Autumn 2012

Ivanov and Amir stared at each other from across the marble chess board. The last time they had squared off was in 1991, just prior to the event that had changed both their lives.

They were seated on the ground floor of the famed Nukus Museum of Art. A call had been made to close the museum off to the public while the two men rekindled a rivalry that spanned at least fifty matches. Vodka had ensured...