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Jamaica
Shreyas Smith takes Jamaican title with 9/9
FM Shreyas Smith won his fifth Jamaican national title with a scintillating performance. At 27, he was the “senior” member of the national team in Budapest Olympiad. Smith is also one of the mainstays on the national scene. FM Shreyas SmithPhoto Shreyas Smith (lichess.org) At the 2024 Jamaica National Championship,…
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Drum Majors
Glenn Umstead, “The Chess Artist” passes away
National Master Glenn Umstead was one of the most dedicated chess enthusiasts on the East Coast. “Supercoach” passed away on October 24, 2024, at his home in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was laid to rest on November 2nd. Glenn had suffered a stroke in 2022 and was reportedly not…
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In the News
New in Chess profiles Daaim Shabazz
During the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam of New in Chess requested that The Chess Drum’s Daaim Shabazz appear in the “Just Checking” segment, which has traditionally appeared on the back page. Much of what appears in this profile shows the chess personality’s lighter side. The…
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Drum Majors
Lawyer Times sponsored by Celts’ Jaylen Brown
National Master Lawyer Times has been running the Future Masters Chess Academy in the Boston area for nearly a decade. The 2017 Massachusetts state champion was a local standout at Boston Latin High School where his team won a national championship. Since then, he has continued his chess involvement but…
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Drum Majors
Remembering Emory Tate
It has been nine years since International Master Emory Tate passed away on October 17, 2015, while competing in the Sam Shankland Open tournament. He was a lifelong loyalist to chess, a brilliant tactician, and displayed immense passion. This earned him a huge following. Emory Tate vacationing in MexicoPhoto by…
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Olympiad
African Diaspora @ Budapest Olympiad!
The African Diaspora was again in full force to compete at the Chess Olympiad for honors. Twenty years ago, little attention was paid to smaller nations, and almost no photographs were taken of players and delegates. Photographers and mainstream chess websites focused primarily on the top boards as if there…
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Somalia
Somalia’s Chess Olympiad Visa Nightmare
Somalians look splendid at the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.Photo by David Llada Somalia Chess Federation Somalia’s plans to attend the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, started with excitement but ended in a nightmare. This is a recurrent theme every two years when smaller federations struggle to attend…
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Jamaica
Jamaican Chess dons post-Olympiad energy
The Jamaican chess delegation trekked to Budapest, Hungary, for the 45th Chess Olympiad. The island nation sent two teams, with former president Ian Wilkinson as head of the delegation. The event marked the 100th anniversary of FIDE, the world’s governing chess body. The Chess Drum got a chance to chat with members…
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Jamaica
Jamaica’s Wilkinson re-elected to FIDE post
Ian Wilkinson, attending his 11th straight Olympiad, was re-elected as a member of the FIDE Constitutional Commission (CC). He described the vote as being ‘hotly contested.‘ Wilkinson comes with some history in FIDE, having served eight years on the Ethics Commission and even running as Vice President in the 2022 Election.…
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Drum Majors
Maurice Ashley talks chess in Budapest
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley was spotted at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, but he told The Chess Drum that he was not there as a delegate or captain, but merely as a chess tourist. Most will know Ashley as one of the most visible commentators of the chess world, but…
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