Latest news with #Hungarian-American
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Susan Polgar on Gukesh's loss to Jan-Krzysztof Duda: ‘One cannot approach Rapid and Blitz same way as Classical Chess'
Chess legend Susan Polgar on Thursday said that current World Champion Gukesh needs to have a very different mindset when approaching the Rapid and Blitz format as opposed to Classical Chess. The Hungarian-American grandmaster said this after Gukesh lost a 6-game Blitz exhibition match against Jan-Krzysztof Duda at Katowice, Poland. She also said that because the World Championship format includes rapid and blitz playoff, Gukesh's approach might potentially pose a problem for him when he defends his title. 'This may potentially be a problem for him in his World Championship title defense. One cannot approach rapid and especially blitz the same way as Classical Chess. The approach and mindset have to be very different. He still has time to fix it but he has to learn to evaluate positions differently in faster time control. This is crucial because the current World Championship format includes rapid and blitz playoff. Complications = burning more valuable time on the clock,' Polgar posted on X. Duda lost the first game but defeated Gukesh in the next 5 to win the match 5-1. This may potentially be a problem for him in his World Championship title defense. One cannot approach rapid and especially blitz the same way as Classical Chess. The approach and mindset have to be very different. He still has time to fix it but he has to learn to evaluate… — Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) August 7, 2025 Since winning the World Championship title from Ding Liren last year, Gukesh's form has been fluctuating. The 18-year-old almost won the prestigious Tata Steel chess event in Wijk aan Zee before losing to Praggnanandhaa in a tie-break in what was his first tournament as the reigning world champion of the sport. Since then, he hit something of a slump, suffering in a couple of Freestyle Chess events. The first event of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour at Weissenhaus, in particular, was a chastening experience: he had zero wins, 11 draws and six defeats. At the Paris leg too, Gukesh suffered. Then, at the Superbet Chess Classic Romania tournament in Bucharest, he managed just one win and had six draws and two defeats to just about avoid ending last (he was joint sixth with three others). But at Norway Chess in July, the classical world champion came roaring back, racking up a couple of firsts, including his first classical victory over world no 1 Magnus Carlsen (the game that saw the infamous fist smashing reaction from Carlsen) and a first classical win over compatriot Arjun Erigaisi. He was just half a point behind Carlsen in the race to win until the final round, but ended up third in the standings.
India Today
29-07-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Divya Deshmukh's Chess World Cup triumph fuelled by mental toughness: Susan Polgar
Legendary Grandmaster Susan Polgar has hailed Divya Deshmukh's remarkable Women's World Cup triumph as a victory fuelled by "mental toughness" and an unshakable will to win, after the 19-year-old etched yet another historic chapter in Indian a thrilling all-Indian final held in Batumi, Georgia, Divya stunned the vastly more experienced Koneru Humpy in the tiebreaks on Monday. Entering the tournament as a dark horse, the teenager from Maharashtra not only secured the prestigious World Cup but also qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament and became India's 88th of all, congratulations to Divya for this historic feat. Well done," Polgar told PTI Videos in an interview. "Even though she may not have been the pre-tournament favourite, or the strongest on paper, she had what others lacked - the will to win and mental toughness." The 56-year-old Hungarian-American, who was the women's world champion from 1996 to 1999, praised Divya's resilience throughout the competition. "There were games where she was in trouble, and some where she couldn't convert. But none of it mattered. She kept fighting, without fear. Her strong nerves carried her through the finish line."Divya's feat places her among the elite in Indian chess, becoming only the fourth Indian woman Grandmaster after Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and R. Vaishali, and the 44th female GM in the who herself became the top-rated female player in the world at just 15, believes Indian chess is in the midst of a golden era, propelled by a wave of fearless young talent and bolstered by the guidance of icons like Viswanathan Anand."This is the Golden Age of Chess in India," she said. "What is even more special is that these talents are all homegrown. They respect and support each other. With sustained support from the government - national to local - and sponsors, India will remain at the top for years to come."Citing the example of teen sensation D. Gukesh, who became a Grandmaster at the age of 12, Polgar noted that success in chess often comes down to intangible qualities."When Gukesh became a GM, he wasn't the highest rated among Indian prospects," she recalled. "But I immediately picked him to go furthest. Some thought I was crazy. But as someone who's worked with over 50 Grandmasters, including players rated above 2700, I recognised his special traits.""Same with Divya. She may not be India's highest rated female player, but she has those same intangibles - fearlessness and an immense will to win. That often compensates for any technical deficiencies, which they can address with more training and experience."advertisementPolgar urged both Gukesh and Divya to stay grounded and keep working diligently, warning that future challenges will be fiercer now that they've reached the summit."Don't stop. It's like a moving train - ride the momentum and don't slow down. There'll always be players who are hungrier. If you ease up, it gets much harder," she cautioned. "Divya is no longer an up-and-comer. She's a World Cup champion now. The target is on her back. Others will be gunning for her. She must train - and train harder."Polgar also had warm words for Koneru Humpy, who has been at the forefront of Indian women's chess for decades."Humpy is a phenomenal player. I have great respect for her. She's been near the top for many years. Age and motherhood make things more challenging, but she navigated many tough matches in this tournament. Monday was Divya's day - that's sport. But Humpy will have her moments again, and I wish her all the best."- Ends
