The Legend: Walter Browne - GM Ben Finegold - 2015.06.25

Grandmaster Ben Finegold pays tribute to the late GM Walter Browne, who passed away June 24. The six-time U.S. Champion was one of the most famous names in U.S. Chess history.
Finegold said after the lecture: "This was my best lecture ever. I almost went a whole hour, and I never go a full hour. Walter deserved it."
James Tarjan vs Walter Shawn Browne, USA-ch U18 playoff (1969): B98 Sicilian, Najdorf, 7...Be7
Browne vs. Anthony Saidy, 1971: B18 Caro-Kann, classical, 6.h4
Browne vs Patrick Wolff, Ch USA (1985): A57 Benko gambit
Browne vs Benjamin Finegold, Key West USA (1994): D06 Queen's Gambit Declined, Grau (Sahovic) defence
Browne vs Yury Shulman, Continental Open (2001): E81 King's Indian, Saemisch, 5...O-O
Browne vs. Finegold, 2014: B30 Sicilian, Nimzovich-Rossolimo attack (without ...d6)

[@cmdrfun1]

Ben delivers an amazing eulogy, he knows the audience is likely to be unfamiliar. Now I feel like I know who Walter Browne is.

[@stopwritingthatreplyjohnat6638]

Yeah, the only time I'd ever heard of him was Yasser's lecture on the english

[@DanieleScoti]

"you were confused before this video now you are more confused" Classic Ben Finegold

[@elbay2]

A very heartfelt tribute... well done, and thanks for this.

[@TheJimmiececil]

GM Finegold, A wonderful and moving tribute to a chess legend, Walter Browne. God bless.

[@tonysu8860]

Thank you for this presentation of Walter Browne, one of the most memorable American Chess Champions in recent memory. I played Walter twice in Swiss tournaments back in the 1970's, and although I can't remember a thing about the moves, they were memorable because Walter was one of the most intense players you'd ever be up against... Even though I was rated somewhere around 1600 and nowhere close to a match for him. I remember the second time I played him, after I was wiped off the board in no time, he quickly grabbed my scoresheet and signed it, saying that I'd want that some day. He was right, and I regret I don't have any scoresheets saved from those years. Walter was a great personality that was everything I remember should be an example of chess playing excellence. We Americans don't know how lucky we are to play in so many Swiss tournaments where from time to time there is a chance even a lowly patzer gets to play someone with reputation and stature. Then and today, Europeans always complain about never playing anyone outside of their personal skill level and chess is better when beginners get a chance to sit across the table and play against someone GREAT. The better you get, the more chances you might play someone notable but even as a low rated player as I was, I got my chances playing games against players like Walter. Thank you Walter. RIP.

[@NicholasMeyler]

Sad news! Walter cussed me out in public at the American Open in Santa Monica (1974?) because I was analyzing the game he was playing and talking about it with a friend down on the floor. It was a Browne variation of the Sicilian Najdorf vs Viktor Pupols (if I recall correctly). I was remembering this a few days ago and saying to myself, "so probably he did the right thing, even if with a little too much emphasis"... I had no idea that he had died. Perhaps a message from the spirit world... He was a remarkable player. If I remember correctly, he was Australian by birth. I was in Fiji diving in the Bligh Waters region when he died.

[@AG-ld6rv]

I can respect that he would spend actual time during a simul. It gives the players an authentic experience, and it shows his love for objectively good moves. It also gives his opponents a decent amount of time to think about their moves, which will give the players a better experience.

[@kingkrshna]

This was a very personal lecture from Ben. Yes he did crack his usual jokes but it wasn't like the way he always does it. The jokes he cracked in the lecture were more a diversion rather than.. Great lecture Ben , as always and a massive fan...

[@dusanmijatovic7913]

Well explained.

[@guts2044]

Boo

[@cooperjudson5807]

This is a really beautiful video.

[@tommonk7651]

Great tribute, Ben. I'm sure it was a difficult lecture to do. We need more characters like Walter in modern chess. A salute to GM Browne's fighting spirit....

[@drumcircler]

Peace to Walter's family and friends. He was a champion, a fighter.

[@TheMrBennito]

I got here because Browne impressed in the tv series The Master Game, you should view that. Top players comment themselves on theirs & opponents ongoing play. Browne had one frequently recurring comment on a move by opponent: "hmmm....that's what I figured". Excellent player!

