Forgotten chess legend

Tony Miles 1955-2001

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/milesmp.html

Yeah...didn't he have a mental breakdown in the late 80's? Went nuts and tried to see the queen at Buckingham Palace or something before getting carted off to the loony bin?

The worst thing of all is that Tony Miles lived very near where I have settled in England and had coached some junior players to an extremely high level. Now most of them are gone from the area without any new ones to replace them, and I run the county team so have been hit not just from losing Tony but also any of his prodigies as potential players.

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Yeah...didn't he have a mental breakdown in the late 80's? Went nuts and tried to see the queen at Buckingham Palace or something before getting carted off to the loony bin?

Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Yeah...didn't he have a mental breakdown in the late 80's? Went nuts and tried to see the queen at Buckingham Palace or something before getting carted off to the loony bin?

Originally posted by EAPOE
After he lost the top spot in British chess to Nigel Short, his mental decline followed. How many great chess players have suffered from mental instability I wonder?

Originally posted by EAPOE
Tony Miles 1955-2001

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/milesmp.html

Originally posted by nmdavidb
Not forgotten by me...the one opening I say for all players to try if they think they have tactical prowess is the Philidor Counter Gambit.

Miles took this obscure line back in the 70's and knocked people off the board with it.

I have played MANY games with it and will always continue to do so because of him...and his belief that you should be original on the chess board.

Dave

But make sure it is not a game in progress😛

Originally posted by Phlabibit
Well, post us a PGN!

P-

Don't forget the inaugural world chess champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, who went insane and died penniless:

http://www.chess-poster.com/great_players/steinitz.htm

Originally posted by Iron Monkey
But make sure it is not a game in progress😛

For a while Miles was living in the US, I think because of some snit he was in with the BCF. Anyway in 1988 he played in the US Championship in Cambridge Springs, PA and finished in last place with 4 out of 7. I was there and particularly remember being the only one sitting in on his PM with his drawn game with the winner, IM Michael Wilder. Despite Wilder’s drawing the game and Miles’ poor result, Wilder seemed intimidated by Miles’ stature as a player. My impression of Miles was that he was a friendly enough person and was not the least condescending. I remember him asking Wilder. “Why are you asking me if it’s a good move? You drew didn’t you?” Others playing were Seirawan, Gulko, Benjamin, DeFirmian, Dlugy and Alburt. I don’t remember the others.