Michael Tisserand has recently penned a very interesting article on bestofnewsorleans.com. His article, "Getting Back in the Game" centers around chessplaying personalities in new Orleans has what has happened to the chess community since Hurricane Katrina. The article mentions many personalities including Rene Phillips, Alfred Carlin (now in Dallas) and the famed Jude Acers. The article also details the experience of Acers, undoubtedly the most  famous player in New Orleans.

The article recounted the harrowing episode of Phillips' Katrina experience.  "I couldn't get any money. I couldn't show any fear in front of my wife and kids. We didn't know where we were going," he is quote as saying.

Phillips mentioned the mental anguish he experienced in the article and commented that he received help from The Chess Drum's Daaim Shabazz. That story was featured on these pages last year. He also mentioned the outpouring of help from the Philadelphia chess community. 

The article had a number of heart-warming stories and mentioned other personalities such as native son Paul Morphy, Eddie Compass (Police Chief during Katrina), trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and John Johnson, former coach at Ben Franklin Elementary. The article is quite lengthy, but is a very interesting read.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 5 October 2006