharp or not, and then after Day 1 ofcourse you have much more information and feel more confident and ready.

Daniil felt that it wasnt his day in terms of the opening:

He came very well prepared, basically, so today I think ingeneral it was not like our typical matches. Normally its him who playsslightly better and Im better prepared, but today I think it was exactly theopposite! What he did was extremely smart and I didnt remember what to do, andthen I think I was much worse.

Hikaru repeated the3.Nc3 Sicilian line hed played the day before but varied on move 9 and managedto get a very good position that all our Peters approved of

until 25.Rd2?was a serious inaccuracy (25.Rc4! is strong):

25g5! suddenly putBlack right back in the game, and then after 26.Rd5!? gxf4 27.Rxc5 Daniil was further able to blow open theposition with 27f3!

After 28.gxf3 Bxh329.Rxa5 it was clear that Blacks h-pawn was the most dangerous passed pawnon the board and when one chance to eliminate it was missed (34.Ra5!) the onlyquestion remaining was whether Dubov would safely navigate a complicatedposition with little time left on his clock. He did, and for the first time inthe final Daniil was ahead.

Hikaru Nakamura managed to strike back straight away withthe black pieces, with Daniil commenting:

Im not Magnus! Its sort of normal. He just went forsomething sharp and won It was an interesting game, I felt I was better atsome point, but then I got outplayed.

This time Hikaru met the English by playing f5 on move 3 andsoon there was chaos on board. It didnt seem what youd want in Dubov's position

though in a way Daniil welcomed it:

In this game I felt c4 obviously allows all kinds of sharplines for Black, its not that solid, but I thought on the other hand it wasbasically obvious if I will make some safe draw then he will gokamikaze mode in the last game, and he has White there, so I thought if he willgo kamikaze mode anyway then probably its better for me to allow him to do itwith Black. At least Im White, Ill be slightly better but it didnt goaccording to plan.

Once again, however, despite trouble in the opening a g-pawnbreak saw Dubov right back in the game:

Daniil confessed to feeling very safe after 25fxg4 26.Bxg4, and that assessmentlooks correct, but he let his guard down and, while briefly playing for a win,allowed a strong Nh4-Nf3-Nd2 manoeuvre that escalated quickly into the loss ofthe entire white queenside. The last clear chance for White to equalise requiredfinding 32.Bc2! Na1 (the move that stopped Dubov playing Bc2) 33.Ng6! Kf734.Nh8! Dubov:

If I would play it, it would be the end of my career! They would neverbelieve Im not cheating.

There was no miracle escape, however, and Hikaru hadlevelled the scores with one game to go.

This was a repeat of Game 2 until Daniil varied with 11Rd8 12.Qf3 c5!

He credited 2016 Russian Chess Champion AlexanderRiazantsev:

Game 4 was actually a very important moment, and first ofall I want to praise my friend and coach Sasha Riazantsev, who managed, while Iwas losing like an idiot with White, to come up with this completely new ideaof c5, so it was just prepared by him between the games and I think he did abrilliant job. I didnt have time to check it myself yet, but there was a bignumber of lines and it looked very convincing, although the engine doesnt getit originally It was very typical of me that you have 30 minutes and then youor one of your friends prepares something brilliant and its just in time. So Imlucky to have Sasha around, obviously!

Hikaru spent a minute on 13.e5 which was met by 13c4!,and after 14.exf6 Bxf6! 15.Ba4 Qa5Black went on to win back the piece with, if anything, a slightly better position.The game fizzled out into a quick draw and we were headed for Armageddon.

Hikaru Nakamura had beaten Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen inArmageddon with Black already during the knockout, and he knew he would have Blackagain since winning the preliminary stage earned him the right to choose. Thatmeant he had 4 minutes to Dubovs 5, but only needed a draw to win thetournament. What could go wrong? Well, Daniil felt Hikaru was tempting fate:

In general there is some, you can believe it or not, but Ithink in general there is some sort of justice. In general all the stuff Hikaruwas doing was a little bit over-optimistic. Because first of all, when heplayed Magnus he said that the winner of that match is a very big favourite towin the whole thing. Why do you say it, normally? I mean, probably you are, butjust why do you say it? It only gives me motivation! It doesnt make a lot ofsense. Then again, the way he played yesterday and also today it was justobvious that he wants this Armageddon so much. He will pick Black and he willjust play. Ok, I understand everything, hes obviously a favourite, but it feltlike hes a little bit too confident. So I thought I just need to playsomething a little bit sharp and something strange, I have to make him thinkearly, and then well see.