See - Sada Elbalad
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
"Basic Instinct" Reboot in Works
Yara Sameh Amazon MGM Studios' United Artists and Scott Stuber have acquired the rights to the relaunch of the 1992 thriller 'Basic Instinct,' with the original film's writer Joe Eszterhas returning to pen the script. Producers of the not-yet-titled film include UA's Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt and Vault Entertainment's Craig Baumgarten. Adam Griffin of Vault Entertainment will executive produce. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, 'Basic Instinct' became a cultural phenomenon and box office hit, grossing over $350 million worldwide. Known for its provocative themes, 'Basic Instinct' follows detective Nick Curran (Douglas) investigating a brutal murder that leads him into a dangerous game of seduction with prime suspect Catherine Tramell (Stone), a manipulative crime novelist. Eszterhas is a Hungarian-American screenwriter who began his career as a journalist. His hit films include 'Flashdance' (1983), 'Jagged Edge' (1985) and 'Basic Instinct' (1992). Known for his provocative scripts that explore themes of sexuality, power, and moral ambiguity, Eszterhas authored the acclaimed memoir 'Hollywood Animal' (2004), which offers a candid look at the film industry. Other upcoming projects from Stuber include Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein' for Netflix, and 'Deliver Me from Nowhere,' the Scott Cooper-directed drama that stars 'The Bear' breakout Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen when the iconic singer hit an existential crossroads and turned it into the seminal album 'Nebraska,' for 20th Century Studios and Disney — both films are coming out this fall. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results
Straits Times
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody unveils art show in New York
Adrien Brody and his mother Sylvia Plachy at his solo exhibition at Eden Gallery in New York, on May 31. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES NEW YORK – 'I'm a little in a daze,' actor Adrien Brody said recently, the skin around his eyes slightly crinkled, but his gaze soft and present. He had been up since 5am and had spent most of his day crouched on the ground at Eden Gallery in Manhattan, putting the finishing touches on his collages ahead of the next evening's opening of his latest solo exhibition, Made In America. The floors and walls were covered with canvases, themselves covered with old newspaper advertisements, erratic splashes of graffiti and darkly rendered cartoon characters. Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse and Marilyn Monroe were in attendance. As were the Hamburglar and a toy soldier. In a nearby corner was a gum wall, soon to be covered in wads of chewing gum straight from the mouths of attendees in an interactive 'expression of rebellion and decay', according to the wall text. Adrien Brody, the Oscar-winning actor, is also Adrien Brody, the impassioned painter, is also Adrien Brody, the beats-mixing sound artiste. Those mediums converge in a collection of more than 30 works. Accompanied by Brody's soundscapes, the show features large mixed-media art in what he calls an autobiographical display of the gritty New York of his youth, and the culture of violence and intolerance today. It is an approach that has been met with some derision both in the art press and on social media. Made In America, on view until June 28, also includes photographs of and by his mother, acclaimed Hungarian-American photographer Sylvia Plachy – a role model for Brody, who was never formally trained in visual art. A gum wall by Adrien Brody for his art exhibition, Made In America. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES It has been nearly a decade since Brody, 52, last showed his work publicly, at Art Basel Miami. So, why now? 'I'm an unemployed actor at the moment,' he said with a half smile. Though it is difficult to picture Brody as unemployed, especially when his artworks sell for six figures, this is not untrue. The last film Brody shot was in 2023 – The Brutalist, for which he won the best actor Oscar in 2025 – and nothing definite is lined up next. 'I know that if I don't do it now, I won't do it for another long period of time,' he said of the show. 'It's kind of time to let it go.' Adrien Brody's solo exhibition Made In America at New York's Eden Gallery is his first art exhibition in nearly a decade. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES Brody had been steadily working on his collages for the past decade. In the fallow periods, years-long stretches when he was not landing the acting roles he yearned for, he turned inwards and painted. The method in all of his mediums, he said, is a combination of layering – be it the incorporation of studied hand mannerisms for his character in The Pianist (2002) or the added thumps for a recorded track – and peeling back, such as using chemicals to degrade paint for a visual work. Brody, who credits his mother as his greatest artistic inspiration, grew up accompanying Plachy on photo expeditions as she chronicled the city's beauty and chaos on assignments for The Village Voice, where she worked for 30 years. 'He came along and he saw the world,' said Plachy, 82. In her darkroom, set up in their home attic in Queens, they would talk to each other through the curtain while she developed her photographs, moving the images from tray to tray, swirling them around in Dektol. 