Michael Basman News Today

Stewart Reuben has officiated and/or organised several top-level chess events held in Great Britain and other countries, including the World Chess Championship, the British Chess Championship and a number of Hastings Congresses. Also an author and a poker player, he even met and played Bobby Fischer: “Each game he won, he gained $1. Had I ever won one, I would have received $10”. | Photo: John Upham

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In 1968, the American magazine Chess Review introduced Michael Basman as “another bright B” in the tradition of famous British chess players represented by Bird, Blackburne and Burn. "Basman would never be the brightest chess star in this constellation of Bs, but he became the most doggedly extra-terrestrial of all of them," writes Jonathan Manley in the December issue of CHESS Magazine. Here's his fine tribute.

Chess is a game of just a handful of pieces -- king, queen, bishop, knight, rook and pawn -- but an infinite number of characters.

His opening repertoire was often successful. But it should have carried a label: “Do not try these at home (or at least not in important competitions).”

Today’s column is dedicated to the memory of Michael Basman, who sadly passed away on Wednesday, October 26th, at the age of 76. It’s one of the great joys of the chess world that we provide a relatively safe environment for eccentric talent, and Basman was as engaging and eccentric in person as in his wonderful creations on the chessboard. | Pictured: Joel Benjamin facing Michael Basman (Lloyds Bank Open 1978)

This week, Daniel King analyses a game he played against Michael Basman, who recently passed away. True to his nature, Basman went for the ‘Creepy Crawly’, with 1...h6 and 2...a6! | Power Play is on air most Fridays. Watch it on-demand with a ChessBase Premium account. All the usual puzzles, games and instruction will be on offer.

Last Wednesday, 26 October, British International Master Michael Basman died of cancer at the age of 76. A prolific chess writer, he left his mark in the chess world as an uncompromising, inventive player. Among other endeavours, he will be remembered as a founder and organizer of the UK Chess Challenge, a tournament for juniors of all standards and ages. | Photo: David Llada / FIDE

An International Master, he created the UK Chess Challenge and was described as ‘in many ways the most important person in British chess’