The plan worked like a dream, since in an offbeat structureDaniil got to play 12.Bxd5!

Nobody falls for this somehow, said Peter Svidler of the positionwith colours reversed, to which Daniil responded, You should probably try itagainst Hikaru! Daniil was puzzled afterwards why Hikaru hadnt gone for 12fxg3+!13.Nxg3 (the point is distracting this knight) 13Bxd5 14.Qh5 Ne7 15.Nxd5 Qxd516.Qxd5 Nxd5 17.Rf5 0-0-0 18.c4 Nb4 19.Rxc5 Nxd3 and Black has two pawns forthe piece. White is better, but the game goes on.

However, that chance was gone in a flash as Hikaru played 12Bxd5? after 239 milliseconds, and was already dead lost. Play continued 13.Nxf4 Ne714.Qh5 (14.Nfxd5 was a prosaic but even more convincing way to win) 14c615.Ncxd5 cxd5:

16.Ne6! was a move that Dubov admitted hed got excitedabout as soon as hed seen it a few moves earlier. He half-expected Nakamura toresign on the spot, but instead the game went on with 16Qd6 17.Nxg7+ Kd7 18.Rxf7 Raf819.Bf4 and here, already two pawns down, Nakamura gave up his queen with 19Rxf7.Hikaru played on until move 45, but Dubov stayed calm and was also comfortably upon the clock when resignation came.

It had been a fantastic tournament for 24-year-old DaniilDubov, who beat Sergey Karjakin, Ding Liren and Hikaru Nakamura towin not just $45,000 but qualify automatically for the $300,000 Magnus ChessTour Grand Final this August.

Dubov will be joined there by Magnus (who won the MagnusCarlsen Invitational) and the winners of the next two events on the tour. IfCarlsen or Dubov were to win again then there would be a place for thetop-performing non-winner, which is currently almost certain to be HikaruNakamura after he reached the final of both events so far. Hikaru can of coursealso qualify directly if he wins a future event, so that his runners-up spotleaves him well-placed as well as $27,000 better off:

But lets return to the man of the hour! How does thissuccess rank among Dubov's career achievements?

Its obviously a very nice moment, so what do you expect meto say? I dont think after winning the World Rapid I can say its my biggestachievement. Obviously winning the World Rapid is still much more important,but its a very strong tournament and Im obviously happy that I managed towin.

I actually had the same feeling after this World Rapid thatbasically its a bit of a weird feeling when you win a tournament with Magnusparticipating without beating Magnus, to be honest. It always felt a little bitunfair to me. Even in this World Rapid I felt he will probably win the lastgame and then well play a tiebreak and then if I win, then its brilliant, Imanaged. But then he didnt win, and I finished in clear first, but still Ifailed to beat him and it didnt feel like a real win. Here as well, obviouslyHikaru is a brilliant player, but the one who beats Magnus gets all therespect, I guess.

There were a couple of ways to counter that. You could startby pointing out that Daniil did actually beat Magnus, at least in a singlegame, and it was a crucial win with the black pieces that enabled him toqualify for the knockout section by the finest of margins! (Grischuk, who shared 5.5 points, missed out)

The other way is to ask, as Peter Svidler did, So we are now announcing Hikaruas the winner of the Lindores Abbey? Daniil first joked, You can do whateveryou want, Peter, to be honest, before elaborating:

I think in general itkind of makes sense. Not too many people have beaten Magnus in a match. Itsvery, very impressive by Hikaru, so if you had asked me what would I prefer - towin the Lindores Abbey or to win a series of matches against Magnus - I woulddefinitely think about it. Definitely! And in terms of my own, the way I seethings, I would probably prefer to win against Magnus, to be honest.

What was Daniils highlight from the tournament?

I think I played a very, very interesting match againstKarjakin. I think it was just a brilliant match, 0 draws, as I remember. Itspretty remarkable, especially against Karjakin... There were a lot of strange ideas, I played many different openings. Iplayed many cool moves - even in the game I lost I was very proud of thisKe8-d7. I thought its probably my best move of the tournament.

