Murray Turnbull
Encyclopedia
Murray Turnbull is better known by the name "The Chessmaster" who spends his days playing chess
in Harvard Square
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
. He attended Harvard University
(Class of 1971 ) and later dropped out. In 1981, he achieved a certified level of a chess master
. Since 1982, he has been playing chess fulltime, seven days a week, from May to October, in good weather. "The Chessmaster" is a local attraction in Harvard Square, often attracting curious bystanders watching him play. His official chess rating is better than 99% of all rated players. "The Chessmaster" will play a game with anybody for a small fee, and he also earns his income by giving private chess lessons; his most famous student was Bobby Seltzer who won the 1987 National Elementary Chess Championship, the 1987 Laura Aspis Prize
for being the highest rated American under the age of 13, the 1990 U.S. Cadet Championship, and was 1990 National Junior High School Co-Champion with Joshua Waitzkin
.
In 1998, Turnbull played a four-game exhibition match against the Harvard Chess Club, and was leading 2-1 before losing the last game to Harvard's captain and chess club president Shearwood McClelland III '00, concluding the match in a 2-2 draw. In 2001, he played a second match against Harvard, this time winning 3½ games out of 4, drawing
only International Master Marc Esserman
.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
in Harvard Square
Harvard Square
Harvard Square is a large triangular area in the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street. It is the historic center of Cambridge...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
. He attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(Class of 1971 ) and later dropped out. In 1981, he achieved a certified level of a chess master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
. Since 1982, he has been playing chess fulltime, seven days a week, from May to October, in good weather. "The Chessmaster" is a local attraction in Harvard Square, often attracting curious bystanders watching him play. His official chess rating is better than 99% of all rated players. "The Chessmaster" will play a game with anybody for a small fee, and he also earns his income by giving private chess lessons; his most famous student was Bobby Seltzer who won the 1987 National Elementary Chess Championship, the 1987 Laura Aspis Prize
Laura Aspis Prize
The Laura Aspis Prize was an award in the game of chess. Beginning in 1980, it was awarded annually to the number one ranked American chess player under the age of 13 by the nonprofit educational foundation Chess-in-the-Schools until 1999.The prize offered a trophy and $1,500...
for being the highest rated American under the age of 13, the 1990 U.S. Cadet Championship, and was 1990 National Junior High School Co-Champion with Joshua Waitzkin
Joshua Waitzkin
Joshua Waitzkin is an American chess player, martial arts competitor, and author. As a child, he was recognized as a prodigy, and won the U.S. Junior Chess championship in 1993 and 1994. He is the only person to have won the National Primary, Elementary, Junior High School, High School, U.S....
.
In 1998, Turnbull played a four-game exhibition match against the Harvard Chess Club, and was leading 2-1 before losing the last game to Harvard's captain and chess club president Shearwood McClelland III '00, concluding the match in a 2-2 draw. In 2001, he played a second match against Harvard, this time winning 3½ games out of 4, drawing
Draw (chess)
In chess, a draw is when a game ends in a tie. It is one of the possible outcomes of a game, along with a win for White and a win for Black . Usually, in tournaments a draw is worth a half point to each player, while a win is worth one point to the victor and none to the loser.For the most part,...
only International Master Marc Esserman
Marc Esserman
Marc Esserman is an American chess player with the current designation of International Master. He first gained attention while an undergraduate at Harvard College...
.