North America
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Tani Adewumi gets second IM norm!
Tanitoluwa AdewumiPhoto by Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation In late April, Tanitoluwa Adewumi earned his first IM norm and yesterday he earned a second. Tani earned the norm at the New York Summer Invitational where topped the field with 7/9 edging out Nakada Akira who finished with 6.5. Now the top-rated…
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Tony Ballard’s Powerful Chess Testimony
Tony Ballard’s life has been one of turmoil, but chess has become a source of balance during his period of incarceration. Ballard is serving a 294-month sentence for attempted murder, but recently gave one of the most powerful testimonies of the rehabilitative properties of chess. Grandmasters will often be asked…
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Kevin Pryor shines at Emory Castle Camp
Kevin Pryor is known more as an organizer extraordinaire in the state of Florida and currently serves as the Florida Chess Association President. After a successful 38-year career at Johnson & Johnson, he started his chess service in 2014. In 2015 he became a Board Member of the Florida Chess…
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Shabazz to get Special Services Chess Award!
Dear Chess Community, On June 17th, I was informed that I would be the recipient of a U.S. Chess Special Services award. It is indeed a great honor and I will be accepting this on behalf of The Chess Drum community worldwide. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday,…
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Maurice Ashley honored by Brownsville!
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley was one of the esteemed honorees that also included championship boxer Mike Tyson, actress Bern Nadette Stanis (Thelma of “Good Times”) and legendary football player Otis Wilson (Chicago Bears). Christian Whitted posted on social media platforms an event honoring the sons and daughters of the Brownsville Brooklyn…
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Aspiring chess master Janell Warner ready to shine
Janell Warner posted pictures on social media about her graduation from Brandeis University and stated, “so happy to be surrounded by so much love and support.” Certainly, family and friends were on hand to celebrate the event, but the chess community can also celebrate. This is yet another example of…
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Jeffery Xiong nets another Chicago title!
Jeffrey Xiong won his second Chicago Open title after his 2015 breakthrough. At the 2022 Chicago Open, he finished on 7/9 along with three others but won the tiebreak battle. Xiong has made steady progress since then and had previously made the national team. With the addition of Levon Aronian…
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Michael Abron releases book on Chess Journey
For the past couple of years Michael Abron has been working on his memoirs to tell his story of playing in a tournament in all 50 U.S. states. in March released The Chess Traveler and Pioneer. Abron was featured on The Chess Drum after completing the journey. He finished at…
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First IM norm for Tani Adewumi!
FIDE Master Tani Adewumi is growing up right before our eyes. He recently notched the first of three required “norms” for the title of International Master. It was only three years ago that the story broke of an 8-year-old winning the New York Scholastic State Title. A New York Times…
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Jerald Times scores victory in legal chess battle
National Master Jerald Times told The Chess Drum a month ago about a troubling saga involving his tenure at the Success Academy Charter Schools (SACS). Serving as the Chess Program Director he alleged that the organization held discriminatory practices within the organization. He then filed a discriminatory complaint against SACS.…
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