I was sort of very excited about it. I think it was the mostenjoyable match for the viewers and for all the rest. And the match againstHikaru I think it was exactly the opposite. He basically decided to limit myoptions and I was not allowed to play these fancy games as often as I normallydo. It was a little bit worrying in terms of moves. There was a lot of pressure,but those were not the games you will remember for years, for sure - so itsjust sport.

Daniils next tournament will be the next event on the MagnusCarlsen Chess Tour, starting in just over two weeks time on June 20th. Onceagain the top four finishers get automatic invitations so hes likely to bejoined by Hikaru Nakamura, Ding Liren and Magnus Carlsen. More names anddetails will be announced soon, but where will Daniil play from? Will he stillbe in the Yekaterinburg, where he initially only travelled for the CandidatesTournament?

Ill actually have to make that decision. I dont know. Itssort of tricky because the problem is that the situation in Moscow hasntreally improved, Im afraid. I will think about it. In a way I will have tothink, but my prediction is that I will probably play the next thingfrom Yekaterinburg again, to be honest.

In any case, we'll see Daniil and co. in action againvery soon! Meanwhile, in case you missed it, check out Daniil Dubov: From Russia with Ideas, an in-depth profile that looks almost prophetic after what we witnessed.

See also:

The rest is here:

Dubov wins the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge - chess24

This weeks Live Local features the talented performance artist Joy James, a.k.a. Livity, the Poet. She graciously and generously took the time to share her insights and experiences with encore readers on the heels of George Floyds brutal killing and the protests for justice that took place in cities worldwide in its aftermath.

Local writer and activist Joy James, a.k.a. Livity, the Poet, talks about her attendance at the May 31 protest in downtown ILM and the aftermath of George Floyds brutal death. Courtesy photo

No one should die like that. That was my first thought when I saw the video of how George Floyd died.

Its a time of considerable strain for many of us. Weve been struggling to understand COVID-19 and its effects, and weve been dealing with how drastically it has changed our ways of life. Unfortunately, this latest proof of yet another black life unjustly taken has driven many to the ends of their wits. It has tipped the scales for me, as well.

I am trying to make sense of the world around me. I still have questions: Why did this man have to die like this? How could someone who knew he was being recorded so casually kill another human being? How does the store owner feel knowing what he caused? How are we going to handle this one? Why does this death, in particular, strike me so deeply?

I have been in Wilmington for five years. We have several protests a year and Ive known them to be peaceful. The protest on Saturday, May 30, was yet another testament to how dignified our community can be. Then Sunday happened. I was shocked to see the live videos and news feeds declaring the disturbances and harm that had been unleashed during what began peacefully. I went from seeing the police complimenting protesters to seeing people I knew fleeing from tear gas and cursing the police because they felt unjustly treated. No one seemed to truly understand what was happening. It was a very sad day for our city. Mistakes were made on both sides, and I think weve seen the reconciliation process in action as, daily, more peaceful protests and marches have since taken place.

Being a black woman in Wilmington has challenges. I know derision causes division. When we have citizens cursing at police, I understand from where the frustration comes. However, that frustration cant be misguided. When the police asked protesters to get out of the street because it was a safety issue, why did some immediately turn to defy them? The police, or anyone who needs to hear you, will not listen if you openly disregard those who are trying to help, letting your anger override logic.

A highlight of Sunday came when a male protester told Lily Nicole she could not speak for him when police in riot gear came face-to-face with protesters. Indeed, she could and did speak for him. Lily Nicole understood his anger and desire to channel it somewhere, but she also understood what was happening was not the best way to be heard. And, so, she talked down the police for a brief moment to calm tensions.

Change will not be made if no one is listening, and no one listens to someone who is belligerent and does not share the same courtesy. Lily was speaking for that one protester but also for all others, so they wouldnt be locked up behind bars; so they wouldnt have their limbs locked up by tasers; so they could continue to have a peaceful platform to be heard. So, yes, she spoke for all of us that night.

As a black woman, I am afraid. My skin is the same brown skin of the males who have been victims of our nations structural racism. Black women are not exempt. Growing up, I never feared the police. Now, with the things I have seen in my adult years, I do tense up whenever I see a police officerand, heaven forbid, if I get pulled over. I shouldnt have this uneasiness, but its there because I know I am not exempt. Now, I think twice about taking walks in neighborhoods other than my own. Now, I am beginning to wonder more and more what people are really thinking about me. Do they see me as a pleasant young lady or am I that very nice black lady? Regardless, I will not let fear rule my life.

