Drum Majors
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2025 Ashley Chess Fellows announced!
The Ashley Chess Fellows have been announced! Last November, we announced the Maurice Ashley Chess Fellowship, to provide Black chess talents with opportunities to reach new heights in the sport. Excellence in chess requires a significant amount of training, as well as resources. It is commonly stated and perhaps known…
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Josh Colas biography out!
Guy Colas has just written a book on his son, FM Josh Colas, titled Mastering the Chessboard: A Black Prodigy’s Journey Through the Chess World. It appears to be a story of a chess parent watching the progress of their child and witnessing the valuable lessons learned through chess study…
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Norman Rogers shines at 2025 Chicago Open
Norman Rogers of Philadelphia has returned to regular chess tournaments after a foray into poker. While he still plays poker, he recently played in the Chicago Open (under-2300) and scored 5.5/7, tying for 5th-6th place. When asked about his return, he says, “I’m already back.” FM Norman Rogers (left) showing…
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Tanitoluwa Adewumi qualifies for IM title!
Tanitoluwa Adewumi has just completed the rating requirements for the title of International Master. This is a major step toward his next goal of becoming a Grandmaster. Tani’s story is well-known and has been covered extensively on this site. However, a New York Times story would change his life forever.…
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Bio on Cuban chess legend, Román Hernández Onna
Roman Hernandez (center) analyzing with onlookers. Román Hernández Onna is the subject of a recent biography covering his life and games. Jose Guillermo Rosa informed The Chess Drum of the book, En Memoria del Gran Maestro Román Hernández. Hernandez, who died in 2021, became a Grandmaster in 1978 and played…
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Chitumbo Mwali wins 5th Zambian Chess Crown!
IM Chitumbo Mwali, 2025 Zambian ChampionBupe Gerald Chibomba The Copper Eagle Soars International Master Chitumbo Mwali won his fifth national championship last weekend in the nation’s capital of Lusaka. It was his fourth consecutive title, putting him in elite company. However, the journey would not be easy, as he was…
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GM Carlsson invites you to Charity Chess Event
GM Pontus Carlsson invited The Chess Drum community to participate in his Zero Requiem charity event to benefit the development of chess in Africa. In his ongoing Business Meets Chess & Kids initiative, he involves celebrities, business executive and chess enthusiasts to enjoy chess and meet “chess kids” who have…
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Stephen Muhammad, pioneering International Master (1962-2024)
Stephen Muhammad, an International Master and Georgia Chess Hall of Fame nominee, passed away on December 8th, 2024, after a short battle with colon cancer. He was 62. According to an online obituary, Stephen leaves to cherish his memories: one sister: Cheryle (Harold) Stewart, Plaquemine, LA; four brothers, Michael Booth…
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NextGen Cup: An African Diaspora Chess Battle!
The NextGen Cup is a novel tournament with a $20,000 fund featuring ten master-level players throughout the African Diaspora. It will take place on chess.com on February 6th. IM Kassa Korley, a player who has his own Grandmaster aspirations, is currently employed as chess.com’s Director of Professional Relations. He told…
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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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