Drum Majors
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Glenn Umstead, “The Chess Artist” passes away
National Master Glenn Umstead was one of the most dedicated chess enthusiasts on the East Coast. “Supercoach” passed away on October 24, 2024, at his home in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was laid to rest on November 2nd. Glenn had suffered a stroke in 2022 and was reportedly not…
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Lawyer Times sponsored by Celts’ Jaylen Brown
National Master Lawyer Times has been running the Future Masters Chess Academy in the Boston area for nearly a decade. The 2017 Massachusetts state champion was a local standout at Boston Latin High School where his team won a national championship. Since then, he has continued his chess involvement but…
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Remembering Emory Tate
It has been nine years since International Master Emory Tate passed away on October 17, 2015, while competing in the Sam Shankland Open tournament. He was a lifelong loyalist to chess, a brilliant tactician, and displayed immense passion. This earned him a huge following. Emory Tate vacationing in MexicoPhoto by…
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Maurice Ashley talks chess in Budapest
Grandmaster Maurice Ashley was spotted at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, but he told The Chess Drum that he was not there as a delegate or captain, but merely as a chess tourist. Most will know Ashley as one of the most visible commentators of the chess world, but…
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Brewington Hardaway earns final GM norm!
Photo from X (Brewington Hardaway) Fifteen-year-old Brewington Hardaway made his long-awaited trip abroad in search of his final GM norm. He chose the Ciutat de Barcelona International Chess Open as the staging ground for his GM title pursuit. There was a buzz being generated in social media after “Brew” started…
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Jessica Hyatt earns National Master title!
Jessica Hyatt can now add National Master to her name after waiting a long time to celebrate this moment. This past weekend at the FIDE Premier at the Marshall Chess Club, the 18-year-old Brooklyn native was able to push her rating to 2200 for the first time. In 2019, Hyatt…
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The story of Shama Yisrael, the first female African-American Chess Master
National Master Shama YisraelPhoto by Otis Wilson/954 Chess Club Shama Yisrael earned the title of National Master last weekend, becoming the first African-American woman to earn the coveted honor. After playing in several tournaments in a week’s time, the 20-year-old earned her last few points at the Pincrest Independence Open.…
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Saad Elmi gets 2nd IM norm!
Saad Elmi of Norway earned his 2nd IM norm at the Zadar GM Norm Tournament in Croatia. He ended on an undefeated 6/9, drawing all three GMs in the field. Now at 18, Elmi has collected two IM norms and according to mentor GM Pontus Carlsson, “He just missed the…
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Tani Adewumi wins U.S. Cadet!
U.S. Chess Online reports another milestone for FM Tani Adewumi! Now 13 years old, Adewumi won the 2024 U.S. Cadet title in Lisle, Illinois. The tournament was held June 20th-23rd and invited the top players under 16. Winning with a score of 6/7, he was a full two points ahead…
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Bernard Parham, chess innovator, passes away
Bernard Parham I, the 1967 Indiana State Champion and creator of the Matrix Chess System, has passed away. His son Bernard II relayed the news to The Chess Drum, “Resigned against diabetes on Wednesday, June 19th—one day after reaching his 58th wedding anniversary.” Born on October 30, 1946, to Eddie…
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