When I first started wearing head wraps in Wilmington, I was surprised at the reactions I received. The looks were long, some quizzical. Headwraps make one seem even more black. Some equate it with being more culturally rooted and some see it as being radical. Where Im from, head wraps are the norm, and when I realized I was bringing something different here, I embraced it. I dont mind exposing others to the richness of a culture other than their own. I dont mind making myself and my culture accessible.

I remember one specific occasion when a friend and I attended a musical at Thalian Hall. I had on a fairly ornate headwrap with a matching dress. He wore traditional African garb (kufi and dashiki). We were most definitely in the minority of not only those who dressed up, but also patrons who were people of color. The stares we received were memorable. Personally, I felt like royalty and acted as such. That was reflected in the compliments we received. We were examples that evening of how something that looked different was also beautiful.

I didnt feel out of place because I was comfortable in my own skin. As a poet and an actress, I have to be. I have to be confident in who I am and what I have to contribute to the arts. Thats why it was disheartening to learn that seeking to create a black theatre troupe was deemed unnecessary.

During a recent theater fair at Thalian Hall, a black director and black actor had an informal discussion with a white theatre manager. These are all well-respected people in our theatre community. The director mentioned efforts being made to create a black acting troupe. The manager, unknowingly, made a comment that would be considered a microaggression. He asked if it would really be necessary because he and another theatre manager had already worked out a schedule where one black production would be offered each year, and companies would alternate which theatre hosted it.

If we feel underrepresented in productions here, why wouldnt it be necessary to form a group that united us in an effort to be heard? How can more people learn to be comfortable with our skin if we are not seen, or if our stories are not heard from our perspectives? As a result, I believe having that discussion opened eyes, and weve since seen quite a few more predominantly black productions come to life. However, there is so much more needed growth and open discussions with both sides listening. This is what helps to create real change.

The George Floyd hate crime has affected me more deeply as a mother. Here I am, trying to protect my young son against bumps and scratches and COVID-19, only to be reminded of a more raging disease: racism. I am reminded of the world I have brought him into. As a mother, I am scared. I am wondering if the world in which my son will be a man will be any better than it is now. I wonder if what I do will be good enough to keep his name off of a growing list, but I will do what I can.

I will teach my son to be a man of change, growth, determination and power, who is logical yet compassionate. I will teach my son to channel his negative energy into productive means. I will teach my son to love and respect himself and to have love for all people. I will teach my son to never let anger close his ears. I will teach my son to ask questions and listen for the answers, and I will teach him how to make informed choices that do not allow someone elses bias to lead him. I will teach my son not to ignore or allow prejudice or oppression. I will teach my son to maintain his dignity.

We know what we are taught, but what matters the most and what causes change is questioning ourselves, then actively seeking truthful answers. If a change needs to be made, we should ask: What can I do about it? Then, follow our words and thoughts with action and do it. Just like racism can be ingrained in us through generations, so, too, can the ability to defeat racism.

Teach success. Lead our sons and daughters to take positions that affect government policy and become business owners. Be mentors in our community and teach the next generation how to be better than our own. Donate to organizations doing something for the cause. Channel anger into logical decisions to maintain dignity. And vote for those who represent you. Voting does matter.

The goal of any engine of change is to alter the perceptions of people who dont see us the way we see us. It is not to perpetuate stigmas that already exist by becoming violent. Just like there should have been someone on that Minneapolis street to be an agent of change by stopping Derek Chauvin from killing George Floyd, in our community, we need to be the person who becomes an agent of change. It is time to end the Facebook Live venting and backyard complaint sessions if there are no calls to action at the end of them. Change is possible. Racists have been known to change. It takes conscious effort over time from all of us. For those who want real change, this question must be answered: What am I going to do about it?

Lift your head and never let it fallRealize the mission to which youve been calledDont you know you have great things to achieve?Open those eyes to see through things meant to deceive

You are more than other peoples perceptions and rejectionsMore than your past reflectionsOr what you think are your silly imperfections

More than any low-set ceilingOr any lies they have people believingYou are more than the images of belligerence and violenceMore than the nooses meant to keep your silence

RAISE UP!

