WASHINGTON (AFP) - He sleeps on a bench, but he is king of chess during the day at Washington's Dupont Circle, where he dazzles beginners and masters alike with his winning moves on the park's stone chessboards....
More at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071011/lf_afp/lifestylegamechesshomeless_071011050233
Murphy has won several chess tournaments and finished 15th in the 2005 world blitz championship.
I find this very difficult to believe. I can't find any reference to the 2005 World Blitz Championship on the internet, does anyone have any more details?
Murphy has won several chess tournaments and finished 15th in the 2005 world blitz championship.
I find this very difficult to believe. I can't find any reference to the 2005 World Blitz Championship on the internet, does anyone have any more details?
Indeed. The story reeks of human interest journalism with a lot of claims, no real facts. Some drunk in the park that plays chess a lot are the only two facts you can count on. "15th in the world blitz championship" ?? Right.
Ever see a movie called "Shattered Glass", true story about a hot shot young journalist who made up all of his human interest stories? Great flic, shows how easy it is to make up a bunch of stuff for a quick story, or in this case, claim some drunk is a chess geeeee-neeeee-us. Who's to say different?
They mention him being an expert, just one step behind being a matser, according to the USCF raling classification. That puts him in the 2000-2199 bracket. Also, from what I remember, USCF ratings are higher than FIDE ratings...
Obviously I don't know him, and have never seen him play, but the above would put him in somewhere below 2100 FIDE equivalent. Hardly newsworthy.
OK, it turns out that the event that Murphy was reported to have finished 15th in was the Blitz Championship held at the 2005 World Open. He was actually 18th and didn't beat anyone of note:
http://www.worldopen.com/WorldOpen2005/results/wob_open.htm
Originally posted by Fat Lady OK, it turns out that the event that Murphy was reported to have finished 15th in was the Blitz Championship held at the 2005 World Open. He was actually 18th and didn't beat anyone of note:
http://www.worldopen.com/WorldOpen2005/results/wob_open.htm
Good job. All his wins were against 1800 players, he's rated 2100. No doubt he's king of the park and can crush all the casual players that show up.
Originally posted by ouwe belg The full article with a video:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092501981.html
He does appear to be another wasted talent.
meh......he's a 50 year old expert that plays fish in the park, hardly a wasted talent. Pillsbury was a wasted talent. Morphy was a wasted talent. This guy impresses all the n00bs that barely know how the pieces move.
Originally posted by Sam The Sham Good job. All his wins were against 1800 players, he's rated 2100. No doubt he's king of the park and can crush all the casual players that show up.
Originally posted by Sam The Sham But let's not call this guy something he's not.
Of course not! The word genius, and similar ones, is thrown a lot nowadays and most times it's just a pathetic use of the word. But let's give the man his credits too. Given his current state of life I think that chess-wise is doing a good job on himslef.
Originally posted by adam warlock Of course not! The word genius, and similar ones, is thrown a lot nowadays and most times it's just a pathetic use of the word. But let's give the man his credits too. Given his current state of life I think that chess-wise is doing a good job on himslef.
Originally posted by Sam The Sham Wonder what his rating on RHP would be?
Possibly lower, considering his specialty seems to be in blitz. He'd probably take on 500 games and have an 1800+ rating that would fluctuate wildly depending upon how drunk he was making his moves.
Originally posted by Ramiri15 Possibly lower, considering his specialty seems to be in blitz. He'd probably take on 500 games and have an 1800+ rating that would fluctuate wildly depending upon how drunk he was making his moves.
12 Oct '07 03:32
Chess King of Washington
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