Over the years I’ve had the honor to play a number of Grandmasters and notable players.
Former World Champion Boris Spassky in Reno, Nevada … I sacked a piece and chased his King across the board with checks. Once he arrived on the Queenside, I was forced to resign. He had a great smile!
Stockfish 17.1 – White Error Rate: 0.26 (precise)/Black=0.57
Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov in Las Vegas, Nevada
Grandmaster Samuel Reshevsky in Las Vegas, Nevada
#6 in the World, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Grandmaster Bryan G. Smith, Boise Idaho, 2022 MexInsurance FIDE Open GM Simul at All About Games and again at the 2023 summer chess camp simul
Former Women’s World Champion Susan Polgar in Vancouver, Washington
World Blindfold Champion Grandmaster Timur Gareyev in a ten board Fischer Random match at Hailey, Idaho
Grandmaster Tal Shaked in Boise, Idaho
Grandmaster Tomás Sosa of Argentina, the MVP Academy. played on lichess
Five time Champion of Argentina, Grandmaster Diego Flores, played on lichess
Grandmaster Leandro Krysa of Argentina, played on lichess
International Master Cyrus Lakdawala, Balboa Park, San Diego, California. Cy is a well known author who grew up down the hill from me … and has all the talent!
International Master Andrew Martin in Davenport, Iowa, during one of Bob Long’s chess festivals
WFM Alexandra Botez was a WCM when I played her in 2012 at the 49th Canadian Open. Her rating was 2008; High? 2092. She became a WFM in 2013. Stockfish 17.1 Weighted Error for White=0.27 precise/Black=1.22.
National Master Jesse Cohen in Fort Collins, Colorado, with four of his friends … I finally won a simul … of course Jesse and company were just learning the game.
Life Master Brian Wall, Fort Collins OTB tournament … where I was a Knight up … just before he ate my face, with style! I do remember a tandem simul in Cheyenne, Wyoming, .. I drew that one. }:-) Rats, he took me out again on chess.com 12/12/25. I used one of Master Wall’s openings to earn my initial FIDE rating. He has a book coming out shortly . . . can’t wait to get it!
Wyoming State Closed Champion as a teenager Andrew Smith .. part of the Fort Collins simul and former student. Andrew drew Hikaru Nakamura in Victoria and has defeated all three Polgar sisters in internet simuls. I am a game up on Andrew … by a pawn push. I hope he’s forgotten all about me. {:-o He didn’t forget me, cut me to pieces on chess.com 12/10/25.
Jonathan Fortune, we’ve played everywhere … eight time Atlantic World Correspondence Champion .. and counting … This game? Move in 7 or 10 days. Correspondence gotta love it.
Barbie Fortune, everywhere as well. I haven’t beaten her in 20+ years. Barbie was a great student!