The Chess Drum
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Chess.com gets the beat of The Chess Drum!
Recently chess.com featured “Chess Through an African Lens” written by this author. The reception was very positive, but it is surprising how few had been exposed to this information about the African Diaspora which is a testament to how chess media lacks a true representation of the vast chess universe.…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 23: Ashley’s Unity Tournament Series (1992)
The 1992 African-American Unity Tournament Series was a novel idea and 30 years later, has never lost its relevance. If there is one aspect of the Hall of Fame career of Maurice Ashley that is overlooked or perhaps underrated, it is his visionary ideas. We know about his ambitious tournaments…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 22: William Earnest Griffin
William E. Griffin on page 101 of The Rice Gambit by H. Keidanz (New York, 1905). William Earnest Griffin is a chess player you may not know, but one whose words will make an indelible impression. According to the February 1905 issue of the American Chess Bulletin (page 34), Griffin…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 18: Queen Nefertari & Senet
Chess enthusiasts around the world have enjoyed the game for centuries and are familiar with its Indian origins. However, there are alternate theories of how chess was spread. Some have suggested that chess played today descended from Africa. I have heard this suggestion made by chess enthusiasts based on a…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 16: Pan-African Chess
Marcus Mosiah Garvey The Chess Drum is billed as a Pan-African website. One of the biggest inspirations for this site was the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. This Jamaican visionary immigrated to the United States and set forth one of the most important social movements in American history. It started as…
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Chess in 2022 heating up the Sunshine State!
Wyndham Orlando Resort (International Drive) From March 13th-15th, Florida “the sunshine state” will be hosting its statewide scholastic tournament with nine sections. The entry fee for scholastic players is a nominal $40 by February 25th. There is no onsite entry so make your plans ahead of time! Check floridachess.org for…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 15: Ashley & Muhammad
In 2003, Maurice Ashley and Stephen Muhammad joined the roster of participants of the prestigious U.S. Chess Championship, the hallmark of American tournaments. It is a chance for glory and to be included in the annals of history along with the list of luminaries whose plaques now adorn the World…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 13: GM Amon Simutowe
If you were following chess in the early 2000s, there is a chance you may have heard of Zambia’s Amon Simutowe. I read about this rising talent on kasparovchess.com after coming across an article by South Africa’s Mark Rubery. After continuing to dig I realized I was already late in…
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Black History Month 2022-Day 12: The Chess Drum
This day marks 21 years for The Chess Drum and a continued effort to show the universality of chess. More specifically it is a platform to show the contributions of players of African descent. Why is there a need for this? Decades ago, chess media was very myopic in terms…
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The Chess Drum is 21 years old!
Hello everyone! The Chess Drum’s 21st year represents the official coming of age. Last year there was a 20-year reflection highlighting critical events in each year. It was a lot of work, but it was well worth the time and effort. When you embark upon a project, you never know…
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