[@crito9778]

Thanks, Ben. So long, Walter.

[@JimJWalker]

I played GM Browne at the Pompano Beach Chess Club in the mid-1990s. I played a King's Indian against him, not so smart a move. He beat everyone. Walter was very courteous, when the position was super complicated he allow me an extra "pass".

[@Mathview]

TY for posting GM Walter Browne and American Chess Legend, indeed.

[@user-ts2co4ov5h]

Legend? Please look up the definition in the dictionary....Capablanca, Fischer , Morphy or Karpov are LEGENDS, not walter browne...

[@refeez3700]

It was a strange phenomenon, seeing you all choked up. Great lecture, Mr. GM Finegold! (Hah, bet nobody's ever called you that!)

[@Spiritbro77]

Awesome lecture!

[@offrampt]

Thanks, Ben.

[@thomasarneson4511]

I knew Walter, use to play cards with him ar the Oaks. An international master, Roy Ervin, (RIP) took me to a house on Dwight way in berkeley, back in1974, where Walter was playing backgammon. We use to hang out at a coffee house called Hardcastles, that was a chess hangout. Tarjan came in one night and we played a game of 3 dimensional Go. Lots of masters use to go there Jon Grefe, Larry Christiansen and others. Interesting, intelligent guy. Was shocked at his passing. Browne played Ervin a few times, and Roy won once with black, an interesting game. Roy had a 2 knights and a bishop and 3 passed pawns, against a rook and bishop when Brown resigned. 1977 Lone Pine.

[@stevelenores5637]

My Walter Browne connection is a tournament I played in Los Angeles. He had a mustache and still had color in his hair. We were both looking at the tournament chart and I noticed he had 2 losses in a swiss and I commented "It doesn't look too good." He gave me a dirty look and walked away.

[@dale2222222]

Thank you as always; wonderful videos

[@mychannel594]

Gee, I really like Ben Finegold.

[@IfNedWereHere]

RIP Legend

[@calikidog]

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Weep, and you weep alone. Ella Wheeler Wilcox

[@giuseppeindelicati7845]

thanks!

[@superman25671]

*#RIPWalterBrowne*

[@eliduttman315]

Obviously, I'm not nearly as close to Chess as I used to be. I knew W.S.B. and am saddened to hear of his passing. :>( Eli D.

[@duumitri]

i'd have the time of my life in those classes.... #badlifechoices

[@stflaw]

Very entertaining.

[@winstonsmithamm]

It wasn't Korchnoi it was this guy.

[@12jswilson]

Hans Niemann mentioned from before he was famous and crushing Magnus at just after 8:00

[@Belfor09]

FINEGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!

[@matthewbroyles2291]

Soon, people will realise the only way to win at chess, is not to play at all. The evolution of how well it is played is mind blowing.

[@DucksDeLucks]

Walter was a real character when he was young. I remember him up on stage offering his opponent a swig from a large can of beer he had at his side. Walter was not above bragging about his games including one he referred to as his 'Evergreen Game' and his 'Game of the Decade.' He was also a great poker player, I understand.

[@kabayanhustler]

RIP

[@NicholasMeyler]

Was it Walter who invented the idea of "Wobblecheck"? I think he told a joke about it once that I heard: A grandmaster ponders the board for quite a long while and then announces a move that is completely illegal/impossible delivering check to the opponent. The crowd is astonished with the flagrant error, but the grandmaster is confident that he is right, explaining that the move is unusual, but a 'wobblecheck'.... The crowd is unimpressed but curious and asks 'what is wobblecheck?' The grandmaster smiles and says: "You'll see." Soon a 6.5 earthquake happens and the positions of the pieces on the board are all shifted. The announced illegal move has happened, delivering check as promised... the crowd is amazed. The grandmaster mutters: "What a dumb crowd! They fell for wobblecheck??"

[@HugePopCorn]

Oh no Walter died :( I hate when that happen

[@SOCIALCREDITSCOREOVER]

Philip Brassard TERRIBLE! :(

[@dusanmijatovic7913]

+SirAlbatross :'((((

[@doofus9575]

+SirAlbatross He died with disadvantage

[@shottysteve]

terrible.

[@Ronbo710]

Played in a tournament in Concord CA at the Sheraton in the mid '90's and Walter was playing there with a coffee table lamp next to his board lol. I guess the lighting was FIDE approved.

