These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2025-11-03,
and should be interpreted accordingly.
On each question you may give up to two answers, but if you give
both a right answer and a wrong answer, there is a small penalty.
Please post all your answers in a single followup to the newsgroup,
based only on your own knowledge. (In your answer posting, quote
the questions and place your answer below each one.) I will reveal
the correct answers in about 3 days.
All questions were written by members of the Cellar Rats, and are
used here by permission, but have been reformatted and may have
been retyped and/or edited by me. The posting and tabulation of current-events questions is independent of the concurrent posting
of other rounds. For further information please see my 2026-03-10
companion posting on "Questions from the Canadian Inquisition
(QFTCI*)".
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
3. Sometimes a checkmate occurs when the defeated king is surrounded
by its own pieces, completely blocking it from moving. What term
is used to describe this type of checkmate?
4. A common opening move is for the first player to move the
king's pawn two squares forward. In the olden days we might
have recorded this move as "P-K4", but the current accepted
notation for chess games has it as "e4". What name is given
to this current system of notation?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
In each cases name the brothers or sisters described. In each
case they have the same surname, and that's all you have to give
as an answer.
* A. Famous Siblings in History
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
A2. These brothers were the first Europeans to cross the northern
Great Plains and to see the Rocky Mountains, during an
expedition in 1742-43.
* B. Sibling Astronomers
B1. This brother-and-sister team collaborated on observations of
a lunar eclipse when he was 23 and she was 17. 3 years
later, they again worked together on the observations of
a new star that suddenly appeared in 1572, a supernova now
called SN-1572.
B2. The brother was appointed Court Astronomer in 1781.
His younger sister was the first woman to receive a salary
as an astronomer.
* C. Sibling Directors
C1. Who are the Irish brothers who directed award-winning movies,
with the younger directing "In Bruges" in 2008 and the older
directing "The Guard" in 2011, both starring Brendan Gleeson?
C2. As brothers, these two directed the first three "Matrix"
movies. Then, after both transitioned, they directed the
Netflix series "Sense8" as sisters. Who are they?
* D. Sibling Authors
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
D2. The author of the suspense-thriller Trevelyan series and
the Devereaux series is the brother of the man who wrote
the Jack Reacher series under the pseudonym Lee Child.
* E. Sibling Musicians
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
E2. The younger brother of one of the Backstreet Boys opened for
his big brother's band on their Backstreet's Back Tour in
1997, and soon landed his own record deal.
* F. Sibling Athletes
F1. Born 15 months apart, in 1980 and 1981, these two sisters
are the most decorated Olympic athletes in their sport,
with the older having won four gold and one silver, and
the younger having won four gold medals?
F2. These brothers were the opposing coaches of the two Super
Bowl teams in 2013 -- the San Francisco 49ers and the
Baltimore Ravens.
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
4. A common opening move is for the first player to move the
king's pawn two squares forward. In the olden days we might
have recorded this move as "P-K4", but the current accepted
notation for chess games has it as "e4". What name is given
to this current system of notation?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
B1. This brother-and-sister team collaborated on observations of
a lunar eclipse when he was 23 and she was 17. 3 years
later, they again worked together on the observations of
a new star that suddenly appeared in 1572, a supernova now
called SN-1572.
B2. The brother was appointed Court Astronomer in 1781.
His younger sister was the first woman to receive a salary
as an astronomer.
C2. As brothers, these two directed the first three "Matrix"
movies. Then, after both transitioned, they directed the
Netflix series "Sense8" as sisters. Who are they?
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
F1. Born 15 months apart, in 1980 and 1981, these two sisters
are the most decorated Olympic athletes in their sport,
with the older having won four gold and one silver, and
the younger having won four gold medals?
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
4. A common opening move is for the first player to move the
king's pawn two squares forward. In the olden days we might
have recorded this move as "P-K4", but the current accepted
notation for chess games has it as "e4". What name is given
to this current system of notation?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
In each cases name the brothers or sisters described. In each
case they have the same surname, and that's all you have to give
as an answer.
* A. Famous Siblings in History
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
* B. Sibling Astronomers
B2. The brother was appointed Court Astronomer in 1781.
His younger sister was the first woman to receive a salary
as an astronomer.
* C. Sibling Directors
C2. As brothers, these two directed the first three "Matrix"
movies. Then, after both transitioned, they directed the
Netflix series "Sense8" as sisters. Who are they?
* D. Sibling Authors
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
* E. Sibling Musicians
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
E2. The younger brother of one of the Backstreet Boys opened for
his big brother's band on their Backstreet's Back Tour in
1997, and soon landed his own record deal.
* F. Sibling Athletes
F1. Born 15 months apart, in 1980 and 1981, these two sisters
are the most decorated Olympic athletes in their sport,
with the older having won four gold and one silver, and
the younger having won four gold medals?
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
* A. Famous Siblings in History
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
3. Sometimes a checkmate occurs when the defeated king is surrounded
by its own pieces, completely blocking it from moving. What term
is used to describe this type of checkmate?
4. A common opening move is for the first player to move the
king's pawn two squares forward. In the olden days we might
have recorded this move as "P-K4", but the current accepted
notation for chess games has it as "e4". What name is given
to this current system of notation?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
In each cases name the brothers or sisters described. In each
case they have the same surname, and that's all you have to give
as an answer.
* A. Famous Siblings in History
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
A2. These brothers were the first Europeans to cross the northern
Great Plains and to see the Rocky Mountains, during an
expedition in 1742-43.
