Month: April 2020

  • The Chess Drum

    The Mystery of Theophilus Thompson Solved!!

    Theophilus Thompson is well-known figure in The Chess Drum community. Throughout the years we have honored him as perhaps the first Black player of note in the U.S. He was preceded by James McCune Smith and succeeded by William Griffin. Thompson is famously known for his book on chess problems…

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  • ObituaryArianne Caoili

    Arianne Caoili, a sweet soul who gave a chess king his lucky stars

    The chess world is still mourning the loss of Arianne Bo Caoili (pronounced kay-OH-lee) who sadly died March 31st. Her death came two weeks after a horrific single-vehicle accident that shocked the chess world. Arianne was intelligent, articulate and certainly statuesque in appearance. She had an engaging personality and was…

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  • The Chess DrumBeejay Hicks, Abdullah Abdulbashir, Adia Onyango, Walter Harris, Kenneth Moody at 2014 World Open in Arlington, Virginia. They are posing with fellow New Yorker Walter Harris (second from right), the first Black player to earn the National Master title. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.

    New York chess loses Beejay Hicks to COVID-19

    Beejay Hicks Photo courtesy of Pearline Hicks Adia Onyango reported on Facebook group Chess Connections that, “fellow teammate and chess player, Beejay Hicks passed away due to COVID-19.” Beejay, born on December 19th, 1954 in Harlem (NYC), was 65 years old. According to Pearline Hicks, Beejay’s wife of 23 years,…

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  • Grand Chess Tour

    Grand Chess Tour cancels 2020 season

    MEDIA CONTACT Rebecca Buffington Phone: +1 (314) 277 – 3930 Email: press@grandchesstour.org For Immediate Release Grand Chess Tour Cancels 2020 SeasonDue to COVID-19 Saint Louis, MO, April 2, 2020 – The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) regretfully announces the cancellation of its 2020 season. The global pandemic known as COVID-19 is…

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