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Drum Majors
Historic Moments: A Sketch of the Legendary Frank Street
The first thing you may have noticed about this page is the pensive pose of a young man on the cover of America’s national chess magazine, Chess Life. The figure on the cover is a living legend by the name of Frank Street, Jr. Mr. Street was blazing the trails…
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The Chess Drum
The Making of The Chess Drum
From time to time, I’m asked a number of questions about the website, The Chess Drum. The site has developed over the past year and players who I meet at tournaments want to know the hows and the whys, so to speak. Well… there’s a short answer and a long…
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Exciting Highlights of 2001!
The Chess Drum’s Highlights of 2001! * * * The Rise of Amon SimutoweThe Talking Drum featuring Amon Simutowe Wilbert Paige Memorial The 1st Wilbert Paige Memorial. . . a historic event!! Official Website of the Wilbert Paige Memorial Tate’s win over GM Sergey Kudrin FM Emory Tate shocks Kudrin…
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Cuba
Historic Moments: Featuring Cuba’s Rogelio Ortega
Cuba’s Native Son Rogelio Ortega The island of Cuba has a great many traditions. With its distinct blend of Spanish and African heritage, Cuba bustles with energy and its citizens are friendly, easy-going and very passionate. One passion that pervades the Cuban society is chess. The birthplace of former World…
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What does the future hold for Black Chess?
Leroy Muhammad during a brief comeback in 1978. Muhammad, born Leroy Jackson, was a scholastic star in the 60s and the third Black player to achieve National Master title. Photo by Bill Merrell. When one looks at the current state of affairs of chess among people of the African diaspora,…
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The Chess Drum
IM Oladapo Adu rampages through Maryland with trifecta win!
IM Oladapo Adu IM Oladapo Adu (pictured right) took on all comers in a set of Maryland tournaments during Labor Day weekend. First was the Maryland Quick Chess Championship (15 minutes per player). Some of the top players in the field were IM Lawrence Kaufman, FM Enhbat Tegshsuren (Mongolia), FM…
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Historic Moments: The 2001 World Open (Philadelphia)
Following are pictures from the historic 2001 World Open. This tournament featured a contingent of African players touring the U.S. The usual excitement filled the air as many of the Black players scored impressive results. To see a larger view of thumbnails, click on image. The colored photographs were taken…
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Philadelphia’s Akeem Gregory-Thompson
The Twin Dynamos Akeem Gregory-ThompsonPhoto by Daaim Shabazz Bruce Thompson Sr., beams with pride when speaking of his chess playing sons, Bruce Jr. and Akeem. Akeem was persistent in his request to learn the game that had captured his imagination. Bruce Sr. states, “Akeem used to ask me occasionally, to…
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The Chess Drum
The Benefits of Scholastic Chess
The Carver H.S. chess team, 1981. Pictured above is a picture taken from The Chicago Defender (April 14, 1981). The photo accompanied a story titled, “Checkmate with Soul” about the chess team at Carver High School, a public school powerhouse of the late-70s to mid-80s. Melvin Alsberry (seated left) was…
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Drum Majors
Reflections on the Wilbert Paige Memorial
The 2nd Harlem Renaissance!!All photos Daaim Shabazz (The Chess Drum) On the 13 July 2001, 10 players of African descent traveled to historic Harlem to help fulfill a dream for many. The Wilbert Paige Memorial tournament, which had been conceived months earlier by Dr. Jones Murphy Jr. and put together…
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