He’s a champion at any age
When U. S. Grandmaster Walter Browne was only a teenager some 50 years ago, he was already an experienced player. At 14, he was a master. During his life thereafter, he began winning an amazing string of championships that has continued to this day. He took the title of U. S. Junior Champion, for example, when hewas just17. Since then, putting aside the many non title event she won, a lot can be seen by looking just at the majors.
He has been the Chess Champion of the U. S. six times. In our country’s history, only two players have exceeded that number: Bobby Fischer with eight and Sammy Reshevsky with seven. As for our National Open Championship, no one has come close to matching his title- winning performances. Eleven times that title has been his. He has been crowned the American Open Champion seven times. The U. S. Open was won by him twice, and the World Open, three times.
Some miscellaneous major results should be added to complete the picture. Originally an Australian by birth, he was that country’s Champion in 1969. Visiting Canada in 1991, he became the Canadian Open Champion. Six times, he has been a team member in the Chess Olympiads; twice for Australia and four times for the U. S. He placed in the medals all but once.
After passing age 50, he moved into the sphere of the Senior players. In 2005 for instance, he competed in and won the U. S. Senior Championship. The World Senior Championship required him to be older tha n60 though; so hewas too young then to represent our country for that title. Well, now 65, he is not too young anymore.
Just a few weeks ago, Browne entered one of the most pleasurable tournaments of any year. It was the U. S. Senior Championship, and it was held on a ship called the Allure of the Seas.
For the tournament, 34 players competed, and itwas Walter Browne all the way. He simply accumulated five straight points and drew the last round to secure clear first over second- placing Ariel Levi. Browne also gave a simultaneous exhibition, scoring 11- 0. He also participated in a blitz tournament, allowing only one draw in ten encounters to take clear first.
Known for his tactical prowess, Browne finished his first foe in flashy fashion: [ Hampton, Robert- Browne, Walter] 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 c5 5.0– 0 Nc6 6. d3 Nf6 7. Qe1 0– 0 8. c3 Qd6 9. Qh4 e5 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe5 Rxe5 14. Nc4 Qe6 15. Bg5 Nd5 16. Rae1 Bd7 17. dxe4 Nb6 18. Rd1 Nxc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Rxd7 Rxe4 21. Qf2 f5 22. Rfd1 Rae8 23. Rxb7 Re2 24. Qh4Rxg2+ 25. Kxg2Qe2+ 26. Kg3 Be5+ 27. Bf4 Bxf4+ 28. Qxf4 Re3+ 0– 1. NOTE: This column’s game, played against one of his major competitors, shows Browne using the advantage of the two bishops in a lethal manner.
Great credit for bringing about this chess cruise goes to promoter Al Los off. The event director was Bill Snead, respected for running the highest- level tournaments in the U. S. The Senior tournament was sponsored by Vegas Chess Festivals, the U. S. Chess Federation, and Card Player Cruises.