https://www.facebook.com/maurice.ashley/posts/10207914794846822
Another genius gone too soon.
Wow.
How is it that these young whipper-snappers are now getting old enough for some of them to die?
My first experiences with Emory Tate were at the Lunt Avenue club. I drew him, twice, with my home-brew invented line against his Benko Gambit. That was enough to get him to admit that I might actually have an idea there. The third time, he varied to avoid my line. My position quickly fell apart.
Emory Tate also played in many large events. He was a colorful and entertaining person, but (as is typical of chess players) not without ego. In his case that was a positive thing.
Bill Smythe
From this article: “Tate died doing what he did best and doing what he loved to do.” If only that could be said of all of us …
International Master Emory Tate has died two days ago during a chess tournament in San Jose California. What is more shocking is I am just finding out about it now. I have yet to see any reports about what happened. Was it during a game or in between games? Emory A. Tate, Jr. (December 27, 1958 – October 17, 2015) He was a colorful but difficult personality. He often got into arguments and disputes. I remember once when Carol Jarecki forfeited him for something he did during a time pressure scramble in the last round with a large amount of prize money at stake. I only played him once. That was a 5-minute game during the 1988 World Open in Philadelphia. After we sat down at the board but before the clocks had started, he said, “You lost this game.” I replied, “How can I have lost when the game has not been played yet?” He said, “Because you have no chance against me, so already you lost.” He did win the game however.
What color did you have and what was the opening?
Actually, I do not remember but I am fairly sure I must have been white.
He would not make such a statement if he were white.
Assuming I was white I would have played 1.g4
I do remember that the game did not last long.
I had a feeling that would have been your first move as White.
I thought you were going to ask why he would not make that statement if he were white.
A famous grandmaster Efim Bogoljubov often said “When I am white, I win because I am white. When I am black I win because I am Bogoljubov.” If Tate had been white he would have just been saying that he was going to win because he was white. So he had to be black when he said that because then he would be saying, “I am going to beat you anyway even though I am black because I am better than you are.”
Nice setup, Sam! I was wondering but didn’t connect the dots.
IM Emory Tate was a master of risky play. His games were never boring and usually drew a crowd especially as time pressure neared. He was quick with a quip or a one liner. He did not suffer fools gladly, but was open to analyzing with almost anyone. The post mortems were almost as entertaining as the games he played. Sorry to hear that he passed away so young.
The best compliment I heard about Emory Tate concerned two GMs looking at a pairing sheet. One paled when he saw that he had to play Black against this amazing attacker. He said, “Oh ####!” His colleague smiled and replied, “Better you than me.” When told about the incident, Tate laughed and said that he and the GM had been “down a few rabbit holes” in previous encounters.
He won and lost with class. No excuses. Another one of the legends of American chess is gone.
He will be missed.
thanks for the links, bill. had the pleasure of playing both GM Browne and IM Tate back in the 90’s. RIP, gentlemen.