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Indy 12,086 (Phi)

11 Playing chess to alarm - here's an easy win (8,4)

I can do that one!

The oft-overlooked Rodney Dangerfield ("I don't get no respect") world champion makes a rare appearance.

Guardian 29,754 (Imogen) 5 across. News: it's about former chess champion (7)

Spam reported - and removed by the ever present Admin😂

I solved that one without understanding it, Geeker - I assumed there must be a champion called DING.
Who's Rodney Dangerfield?

Google found him. Never heard of him.

Hi Geeker,

I'm a tad bemused by Rodney Dangerfield comment - Google thinks his name is now associated with a chess defence, is that correct?

I also had a look at the Dr Lupo Pogbchamps video which I seem to have missed previously. His "apology" was as farcical as his sudden GM level play. First he denied it, even going so far as to call his opponent live on his podcast to try to entice him into say that he agreed there had been no cheating. Then he begrudgingly admitted that he may have been following some moves suggested in the chat as the game was being played. Next, and only when the evidence was incontroverible, he finally admitted to using a chess engine.

But wait, he had one more move left to play that nobody, other than the entire world, could see coming.... it was because he struggles with his mental health! Yes, he's a victim you see, not a bad guy - the get out of jail free card that every celeb and wannabee uses today with seeming impunity.

So please everyone, let's send him our messages of sympathy and support and, most important of all: don't forget to click the 'like' and 'subscribe' button!

Brendan,

Sorry, Rodney Dangerfield was a US pop culture reference (I knew nothing about the chess opening!).

RD was an old-fashioned "Borscht Belt" stand-up comedian who became ultra-popular in the 1980s after appearing in "Caddyshack" and other films ("Back to School" comes to mind). Many of his jokes ended with the trademark phrase "I don't get no respect", which became iconic ("meme" hadn't been invented). He was all over the late-night talk shows in those days.

Ding basically got no respect as WC and still doesn't, as his chess performances continue to lag. In his defence, he truly (unlike Dr. Lupo) had some health problems, likely including mental issues related to pressure.

Some video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0toL3C0R14

I tuned out the Dr. Lupo thing after seeing the original tapes and GM analysis. Fortunately I missed the (sadly predictable) BS you mentioned.

Thanks Geeker,

I know who RD was and do remember seeing him in Caddyshack, or clips of him at least. It was his reference to DL that had me puzzled, but I get it now and you're right - Ding does seem to have faded away somewhat since becoming World Champion.

It's sad to hear that he is suffering from real mental health issues and this is the main reason I get so infuriated when it's constantly trotted out to excuse poor behaviour by todays 'influencers', celebs and wannabees - invariably accompanied by their shills opining about how "brave" they are for coming forward!

Sadly, genuine sufferers often tend to get lost and overlooked in the wake, as seems to be the case here.

FT 18,117 (Mudd)
22down Man topping eggs (4)

From today's IQ by Vismut:-

There may be a misprint in the definition

5a - Game with skull on board leaderless pine ship (5)

The 'man topping eggs' clue took me a age to work out!