Mike Basman was an English chess player and author. He wrote chess theory, gained the International Master title in 1980, and used unorthodox openings. Notable books include Chess Openings (1987) and Play the St. George (1983); he tied first at the 1973 British Championship.
Michael John Basman was born in St Pancras, London, on 16 March 1946. He was the third of four children of John Onik Basman and Bridgette Bettina Basman. His father shortened the family name from Basmadjian after arriving in England. The family knew the singer Cleo Laine, who babysat the young Michael. He recalled, “I remember him showing us the knight move.”
After a history degree at the University of Leeds, Michael gained a medical scholarship to Yerevan. He left due to an aversion to blood and surgery. While in Yerevan, he learnt Armenian and won the local chess championship. He met Berdjouhi Kuiumdjian, married, and they had a son, Antranig. They divorced in 1986.
Basman returned to England and worked as a computer programmer. He worked at the Chessington Computer Centre. He said of computers, “I can imagine being beaten by one; they are much more accurate.”
Basman became noted for unusual openings. Murray Chandler called him “the most bizarre player in the universe.” He used the Grob with White, starting with g4, and wrote The Killer Grob (1989). He also used the Creepy Crawly, beginning with h3, then a3 and c4. As Black, he played the Borg Defence, replying g5 to e4. He wrote on the St. George Defence, meeting e4 with a6. Play the St. George (1983) and The New St. George (1993) described that system. He described his style as “Inventive.”
He beat John Nunn with the Grob in 1978 and Jon Speelman with the Borg in 1980. At Hastings 1974–75, he won the Immortal Waiting Game against Ulf Andersson. In 1975, he played board one for England against France at Luton.
His most memorable game was “Probably against Botvinnik in 1967 at Hastings.”
Chess Openings (1987) set out principles for correct opening play. It showed how to build strong positions in attack and defence. It examined five classic systems: Queen's Gambit, Giuoco Piano, Nimzo Indian, Morra Gambit, and Sicilian Dragon. It proposed these as a base for a complete opening repertoire.
In 1996, he created the UK Chess Challenge for juniors. Raymond Keene wrote, “Michael Basman is in many ways the most important person in British chess.”
Mike Basman died in Carshalton on 26 October 2022 from pancreatic cancer, aged 76.
Photo credit: Wolfgang Jekel
Michael John Basman was born in St Pancras, London, on 16 March 1946. He was the third of four children of John Onik Basman and Bridgette Bettina Basman. His father shortened the family name from Basmadjian after arriving in England. The family knew the singer Cleo Laine, who babysat the young Michael. He recalled, “I remember him showing us the knight move.”
After a history degree at the University of Leeds, Michael gained a medical scholarship to Yerevan. He left due to an aversion to blood and surgery. While in Yerevan, he learnt Armenian and won the local chess championship. He met Berdjouhi Kuiumdjian, married, and they had a son, Antranig. They divorced in 1986.
Basman returned to England and worked as a computer programmer. He worked at the Chessington Computer Centre. He said of computers, “I can imagine being beaten by one; they are much more accurate.”
Basman became noted for unusual openings. Murray Chandler called him “the most bizarre player in the universe.” He used the Grob with White, starting with g4, and wrote The Killer Grob (1989). He also used the Creepy Crawly, beginning with h3, then a3 and c4. As Black, he played the Borg Defence, replying g5 to e4. He wrote on the St. George Defence, meeting e4 with a6. Play the St. George (1983) and The New St. George (1993) described that system. He described his style as “Inventive.”
He beat John Nunn with the Grob in 1978 and Jon Speelman with the Borg in 1980. At Hastings 1974–75, he won the Immortal Waiting Game against Ulf Andersson. In 1975, he played board one for England against France at Luton.
His most memorable game was “Probably against Botvinnik in 1967 at Hastings.”
Chess Openings (1987) set out principles for correct opening play. It showed how to build strong positions in attack and defence. It examined five classic systems: Queen's Gambit, Giuoco Piano, Nimzo Indian, Morra Gambit, and Sicilian Dragon. It proposed these as a base for a complete opening repertoire.
In 1996, he created the UK Chess Challenge for juniors. Raymond Keene wrote, “Michael Basman is in many ways the most important person in British chess.”
Mike Basman died in Carshalton on 26 October 2022 from pancreatic cancer, aged 76.
Photo credit: Wolfgang Jekel
years of life: 16 March 1946 – 26 October 2022
Books
fb2epub
Drag & drop your files
(not more than 5 at once)