* B. Sibling Astronomers
B1. This brother-and-sister team collaborated on observations of
a lunar eclipse when he was 23 and she was 17. 3 years
later, they again worked together on the observations of
a new star that suddenly appeared in 1572, a supernova now
called SN-1572.
B2. The brother was appointed Court Astronomer in 1781.
His younger sister was the first woman to receive a salary
as an astronomer.
* C. Sibling Directors
C1. Who are the Irish brothers who directed award-winning movies,
with the younger directing "In Bruges" in 2008 and the older
directing "The Guard" in 2011, both starring Brendan Gleeson?
C2. As brothers, these two directed the first three "Matrix"
movies. Then, after both transitioned, they directed the
Netflix series "Sense8" as sisters. Who are they?
* D. Sibling Authors
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
D2. The author of the suspense-thriller Trevelyan series and
the Devereaux series is the brother of the man who wrote
the Jack Reacher series under the pseudonym Lee Child.
* E. Sibling Musicians
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
E2. The younger brother of one of the Backstreet Boys opened for
his big brother's band on their Backstreet's Back Tour in
1997, and soon landed his own record deal.
* F. Sibling Athletes
F1. Born 15 months apart, in 1980 and 1981, these two sisters
are the most decorated Olympic athletes in their sport,
with the older having won four gold and one silver, and
the younger having won four gold medals?
F2. These brothers were the opposing coaches of the two Super
Bowl teams in 2013 -- the San Francisco 49ers and the
Baltimore Ravens.
These questions were written to be asked in Toronto on 2025-11-03,
and should be interpreted accordingly... For further information
please see my 2026-03-10 companion posting on "Questions from the
Canadian Inquisition (QFTCI*)".
** Game 7, Round 9 - Sports - Chess
1. In 1972 Bobby Fischer of the US defeated Boris Spassky of the
Soviet Union in a famous world-championship match. In which
city was it held?
2. In 1997 a computer based on an IBM RS/6000 SP beat the Russian
grandmaster Garry Kasparov. What name was given to this
computer?
3. Sometimes a checkmate occurs when the defeated king is surrounded
by its own pieces, completely blocking it from moving. What term
is used to describe this type of checkmate?
4. A common opening move is for the first player to move the
king's pawn two squares forward. In the olden days we might
have recorded this move as "P-K4", but the current accepted
notation for chess games has it as "e4". What name is given
to this current system of notation?
5. Based in Switzerland, what is the governing body for
international chess competition?
6. Named after an opening sequence in chess, what was the title
of the Netflix series about the chess player Beth Harmon?
7. There is only one type of move in chess where a player can move
two pieces at the same time: king and rook. What is it called?
8. The fastest checkmate theoretically possible in chess would
require both players cooperating to achieve it. In that
case Black gives checkmate on the second move, which is Qh4.
What is the term to describe this checkmate?
9. A player moves one of his pawns two squares forward for the
pawn's first move. If his opponent's pawn is attacking the
square that the pawn moved over, then on the next move the
opponent has the option to capture the pawn by moving his
pawn diagonally to the empty square that the pawn moved over.
What French term is used for this type of special move?
10. There are many ways to have a draw (tie) in chess, for example
stalemate or the two players agreeing to a draw. A player
can also claim a draw if after a certain number of moves (by
each player) no piece has been captured and no pawn has moved.
What number of moves?
** Game 7, Round 10 - Challenge Round - Siblings
In each cases name the brothers or sisters described. In each
case they have the same surname, and that's all you have to give
as an answer.
* A. Famous Siblings in History
A1. Three brothers were kings of three European states -- Spain,
Holland, and Westphalia -- at the same time in the early
1800s.
A2. These brothers were the first Europeans to cross the northern
Great Plains and to see the Rocky Mountains, during an
expedition in 1742-43.
* B. Sibling Astronomers
B1. This brother-and-sister team collaborated on observations of
a lunar eclipse when he was 23 and she was 17. 3 years
later, they again worked together on the observations of
a new star that suddenly appeared in 1572, a supernova now
called SN-1572.
B2. The brother was appointed Court Astronomer in 1781.
His younger sister was the first woman to receive a salary
as an astronomer.
* C. Sibling Directors
C1. Who are the Irish brothers who directed award-winning movies,
with the younger directing "In Bruges" in 2008 and the older
directing "The Guard" in 2011, both starring Brendan Gleeson?
C2. As brothers, these two directed the first three "Matrix"
movies. Then, after both transitioned, they directed the
Netflix series "Sense8" as sisters. Who are they?
* D. Sibling Authors
D1. Their first collaboration, a children's book published
in 1812, was criticized as being unsuitable for children,
so later editions changed the original wicked mothers to
wicked step-mothers. Who were these writers?
D2. The author of the suspense-thriller Trevelyan series and
the Devereaux series is the brother of the man who wrote
the Jack Reacher series under the pseudonym Lee Child.
* E. Sibling Musicians
E1. One of the most prolific and popular composers of the
1700s started his music career giving harpsichord
performances throughout Europe with his older sister when
she was still a teenager.
E2. The younger brother of one of the Backstreet Boys opened for
his big brother's band on their Backstreet's Back Tour in
1997, and soon landed his own record deal.
* F. Sibling Athletes
F1. Born 15 months apart, in 1980 and 1981, these two sisters
are the most decorated Olympic athletes in their sport,
with the older having won four gold and one silver, and
the younger having won four gold medals?
F2. These brothers were the opposing coaches of the two Super
Bowl teams in 2013 -- the San Francisco 49ers and the
Baltimore Ravens.
| Sysop: | Jacob Catayoc |
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