California Chess History

HALL OF FAME

by Kerry Lawless

IGM WALTER BROWNE (1949-2015): Six-time U.S. Champion has (after coming to California in 1973) probably won more California tournaments than anyone else. Besides being founder and editor of the Berkeley based Blitz Chess Magazine (1988-2003) and the founder and director of the World Blitz Chess Association (1988-2003), he's an author, and chess instructor. After Fischer abdicated his World Championship title, Browne was the leading California and US player. In 2012, he wrote one of the most important books ever written by a California player, "The Stress of Chess and its Infinite Finesse". Some delightful bits of California chess history are revealed. Amazon.com gives it 4.5 stars...definitely a great book.