Latest News!
May 12, 2024
HBCU Chess Spotlight: Spelman College
Spelman’s Jamila Thompson is a native New Yorker who was taught chess by her father. She continued her passion as…
May 11, 2024
HBCU Chess Spotlight: Hampton University
Hampton University traveled 22 hours to the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic in Atlanta after a last-minute effort by the Hampton…
May 9, 2024
HBCU Chess Spotlight: North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T Aggies, 1st place team (2024 HBCU Chess Classic)Photo by Daaim Shabazz/The Chess Drum Dressed in their North…
May 9, 2024
HBCU Chess Spotlight: Howard University
Howard University has a long and esteemed history as an institution. One of the most well-known universities in the country,…
May 9, 2024
Meet the Kings & Queens of HBCU Chess!
HBCU Chess has a long but largely undocumented history. During the 2024 HBCU Chess Classic hosted by The Black Odyssey,…
May 8, 2024
Gregory Acholonu featured “Chess on the Brain”
In a fascinating podcast, FM Gregory Acholonu was a guest on “Chess on the Brain,” talking about a range of…
April 28, 2024
Caleb Parker is 2024 HBCU Chess Champion!
Daniel Buckley (Engineering), Florian Dorleans (FAMU Alumnus), Caleb Parker (Computer Information Systems), Lee Parker (School of Allied Health), Dr. Daaim…
April 11, 2024
Glenn Bady becomes FIDE Trainer!
Life Master Glenn Bady has been involved in chess for nearly 50 years and was part of the contingent of…
April 5, 2024
Maurice Ashley speaks on new books!
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley has been busy lately despite taking a break from commentating. On the cover of the latest Chess…
March 30, 2024
2024 HBCU Chess Classic (Atlanta, GA)
Participants at the 2023 HBCU Chess ClassicPhoto by TBO Chess Society All roads will lead to Atlanta for the 2nd…
March 30, 2024
Capital City Open V (Tallahassee, Florida)
Florida’s Capital City is warming up, and chess is in full bloom. Over the past two years, Jacob Sperber has…
March 24, 2024
Amin, February win 2024 African Individuals!
GM Bassem Amin and WIM Jesse February took the titles at the 2024 African Individual Chess Championship (AICC). It would…
March 22, 2024
Jacorey Bynum makes National Master!
Jacorey Bynum broke the 2200 barrier last weekend at the Southern Chess Classic, earning the coveted title of National Master!…
March 20, 2024
Trinidad & Tobago takes 1st CARICOM Chess Classic!
The 1st CARICOM Chess Classic took place in Georgetown, Guyana, a nation with a rich chess tradition. Guyana was previously…
March 15, 2024
2024 African Individual Chess Championships (Accra, Ghana)
The 2024 African Individual Chess Championships (AICC) have begun! Twenty-four countries have assembled in Accra-Ghana to compete for glory, titles,…
March 15, 2024
With two GM norms, Hardaway charts course
Brewington Hardaway is coming off of his second GM norm in the New York Invitational. The 14-year old International Master…
March 15, 2024
13th All-African Games (Accra, Ghana)
The recently concluded All-African Games were held in Ghana’s capital, Accra, and chess was one of the events. The last…
March 14, 2024
“Jayvon Davis Express” wins in Delaware!
Jayvon Davis won the under-1600 section of the Delaware State Open last weekend allowing him to use his winning method…
February 27, 2024
Tani Adewumi gets required IM norm!
Tani Adewumi earned his fourth IM norm at the Southwest Open in Irving, Texas (outside of Dallas) last weekend. It…
February 25, 2024
Rochelle Ballantyne on chess career, new path
Rochelle Ballantyne has come a long way since starring in “Brooklyn Castle.” In a recent article on chess.com, she reflects…
February 24, 2024
Shakira Luster: Marist’s Chess Queen
Shakira Luster recently captained the Marist chess team at the Illinois State High School team championship scoring a sparkling 7/7.…
February 19, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 3
Greetings everyone! I hope you have enjoyed the first two sets of puzzles for this year’s Black History Month tribute.…
February 14, 2024
How Will Chess Address Cyberbullying?
Online bullying or “cyberbullying” has become a household term to describe a dangerous social interaction that may involve degrading insults,…
February 12, 2024
The Chess Drum is 23!
Hello everyone! The Chess Drum has covered a lot of chess events over the past 23 years. This coverage has…
February 12, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 2
Greetings everyone! As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, February 12th marks the 23rd anniversary of The Chess Drum.…
February 6, 2024
Black History Month 2024 Tribute: Week 1
During this Black History Month 2024, The Chess Drum will present four videos featuring puzzles of several of the chess…
February 1, 2024
Chess24.com shuts down!
In a very surprising move, chess24.com has begun the process of closing the domain despite a popular following for nearly…
January 14, 2024
Is Chess a “Life Game”?
The African-American Chess Association (Facebook) recently posted a podcast conversation of hip-hop artists discussing chess. Chess and hip-hop have a…
January 6, 2024
Joseph Methu wins Kenyan Chess Championship… and car!
Joseph Methu won the 2023 Kenya National Chess Championship, and with it, drove away with a new car (worth 1.3…
December 31, 2023
The Chess Drum’s Highlights of 2023
Our chess highlights of 2023 will show how controversy served as the mainstay of headlines. We even saw a player…