And be who you are called to be.

Excerpt from Raise Up by Joy James, aka Livity, the Poet

Continue reading here:

LIVE LOCAL: Joy James, aka Livity, the Poet, calls for self-examination and change ILM's Alternative Weekly Voice - encore Online

Although Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen and Markus Golden remain available as interesting summer additions, teams' pass-rushing situations are mostly set. Here is how the league stacks up at this all-important skill late in the offseason.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams performed a successful remodel of the Jets run defense last season, but the team still does not have the pass-rushing horses. Jamal Adams' 6.5 sacks were 3.5 more than any non-Jordan Jenkins Jet. The recently re-signed Jenkins has led the team in sacks the past two seasons but has yet to surpass eight. The Jets have curiously did little this offseason to address their years-long edge concern. Following Leonard Williams' trade exit, Quinnen Williams will need to take a step forward to anchor Gang Green's front.

Tom Walko-Icon Sportswire

The Seahawks remain a threat to re-sign Jadeveon Clowney, as his free agency drama nears Month 4. As is, Seattle needs some type of boost. After trading Frank Clark to the Chiefs, the Seahawks registered 28 sacks second-fewest in the league. Clowney only contributed three, but the former No. 1 overall pick remains one of the game's better edge players. Seattle re-signed defensive tackle Jarran Reed and brought back Super Bowl-years cog Bruce Irvin after five seasons away. A healthier version of 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier presumably awaits. This just might not be enough.

Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com, North Jersey Record via Imagn Content Services, LLC

On the positive side, the Giants' Leonard Williams-Dexter Lawrence-Dalvin Tomlinson-B.J. Hill quartet up front is a strong contingent. And Big Blue placed a unrestricted free agent tender on 2019 sack leader Markus Golden. The team still risks losing him, which would make incumbents Lorenzo Carter and Oshane Ximines' jobs harder. The Giants notched only 36 sacks with Golden (who had 10), only signed longtime Packers backup Kyler Fackrell and waited until Round 7 to address the outside linebacker spot this year. After ranking 31st in pass-defense DVOA in 2019, the Giants may again be in trouble.

Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC

In what could be a do-or-die year for both Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn, they doubled down on ex-Patriots. Hybrid linebacker-edge rusher Jamie Collins joins Trey Flowers as big-name Detroit pressure artists. Collins worked with Patricia for four-plus years in New England but was not the same player when he last left the Patriots (during a Browns stay). With Collins set to see extensive time off the ball, the Lions could use another edge. They do have the Okwara brothers Romeo and third-round pick Julian as an interesting sidekick tandem. Detroit also lacks for much in the way of inside rushers.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Names arrived in Year 2 of Miami's rebuild. But Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah remain question marks, after inconsistent tenures on their rookie contracts elsewhere, and Kyle Van Noy's pre-Patriots career (two-and-a-half unremarkable Lions years) does not inspire confidence that he can produce outside of Bill Belichick's tutelage. Van Noy did, at least, play under coach Brian Flores in New England. The Dolphins added Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis in Round 2, but after an 8.5-sack 2017, he combined for just two over the past two years. The Dolphins' 23 sacks last year ranked last by far. Nowhere to go but up.

Jake Crandall, Montgomery Advertiser via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The Panthers losing their final eight games obscured first-round defensive end Brian Burns' 7.5-sack rookie season. But the Panthers allowed top sackers Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin both 32 to leave in free agency and did not retain defensive tackles Gerald McCoy or Dontari Poe. New Panthers defensive coordinator Phil Snow will transition from the college game with a pass rush fronted by Burns, No. 7 overall pick Derrick Brown and second-rounder Yetur Gross-Matos. Nose tackle Kawann Short, one of the last Panther veterans remaining, will be vital to Snow's first Carolina defense too.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Entering the league as a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan and producing 10 sacks, Maxx Crosby turned into a gem for the Raiders. Other Raider rushers combined: 22. This was an improvement on 2018's historically bad 13-sack season, but the Raiders still have much to prove here. Viewed by most as a reach at No. 4 overall last year, Clelin Ferrell recorded just eight QB hits as a rookie. He should be better in Year 2. Free agent D-tackle Maliek Collins and end Carl Nassib will help as well, but the Las Vegas pass rush will likely be doubted going into training camp.

Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

After the Dolphins used first-round picks to replace departed starters at wide receiver and cornerback, they left Everson Griffen's old spot alone for a while. Minnesota returns one of the game's best edge rushers, in Danielle Hunter, but Griffen will be difficult to replace (if, in fact, the Vikings do not re-sign him). It will be interesting to see third-year defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo see more time; he produced seven sacks off the bench last season. The Vikings also have little in the way of established inside rushers.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Despite entering free agency near the salary cap, the Falcons maneuvered to give Dante Fowler a three-year, $48 million contract. Fowler's 11.5-sack 2019 with the Rams came at the right time, but the ex-top-five pick has been far from consistent. He joins Falcon holdover Takk McKinley in that regard. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett remains this front's centerpiece, and Atlanta will depend on its highly paid interior disruptor to enhance the pass rush's capabilities. Second-round rookie Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown's Auburn wingman, could help in this area too.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Patriots let their top two sackers last season linebackers Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy defect to ex-Patriot strongholds (Detroit and Miami) in free agency. New England is thin as a result. But Bill Belichick has managed to form scrape together a few potent pass rushes during his career. The Pats will likely give second-year edge Chase Winovich more work, and Winovich's ex-Michigan teammate second-rounder Josh Uche will be needed too. Belichick might give linebacker Dont'a Hightower more run as a pass rusher as well, because, on paper, this is an unimposing group.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Although the Titans' new financial arrangements for Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry prompted them to trade five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey for next to nothing, they did improve at their primary pass-rush position. Vic Beasley was maddeningly inconsistent in Atlanta, but the 2016 All-Pro played better down the stretch in an eight-sack 2019. He joins ascending young talent Harold Landry. With Casey gone, 2019 first-rounder Jeffery Simmons who would have been out of the Titans' draft reach had he not torn his ACL last year will now anchor Tennessee's up-front rush effort.

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

For the purposes of this ranking, Yannick Ngakoue remains a Jaguar. The Jags franchise-tagged the talented defensive end, but Sacksonville's final remaining rusher insists he wants out of Jacksonville. The rebuilding team still has Josh Allen, who quietly notched 10.5 sacks as a rookie, and just drafted LSU defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson. The team that already cut Malik Jackson did the same to defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, this coming shortly before the Ravens gave the Jags only a fifth-round pick for All-Pro Calais Campbell. A full-on reboot up front appears near.

David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

The top two sackers in Bengals history, Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, remain on the team. They are 31 and 32, respectively, and could not prevent last year's team from ranking 28th in pass-defense DVOA. Hometown product Sam Hubbard broke out for 8.5 sacks in his first year as a starter, and rotational cog Carl Lawson has enjoyed moments during his Cincinnati stay. The Bengals will also pay ex-Texan D-tackle D.J. Reader plenty of money to join up with Atkins inside, though Reader is more run-stopper than sack artist.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills lost their top two sack artists from 2019, Jordan Phillips and Shaq Lawson. They soon focused on depth. Longtime Panther defensive end Mario Addison will join Jerry Hughes and Trent Murphy outside, where second-rounder A.J. Epenesa will train. Inside, 2019 first-round pick Ed Oliver should take on a bigger role post-Phillips. Ex-Seahawk Quinton Jefferson and ex-Panther first-rounder Vernon Butler now join him, as does a returning-from-injury Harrison Phillips, who looked in the early stages of a breakout year last season. This will be an interesting group to observe.

Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns have one of the game's best in Myles Garrett. Despite the helmet-swinging incident cutting his season off after 10 games, Garrett's 10 sacks led the Browns. None of his teammates eclipsed six. Olivier Vernon, whose status may still hinge on the Browns convincing Jadeveon Clowney to sign, registered only three sacks. He is set to make $15.25 million in a contract year. The Browns are talented inside, with Larry Ogunjobi and Sheldon Richardson, and added D-end Adrian Clayborn in free agency. Last season, however, left some question marks as to Garrett's supporting cast.

