I've seen him a couple of times. Always got a crowd around him. Well, of course, he's the US Champion.
He's Benny Watts.
Some people say he’s the most talented American player since Morphy. I read about a game he played in Copenhagen, a draw against Najdorf. That was in 1948, which means that Benny was eight years old. I’ve seen a picture of him at 13 in front of a whole bunch of sailors. He played against the entire team at Annapolis without losing a game.
“Chess isn’t always competitive. Chess can also be… beautiful. It was the board I noticed first. It’s an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it. I can dominate it. And it’s predictable, so if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame.”
It’s an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it. I can dominate it. and it’s predictable, so if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame.