Michael Basman Obituary

Michael was a well-known English chess player, author, and organiser who earned the title of International Master in 1980

Michael Basman was born in St. Pancras, London, on March 16, 1946. Basman made a name for himself as a strong chess player when he tied for first place in the 1973 British Championship with the aforementioned IM Hartston, who won in a tiebreak.

Basman was a prolific writer who made numerous contributions to the field of chess openings. He was especially well-known for frequently playing unusual or rarely seen openings in his games.

Basman founded the UK Chess Challenge in 1996, a four-stage tournament for juniors of all levels and ages.

It has grown into one of the world’s largest junior chess tournaments over the years. Over 50,000 children participate nationwide, with over a million having participated since 1996.

Michael Basman passed away on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at the age of 76 from pancreatic cancer.