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt was back in All-Pro form in 2018 and led all players in QB hits before his torn pectoral injury last season. The Texans did not do much to help their injury-prone icon this offseason. The recently extended Whitney Mercilus looked great with Watt in the lineup. But in between Weeks 5 and 16 -- with Watt out most of that time -- he recorded a half-sack. Houston drafted Jonathan Greenard in Round 3 but absolutely needs its 31-year-old future Hall of Famer to stay healthy for this setup to work. With Watt limited to eight games, the Texans ranked 26th in pass-defense DVOA last year.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Usually conservative in the offseason, the Colts muscled up this year and shipped their first-round pick for one of the game's best defensive linemen. Entering his age-26 season, DeForest Buckner is a game-changing get for Indianapolis. The ex-49er should make life easier for his new teammates. That will help a Colts team that features injury-prone Justin Houston as its top edge presence. Kemoko Turay looks like he will be given the chance to start, and the ex-second-rounder flashed before his broken ankle last year. The Colts could use some edge insurance, however.

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Cardinals' descent since their run to the 2015 NFC championship game has obscured the rare post-Patriots success story. Now a two-time All-Pro, Chandler Jones has delivered far more in Arizona than he did in New England. Jones' 96 sacks are the fifth-most through an age-29 season in NFL history. He needs a running mate. The Cards signed ex-Lion hybrid Devon Kennard, who is coming off back-to-back seven-sack years, and paid up for D-tackle Jordan Phillips (9.5 last year). First-round chess piece Isaiah Simmons could help here too, giving Jones a better hope of support.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

After letting Robert Quinn walk and not re-signing Michael Bennett, the Cowboys turned to more outside reinforcements. They will try to complement leading man De Marcus Lawrence with 2019 Panther pair Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe while hoping perennial drug-ban risks Aldon Smith (out of football since 2015) and Randy Gregory (28 career games since being a 2015 draftee) will benefit from a more lenient NFL substance-abuse policy. If this plan goes well, the Cowboys will have a formidable crew around Lawrence. Big if.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Long-term questions exist here, but the Ravens' 2020 group should be productive. The team traded for 34-year-old All-Pro Calais Campbell a standout with outside- and inside-rushing chops and franchise-tagged steady outside linebacker Matt Judon, whose 33 QB hits last season ranked fourth in the NFL. Baltimore also added ex-Denver Super Bowl starter Derek Wolfe after its Michael Brockers deal fell through. A need remains opposite Judon, which the Ravens showed last year by leading the NFL in blitz rate, but Pernell McPhee is at least back as an auxiliary rusher.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

They may lack for fan support, but the Chargers will again feature one of the NFL's premier edge tandems. Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa are back for a fifth season together; the latter is on the verge of becoming one of the NFL's highest-paid players. Bosa already has three double-digit sack seasons; he's played just three full slates. At 31, Ingram is a sidekick but is riding three straight Pro Bowl nods and has missed only three games in his past five seasons. No other Charger notched three sacks last year; the team will need more from its supporting cast.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Jones has been an impact defensive tackle pretty much since arriving in 2016. The NFL record holder for most consecutive games with a sack, Jones is now on the franchise tag. While the Chiefs may not be able to afford giving Jones a $20 million-per-year deal with Frank Clark already attached to one they have him at a reasonable rate now. Clark bookend Tanoh Kpassagnon registered two sacks in the AFC title game, and the team returns Alex Okafor and signed ex-first-rounder Taco Charlton. This trio may be enough to supplement Clark and Jones on a team that has noteworthy offensive capabilities.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Bucs re-signed key pass-rush principals Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh, with Barrett returning via the franchise tag. Barrett went from buy-low signing to the Bucs' all-time single-season sack leader, with an NFL-best 19.5. But the ex-Bronco will still need to disprove any fluke notions this season. JPP has now surmounted two career-threatening injuries to remain a quality pressure artist into his early 30s. Suh is not quite the menace of old, but he remains a difficult blocking assignment. The Bucs are banking on him maintaining form at 33.

