Originally posted by plopzillaTal had a severely deformed right hand.
I now this is a very random question but does anyone know of anyone who was physically or mentally disabled (not including blind) that has made it in Chess e.g at least IM level etc?
http://chessville.com/images/Benko_P.155_(Tal.Fischer).jpg
Bobby Fischer's early teacher Jack Collins was a wheelchair user, and must have been master strength though I think he only competed in correspondence events.
I seem to remember there was a Soviet player in the 1950s who had lost both his hands during the war, but I can't remember his name.
Originally posted by wormwoodI thought he was FM but can't find him on their list,so guess not.Perhaps he just didn't bother to pay for it?
he's only a uscf NM though, so more like a strong club player. no FIDE title as far as I know.
Anyway,he's been close to 2300,don't know if he ever made it across that barrier.
Pretty respectable imo,and better than the 'strong clubplayer'.Unless your area has very strong clubplayers,of course 🙂
Originally posted by tortenwell, you know, I regard all untitled players as club players. sure he has honorary titles and is a liked and known player/coach, but still just a club player.
I thought he was FM but can't find him on their list,so guess not.Perhaps he just didn't bother to pay for it?
Anyway,he's been close to 2300,don't know if he ever made it across that barrier.
Pretty respectable imo,and better than the 'strong clubplayer'.Unless your area has very strong clubplayers,of course 🙂
I know he AIMED for FM, so probably wasn't about the money had he made it.
...
just looked up, on his ICC profile he says he peaked at 2298 FIDE. now 2188 FIDE and 2200 USCF (that's a rating floor, right?). so didn't quite make it. and "now retired from serious chess."
Originally posted by wormwoodI looked up Michael Aigner on the USCF website. His peak rating was 2340, and he earned the original Life Master title, which means he played at least 300 tournament games at a rating above 2200. That title includes a 2200 floor for his rating.
well, you know, I regard all untitled players as club players. sure he has honorary titles and is a liked and known player/coach, but still just a club player.
I know he AIMED for FM, so probably wasn't about the money had he made it.
...
just looked up, on his ICC profile he says he peaked at 2298 FIDE. now 2188 FIDE and 2200 USCF (that's a rating floor, right?). so didn't quite make it. and "now retired from serious chess."
Original Life Masters are rare in the USCF, and very well respected. There are a number of players who break the 2200 threshold long enough get the rating published and claim the National Master title, but there are very few who can sustain that performance over 300 tournament games.
