Allen Kaufman
Allen Kaufman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1933 New York City |
| Known for | American Chess Foundation, Chess-in-the-Schools |
Allen Kaufman (1933) is an American chess master and the former Executive Director of the American Chess Foundation[1] and Chess-in-the-Schools.[2]
Kaufman, a longtime member of the Marshall Chess Club and former president and vice-president,[3] competed nationally in chess in the 1950s. In 1954, Kaufman finished seventh in the U.S. Open.[4] In 1957 at the U.S. Open, while ultimately finishing out of contention, Kaufman was in first place after the fourth round[5] and tied for third after the sixth round.[6] In 1958, Kaufman came in sixth in the U.S. Open. The winner, Eldis Cobo Arteaga, lost his only game to Kaufman.[7]
As the executive director of the American Chess Foundation, Kaufman expanded their program of teaching chess to school-age children, leading to the name change of the organization to "Chess-in-the-Schools". Kaufman is an advocate of chess as mental training and believes that chess increases children's reading and reasoning skills.[8]
At the American Chess Foundation, Kaufman aided the chess prodigy Gata Kamsky in his defection from the Soviet Union in 1989.[9] He was also instrumental in the formation of the Samford Chess Fellowship and is former secretary of the fellowship committee.[1][10] Kaufman has a Morphy Number of 4 through, for example, Arthur Bisguier and Norman T. Whitaker.[1]
Kaufman was a friend of Bobby Fischer in his teen years.[11]
References
- ^ a b c Allen Kaufman Chessgames Biography
- ^ Chess in the Schools, New York City
- ^ "When Chess Was King of the City", New York Observer, September 14, 2015.
- ^ U.S. Open 1954, New Orleans
- ^ “KAUFMAN ON TOP IN NATIONAL OPEN; Gains Undisputed Possession of First Place in Chess Tourney at Cleveland", The New York Times, August 10, 1957.
- ^ "CO-LEADERS PLAY TO DRAW IN CHESS; Donald Byrne and Berliner in Stalemate at National Open—Bisguier Upset", The New York Times, August 12, 1957.
- ^ U.S. Open 1958, Rochester
- ^ “In Harlem, a Chess Champion Passes On His Moves and Enthusiasm”, The New York Times, December 29, 1999.
- ^ Getlin, Josh. After Defection, Chess Whiz Kid Wants to Be King, Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1989.
- ^ John Donaldson is the New Secretary of the Samford Fellowship Committee, June 23, 2011
- ^ Nicholas, Peter, and Clea Benson. Life is not a Board Game. The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 2003
External links
- Allen Kaufman player profile and games at Chessgames.com
- Allen Kaufman player profile at US Chess Federation