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Michael Basman, Chess Master Known for ‘Bad’ Openings, Dies at 76 Michael Basman, Chess Master Known for ‘Bad’ Openings, Dies at 76
(1 day later)
Michael Basman, an English international chess master who was known for playing some of the most irregular and least respected openings — often with success — died on Oct. 26 in Carshalton, a suburb of London. He was 76.Michael Basman, an English international chess master who was known for playing some of the most irregular and least respected openings — often with success — died on Oct. 26 in Carshalton, a suburb of London. He was 76.
His son, Antranig Basman, said the cause was pancreatic cancer.His son, Antranig Basman, said the cause was pancreatic cancer.
One of the central tenets of chess is that players must either occupy the center of the board or fight to control it. Another generally accepted principle is that players should not weaken the position near the king, as the object is to corner or checkmate his majesty. Mr. Basman, in his choice of openings, seemed to reject both ideas.One of the central tenets of chess is that players must either occupy the center of the board or fight to control it. Another generally accepted principle is that players should not weaken the position near the king, as the object is to corner or checkmate his majesty. Mr. Basman, in his choice of openings, seemed to reject both ideas.
When he had White, he often played the Grob, an opening in which a pawn near the edge of the board is pushed two squares, creating weaknesses around the king, or the Creepy Crawly, in which White starts by pushing pawns one square on opposite sides of the board. When he had White, he often played the Grob, an opening in which a pawn near the edge of the board is pushed two squares, creating weaknesses around the king. Or he might play the Creepy Crawly, in which White starts by pushing pawns one square on opposite sides of the board.
As Black, he might play the St. George Defense, an opening that begins with two pawns being pushed on the queen side of the board, or the Borg Defense, which was the mirror image of the Grob — literally, as “Borg” is “Grob” spelled backward.As Black, he might play the St. George Defense, an opening that begins with two pawns being pushed on the queen side of the board, or the Borg Defense, which was the mirror image of the Grob — literally, as “Borg” is “Grob” spelled backward.
Mr. Basman’s opening repertoire should probably have carried a label for amateurs wanting to play the same systems: “Warning, do not try these at home (or at least not in important competitions).”Mr. Basman’s opening repertoire should probably have carried a label for amateurs wanting to play the same systems: “Warning, do not try these at home (or at least not in important competitions).”
Mr. Basman stuck with his unusual repertoire because he wanted to avoid the well-traveled roads that most other top players followed — which required a great deal of memorization of opening moves and systems — and in so doing reintroduce some mystery and excitement into the game, even if that meant there would be risks.Mr. Basman stuck with his unusual repertoire because he wanted to avoid the well-traveled roads that most other top players followed — which required a great deal of memorization of opening moves and systems — and in so doing reintroduce some mystery and excitement into the game, even if that meant there would be risks.
Despite criticism of his opening choices, Mr. Basman was a dangerous opponent and among the strongest British players of the late 1960s and early ’70s. In 1973 he tied for first in the British championship, but he lost on tiebreakers to William Hartson.Despite criticism of his opening choices, Mr. Basman was a dangerous opponent and among the strongest British players of the late 1960s and early ’70s. In 1973 he tied for first in the British championship, but he lost on tiebreakers to William Hartson.
In 1975, he played the top board for the British team in a match against France. Among those who played behind him were John Nunn and Jonathan Speelman, who a decade later would become two of the top players in the world. Mr. Speelman would also succumb to the Borg Defense, losing to Mr. Basman in the 1980 British Championship.In 1975, he played the top board for the British team in a match against France. Among those who played behind him were John Nunn and Jonathan Speelman, who a decade later would become two of the top players in the world. Mr. Speelman would also succumb to the Borg Defense, losing to Mr. Basman in the 1980 British Championship.
Mr. Basman had other notable individual results. He drew against the ex-world champion Mikhail Botvinnik during the annual tournament held over Christmas and New Year’s in Hastings, England, in 1966-67, and against Mikhail Tal, another ex-champion, during the 1973-74 Hastings competition. He also nearly defeated Vasily Smyslov, yet another former champion, during the biannual Chess Olympiad of 1968.Mr. Basman had other notable individual results. He drew against the ex-world champion Mikhail Botvinnik during the annual tournament held over Christmas and New Year’s in Hastings, England, in 1966-67, and against Mikhail Tal, another ex-champion, during the 1973-74 Hastings competition. He also nearly defeated Vasily Smyslov, yet another former champion, during the biannual Chess Olympiad of 1968.
Mr. Basman could be patient when he had to be. In one of his most famous games, playing Black against the Swedish grandmaster Ulf Andersson during the 1974-75 Hastings tournament, he found himself in a cramped but solid position out of the opening. Unable to do much, he shuffled a bishop and his king back and forth for a dozen moves, waiting for his opponent, who was among the most cautious and risk-averse players, to do something.Mr. Basman could be patient when he had to be. In one of his most famous games, playing Black against the Swedish grandmaster Ulf Andersson during the 1974-75 Hastings tournament, he found himself in a cramped but solid position out of the opening. Unable to do much, he shuffled a bishop and his king back and forth for a dozen moves, waiting for his opponent, who was among the most cautious and risk-averse players, to do something.
Mr. Andersson slowly pushed forward until Mr. Basman was suddenly able to launch a counterattack, breaking apart Mr. Andersson’s position and infiltrating with his pieces to deliver a knockout mating attack. The match became known as the “Immortal Waiting Game.”Mr. Andersson slowly pushed forward until Mr. Basman was suddenly able to launch a counterattack, breaking apart Mr. Andersson’s position and infiltrating with his pieces to deliver a knockout mating attack. The match became known as the “Immortal Waiting Game.”
