Drum Majors
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Walter Harris, America’s 1st Black Chess Master, dead at 83
Dear Chess Community, Yesterday, I learned that Walter Harris, America’s first Black National Master, had passed away on October 12th, 2024. Harris was 83 at the time of his demise and had no survivors. During a phone conversation with Frank Street (America’s second Black National Master), he expressed a concern…
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17-year-old Nyuima Tersee is new Nigerian Champion!
Nyuima Ferdinand Tersee won the 2024 Nigerian National Championship over several titled and veteran players. The 17-year-old from Benue State bested a field of veterans and titled players as the youngest in the nation’s history to win the coveted title. In the aftermath of Gukesh Dommaraju’s world title, the age…
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Brewington Hardaway is now a Chess Grandmaster!
Brewington Hardaway has qualified for the title of “International Grandmaster” after reaching the required 2500 FIDE rating during the New York Fall GM Invitational. At the tournament, Hardaway finished with an undefeated 6/9, ending with five draws. Hardaway completed all of his norms for the IM (#1, #2, #3) and…
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Maurice Ashley’s new chess initiative announced!
For decades, Grandmaster Maurice Ashley has been on the cutting edge of chess news, whether through championship coaching, giving exciting commentary, delivering training courses, or organizing million-dollar tournaments. While he can still be seen giving guest lectures and doing commentary, he is now embarking on a bold, new initiative. Ashley…
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Saad Elmi clinches IM title at World U18!
Saad Abobaker Elmi of Norway earned his final IM norm at the World Youth under-18 in Brazil after finishing 7.5/11. This result comes months after he earned his 2nd IM norm (barely missing a GM norm) at the Zadar GM Norm Tournament in Croatia. Elmi scored his first IM norm at the…
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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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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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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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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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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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