'He still associates me with those bad chemicals,' she said, laughing. Adrien Brody and his mother Sylvia Plachy at the gallery. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES His father, Elliot Brody, was also a painter, but focused on his career as a teacher. It was onto Plachy's discarded photo prints that Brody began painting as a child. As a teenager, Brody attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts for drama, after being rejected for visual arts. 'It was a good thing, obviously,' he said. 'I'd definitely be a starving artist, most likely, if I didn't have an acting career. So, it's funny ho w that happened.' In Made In America, many works feature a cartoon character – Lisa Simpson or Yosemite Sam or Bugs Bunny – brandishing a weapon. It is a depiction of the violence Brody said he grew up with culturally: an American diet of toy guns, video games an d McDonald's. In Brody's vermin series, oversized black-and-white images of rats appear to pixelate behind street art tags. People are 'either grossed out by them or they are antagonistic towards them', Brody said of the scores of rats in New York City. 'And I always felt like, 'Why doesn't anybody see what they're going through?' Weirdly, I really kind of feel for them.' Rats feature in Adrien Brody's artworks. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES That compassion, he said, comes from his mother. Plachy's sensitivity towards animals rubbed off on him. So much so that he has had a pet rat – twice. The first he bought as a child and then gifted to a friend. The second, a few years ago, belonged to the daughter of his girlfriend, designer-actress Georgina Chapman. 'They're forced to kind of hide and scurry about and forage for themselves ,' he said. 'And people are nasty to them and that always bothered me.' That message, though, appears to be muddied in its reception. 'Brody is trying to do something with mice and rats, but there's no attempt to marshal this imagery towards contemporary critique,' professor of art history Claire Bishop at the CUNY Graduate Center said in an e-mail, calling his collages 'too pretty and too even' and 'lacking bite'. 'To say they look like AI-generated images resulting from search terms '19 90s LES graffiti', ' Americana' and 'Disney nostalgia' would be too generous,' she added . 'What they actually resemble is the kind of sanitised street art that's sold on 53rd Street outside MoMA or on the sidewalk in SoHo – work aimed at tourists seeking an arty yet unchallenging New York souvenir.' And viewers on social media have not taken too kindly to Brody's painterly side. In May , one of his creations, a blue-eyeshadowed Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood sign poking out behind a puff of her blonde hair, sold at the amfAR Gala Cannes for US$425,000 (S$546,600) . The painting became a source of mockery online, and drew criticism for being derivative. Adrien Brody preparing for his art show at the gallery Gallery. PHOTO: SAM HELLMANN/NYTIMES But Brody has his defenders. 'He's real,' said Eden Gallery's chief executive Guy Klimovsky. 'He is himself.' 'Yes, people will come because it's him,' he added, 'but they will forget. Because when I see an artwork, without knowing who made it, the artworks are rich. They're interesting. They have a story connection to the US, the story of the US, to the icon of the US.' It is all part of being an artist, his mother said. 'I think when you stick your neck out into the world, you'll have good and bad comments and that's the risk of it,' Plachy said. Sitting outside the gallery the day before the opening, Brody looked down at his hands, covered in acrylic paint. 'It's a lot of pressure to reveal this,' he said. 'I've literally been hiding the works.' 'Hiding maybe isn't the right word,' he added, 'but working quietly for a very long time and not showing, intentionally, to kind of develop this and do it at my pace. And so this is kind of ripping a Band-Aid off.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Shaken but not stirred, Blake ropes in A-list friends for red carpet roles
She's been making Hollywood headlines for all the wrong reasons of late – amid a toxic legal battle with her former director. But Blake Lively pulled out the big guns as A-listers supported her at the premiere of her latest film. And despite the strain from her clash with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni, Ms Lively's glass was evidently half-full as she sported an on-trend clutch bag resembling a Martini glass at an after-party in New York. Her leather-lined £5,500 Judith Leiber Couture clutch, adorned with crystals, is part of a growing celebrity penchant for bags that resemble foodstuffs or drinking vessels. Lauren Sanchez, fiancee of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, was recently seen out carrying a £4,350 Balenciaga coffee cup handbag. Meanwhile, Madonna, Kim Kardashian and even former US First Lady Hillary Clinton are also said to be fans of Hungarian-American designer Ms Leiber. Ms Lively, 37, was joined by her actor husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, at the screening of her latest movie Another Simple Favour in the Big Apple on Sunday. And Reynolds recruited good friend Hugh Jackman, 56, whom he starred alongside in Deadpool & Wolverine, to pose with his wife. Ms Lively, 37, was joined by her actor husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, at the screening of her latest movie Another Simple Favour in the Big Apple on Sunday The couple's other Hollywood pals, Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt, 42, and Conclave actor Stanley Tucci, 64, also showed their support as they hugged Ms Lively at the party. In December, Ms Lively accused Baldoni, 41, of sexual harassment and starting a smear campaign against her. Baldoni firmly denies that and has sued her in response. Their case is due to go to trial in March next year. Another Simple Favour comes out on Prime Video on May 1 in the UK.