[@missjessgem]

@ 20:13... thats what I am talking about. That is how chess is supposed to be played. RIP Walter Browne.

[@m.botvinnik7387]

Why do not they call the Natioal Open into Walter Broawne/National Open?

[@mikhulse]

The car brake lights in the background are very distracting. Otherwise, a fantastic video and tribute.

[@markphc99]

he was cool

[@offrampt]

Lovely quip about the goggles in The Simpsons.

[@lollipophugo]

What happened to your tooth? I never noticed it before. Shame about Browne passing away.

[@atwarwithdust]

Did Browne ever play a board of education?

[@JPCPSeto]

How on earth is there a legends class on Walter Browne, but not on Vladimir Kramnik?

[@jancivianci3028]

Jinzo Kramnik is boring to watch

[@JPCPSeto]

But he is a greater champion than many of the players that have already been discussed. In fact, he is a greater champion than most others full stop.

[@VincentFarrugia]

One is American and the other is Russian

[@Ronbo710]

I think time has something to do with it.

[@RayVitoles]

u cant be legend if u are not dead?

[@augustsbautra]

At 31:45, isn't it that after Bb4 white must take or else he loses the *game* (Bd2 fails), not the queen?

[@vclapem9140]

Yes

[@samuelrosenbalm]

Tal is short, Short is tall, and Small is the biggest of them all.

[@NiculaRobert]

Wow,this is Ben Finegold upgraded.He slightly changed his jokes and approach on the lecture.Gooo Walter wherever you are,you can mate Hitler.

[@Blaisem]

It sounds like you're implying he went to the same place as hitler :/

[@tomsmith4452]

ben why dont u wanna talk about fisher? :)

[@terrabitic7090]

He doesn't fit into the legends series. It would have to be The Ultimate Legend: Bobby Fischer.

[@LuigiYT1]

grannywalter wait what?

[@BREAKocean]

Fischer made many antisemitic comments prior to his death and Finegold is a Jewish surname. en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer just look up how many times the word jew shows up on his quotes alone.

[@metallicarocks300000]

At 13:49 why not Bc4?

[@turtle207]

Because of Bc4,Ra3, Qxc2, Rc1, Qb2 and bishop is lost, or Bc4, Ra3, Qb2, Rfa1 acheiving a good position and treatining to trap the qeen

[@metallicarocks300000]

***** but after bc4 you dont have to take the pawn on c2 you can play qb2 but i get it now it doesnt do any real threats.

[@tomekduresov706]

I really dont get Tulsa, Oklahoma jokes, could somebody explain, is that city so terrible, or something???

[@missjessgem]

Tomek Duresov Tulsa, Oklahoma is a dump. Trust me.

[@chess_is_a_vibe]

+Jessica Crawford nah

[@xDMrGarrison]

Tal is short, Short is tall and Small is the tallest. Very suspicious.

[@VincentFarrugia]

35:14 Browne was a really good tennis player; surpriising!.... Sounds like another Brown tennis player :D

[@shcottam]

Its 2020. More like 5 years ago

[@dannygjk]

GM Finegold doesn't like ...Ne8 in that game but I remember when everyone was playing ...Ne8 every game no matter which opening it was. 😂

[@Tibi1q2wthesecond]

LOL at 38:20 xDD

[@dash_r_media]

In my opinion, Browne's toughest opponent was the Board of Education.

[@germanchris4440]

"I'm an atheist." Still time to correct that! Just stop ignoring the Bible and God. It's about your eternity! For the dead, nothing can be done anymore.Religion is ultimately of no use, but THE TRUTH is not arbitrary or optional, not even these days.

[@Belfor09]

43:45 - Okay.. So Walter was white. That aged very well..

[@fireballxl-5748]

Not Ben's best.

[@user-ts2co4ov5h]

I mean he was a decent GM, BUT Legend is taking it way too far...Legend means once in a lifetime, Like Fischer or Capablanca or Karpov...if we call Walter Browne a legend, then what shall we call the World Champions i meantioned ???

[@dash_r_media]

He was certainly a legend of American chess, winning the US championship 6 times.

[@mano1ification]

"you cant have 3 blacks in a row" - thats racist GM Ben #triggered

[@dannygjk]

Depends on whether one is a woman or a man.

[@mmmyyykkkeee]

I hope this is edited so you don't hear how dumb ... Terrible