Michael John Basman was born in London on March 16, 1946. His father, John Onik Basman, was Armenian and had shortened the family name from Basmadjian after immigrating to England. The elder Basman took up various trades, including “masseur and bone setter,” according to his business card. Mr. Basman’s English mother, Bridgette Bettina (Marks) Basman, was a homemaker. Michael John Basman was born in London on March 16, 1946. His father, John Onik Basman, was Armenian and had shortened the family name from Basmadjian after emigrating to England. The elder Basman took up various trades, including “masseur and bone setter,” according to his business card. Mr. Basman’s English mother, Bridgette Bettina (Marks) Basman, was a homemaker.
Mr. Basman learned to play chess at school and soon became obsessed with the game. After finishing his studies in history at Leeds University, he went to Yerevan, Armenia, to study medicine on a scholarship, but, his son said, he soon discovered that “he was unable to stand the sight of blood or operations.” While there, he met and married Berdjouhi Kuiumdjian, a fellow student.Mr. Basman learned to play chess at school and soon became obsessed with the game. After finishing his studies in history at Leeds University, he went to Yerevan, Armenia, to study medicine on a scholarship, but, his son said, he soon discovered that “he was unable to stand the sight of blood or operations.” While there, he met and married Berdjouhi Kuiumdjian, a fellow student.
Mr. Basman returned to England and worked at Chessington Computer Center, a government technology agency, where he wrote computer programs. According to John Saunders, a chess master who worked at the center after Mr. Basman, he was not particularly dedicated to his work and used to stack computer printouts all over his desk so no one could see him playing and analyzing on his pocket chess set. Mr. Basman returned to England and worked at Chessington Computer Center, a government technology agency, where he wrote computer programs. According to John Saunders, a chess master who worked at the center after Mr. Basman, Mr. Basman was not particularly dedicated to his work: He used to stack computer printouts all over his desk so that no one could see him playing and analyzing on his pocket chess set.
Antranig Basman said his father “studiously avoided promotions” because he had no desire to take on responsibilities that would interfere with his real passion. Antranig Basman said his father had “studiously avoided promotions” because he had no desire to take on responsibilities that would interfere with his real passion.
In 1980 Mr. Basman was awarded the title international master, the second-highest in chess after grandmaster, by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body. In 1980, Mr. Basman was awarded the title international master, the second-highest in chess after grandmaster, by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body.
He left the civil service around the same time, when he discovered a way to make a living at chess by recording instructional guides for amateurs, a service that he called Audio Chess. He also starting writing chess books, including “Play the St. George Defence” (1982) and “The Killer Grob” (1989). His last book, about Henry Bird, a well-known English Victorian player, was published shortly before his death.He left the civil service around the same time, when he discovered a way to make a living at chess by recording instructional guides for amateurs, a service that he called Audio Chess. He also starting writing chess books, including “Play the St. George Defence” (1982) and “The Killer Grob” (1989). His last book, about Henry Bird, a well-known English Victorian player, was published shortly before his death.
In 1996, Mr. Basman founded the UK Chess Challenge, an annual scholastic competition. At its peak, more than 70,000 children from 2,000 schools competed in the tournament, which had a minimal entry fee. Mr. Basman was supposed to collect a value added tax for the entry fees but never did, and the government kept demanding that he pay the taxes. In 1996, Mr. Basman founded the UK Chess Challenge, an annual scholastic competition. At its peak, more than 70,000 children from 2,000 schools competed in the tournament, which had a minimal entry fee. Mr. Basman was supposed to collect a value added tax for the entry fees but never did, and the government kept demanding that he pay the taxes.
“He was quite blasé about the whole thing,” Antranig Basman said, adding that for a long time he “managed to convince tax officials that they should turn a blind eye.”“He was quite blasé about the whole thing,” Antranig Basman said, adding that for a long time he “managed to convince tax officials that they should turn a blind eye.”
Finally, in 2016, the government sued for back taxes. Mr. Basman was ordered to pay 300,000 pounds. He did not have the money, so he declared bankruptcy and lost control of the UK Chess Challenge. It was taken over by Sarah and Alex Longson.Finally, in 2016, the government sued for back taxes. Mr. Basman was ordered to pay 300,000 pounds. He did not have the money, so he declared bankruptcy and lost control of the UK Chess Challenge. It was taken over by Sarah and Alex Longson.
Mr. Basman and his wife divorced in 1986. In addition to his son and a grandson, he is survived by two sisters, Jeannette Baynes and Rosemary Moore. His brother, Robert Moore, died four months before he did.Mr. Basman and his wife divorced in 1986. In addition to his son and a grandson, he is survived by two sisters, Jeannette Baynes and Rosemary Moore. His brother, Robert Moore, died four months before he did.
Mr. Basman, who lived in London, became so well known for playing extravagant openings that players who do the same thing are called Basmaniacs. One who can occasionally be counted among that group is Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the current world champion. Mr. Carlsen started many of his games in a recent online tournament by playing the Grob when he was White and the Borg when he was Black.Mr. Basman, who lived in London, became so well known for playing extravagant openings that players who do the same thing are called Basmaniacs. One who can occasionally be counted among that group is Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the current world champion. Mr. Carlsen started many of his games in a recent online tournament by playing the Grob when he was White and the Borg when he was Black.