In 1976, three children were killed in a shooting incident in Belfast. Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan – two ordinary women who were touched by the tragedy – launched an appeal against the use of violence in Northern Ireland by founding the Community of Peace People.

During a 1976 chess tournament in Amsterdam, Soviet grandmaster Viktor Korchnoi quietly asked an English competitor how to spell the phrase “political asylum.” Moments later, he walked into a police station and announced that he wanted to defect from the Soviet Union. By the mid-1970s, Viktor Korchnoi was one of the world’s strongest chess players, but life in the Soviet Union had become increasingly restrictive. While the USSR celebrated its chess champions as symbols of national prestige, they were also expected to remain politically loyal. Korchnoi openly criticized the Soviet chess establishment and repeatedly clashed with officials over limits on his travel and career. In 1976, he decided to leave for good. His defection in the Netherlands sent shockwaves through the chess world. Leaving the Soviet Union meant far more than changing countries. Korchnoi was branded a traitor, stripped of official support, and separated from much of his family, who remained in the USSR for years. Despite the personal cost, he settled in Switzerland, competed under the Swiss flag, and remained one of the world’s elite players for decades. The drama reached its peak at the 1978 World Chess Championship against Anatoly Karpov. The match became one of the Cold War’s most politically charged sporting events, featuring accusations of psychological warfare, claims of coded messages hidden in yogurt deliveries, disputes over mirrored sunglasses, alleged hypnotists in the audience, and constant protests from both camps. It became as much a symbolic contest between East and West as a battle over the chessboard. Although Korchnoi never won the world championship, his resilience and extraordinary longevity made him a chess legend. Decades after defecting, he was still defeating grandmasters less than half his age. In 2006, at 75 years old, he became the oldest player ever to qualify for the Candidates Tournament, a remarkable achievement that remains one of the greatest examples of longevity in elite chess.

from 1974 to 1976, gold lost about half its value. from its 2025 peak to today, bitcoin has also fallen by about half. from 1976 to 1980, gold rose about 7.5x. bitcoin moves through time faster than any other asset. it never closes. it never takes a holiday. people always hope history will give them an answer. history usually says nothing. every now and then, it simply leaves behind two scenes that look strangely alike.

At Montreal 1976... Romania's Nadia Comaneci stunned the world with her mesmerising 'perfect 10' gymnastics performances that earned the 14-year-old three gold medals and a legendary Olympic status. 🤩 #ThrowbackThursday#

@i_decrion These 1976 shots show young MJ in his natural dark-skinned prime with the classic afro. Fun speculation on full vitiligo lightening by his late 60s starting from that base!