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

If the Eagles can keep their group healthy, this remains a strong collection of rushers. Anchors Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham remain, and versatile 2019 signee Malik Jackson is expected back after an injury shelved the ex-Super Bowl starter last year. The Eagles also signed ex-Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave, whom Pro Football Focus rated as a top-15 inside rusher last year. Former first-round pick Derek Barnett needs to show more, however. Riding five straight Pro Bowl invites, Cox remains this assembly's engine.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Appleton Post-Crescent via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Questioned for spending lavishly on two potential buyer-beware edge rushers, the Packers reaped the benefits last season. Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith both had career years, combining for 25.5 sacks. Za'Darius has become one of the league's best pressure producers; his 78 QB hits over the past three seasons rank second only to Aaron Donald. The Packers should get standout D-lineman Kenny Clark's best stuff in his contract year, and 2019 first-rounder Rashan Gary poses an interesting bench rusher.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams again feature outside linebacker uncertainty, having signed new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's ex-Bears pupil Leonard Floyd to replace Dante Fowler. This may not be the group Los Angeles booked a Super Bowl berth with, but Aaron Donald still plays here. Donald has 14 more QB hits than any other player since 2017, and his five All-Pro seasons are the most for any defensive lineman through six seasons since the merger. The Rams also re-signed career-long Donald supporting caster Michael Brockers and drafted Alabama's Terrell Lewis in Round 3.

Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

On track for the Hall of Fame, Khalil Mack may be the game's best edge player entering his age-29 season despite a down 8.5-sack year. He spearheads Chicago's corps, which now includes a superior sidekick. Coming off an 11.5-sack season, Robert Quinn is an upgrade on Leonard Floyd. Though Quinn has done his best work as a 4-3 lineman, the Bears' 3-4 scheme should not hinder him too much considering nickel defenses are almost every team's primary look. Akiem Hicks is a daunting task for offensive linemen. Despite an injury-marred season, the imposing D-tackle should still be a force at age 30.

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Not many defensive players outflank Cameron Jordan, who is fresh off a 15.5-sack season. And 2018 first-round rush partner Marcus Davenport showed improvement in his second season. New Orleans' 51 sacks ranked third in 2019, and the team is deep up front. The Saints re-signed underrated defensive tackle David Onyemata, and Sheldon Rankins a burgeoning inside-rush talent prior to a January 2019 Achilles tear should be in better form in 2020 than he was last year. The team also drafted Wisconsin's Zack Baun in Round 2. The linebacker will likely moonlight as a rusher, after recording 12.5 sacks last year.

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

This ranking is contingent on Bradley Chubb bouncing back from his ACL tear and Von Miller showing at 31 he is still an elite edge pursuer. The latter has cemented his Hall of Fame credentials, but Chubb's injury allowed defenses to key on the game's premier edge-bender again. Chubb posted 12 sacks as a rookie. He and Miller now have ex-Titans Pro Bowl D-lineman Jurrell Casey in front of them. For all Derek Wolfe and Malik Jackson's praise, Casey is more accomplished. The Broncos' deal to cheaply re-sign Shelby Harris provides a strong fourth rush option for one of the league's sleeper teams.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

If first-rounder Javon Kinlaw shows immediate promise, this ranking is too low. But upon trading DeForest Buckner, the 49ers lost their most reliable defender. Still, Nick Bosa enters the 2020 season as one of the NFL's best players. And Dee Ford's knee surgery should allow the ex-Chief to play more than the part-time role he did last season. Arik Armstead will need to prove his 10-sack contract year was legit, and the 49ers have seen little from 2017 No. 3 overall pick Solomon Thomas. If he takes a step forward, however, this San Francisco D-line may be just as good as last year's.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Washington went 3-13 and did not have a 10-sack player last year, but the 2020 D-line will be a problem. Ryan Kerrigan, a four-time Pro Bowler with 90 career sacks, may not even start. The Redskins match the 2019 49ers with five first-round picks up front. Chase Young may elevate this group into a dominant collection. The latest Ohio State rush phenom is one of the best talents to enter the draft in years; he follows 2019 first-round D-end Montez Sweat (seven 2019 sacks) to Washington. Interior linemen Matt Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne round out the team's most exciting position group in many years.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Armed with four proven pass rushers, this is the NFL's highest-floor group. It has led the NFL in sacks three straight years; T.J. Watt has 27.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles since 2018. He may not be on J.J.-level trajectory, but he's not far off. The Steelers franchise-tagging Bud Dupree keeps their imposing outside linebacker tandem intact and buys them evaluation time on Dupree. The Cam Heyward-Stephon Tuitt D-end duo warrants more attention, even though the two have been together since 2014. Both are high-level pass rushers for 3-4 ends. As a bonus, third-round edge defender Alex Highsmith is coming off a 15-sack season.

Original post:

Ranking the pass-rushing corps for every NFL team - Yardbarker