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| Nov-11-08 | | malthrope: I'm very sad to report that International Master - William "Bill" Grady Addison - passed away on October 29, 2008. Bill was an old friend and quite instrumental as my mentor having learning just a few of the many secrets of chess from him. When I was sick he came to visit me in the hospital as a teenager. The info posted by <WannaBe> is quite correct. The link however is no longer valid. A fond remembrance by IM John Donaldson written on November 11th for the USCF: William Addison, 1933-2008 // http://main.uschess.org/content/vie... Here is a beautiful drawing that I saved of Bill... // http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v... It's quite reminiscent of Bill and I can even see his feet pumping up and down below the chess table (a trademark of his which I also adopted). I'll always remember what he taught me, his cheerful smile and all the colorful and entertaining chess stories & anecdotes that he would tell us both from his International and American Chess adventures... :) R.I.P. my friend...
Sincerely, Alan Benson
(aka: Malthrope)
Berkeley, CA
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| Nov-11-08 | | malthrope: PS: The fond remembrances of Bill posted on the USCF web pages also include stories written by GM William Lombardy and Robert E. Burger. Sorry, I forget them. John and Robert are both old friends and Lombardy I had the distinct pleasure of meeting him in Lone Pine, CA. William Addison, 1933-2008 // http://main.uschess.org/content/vie... |
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| Nov-11-08 | | whiskeyrebel: mal, thanks for the links and info. I'm impressed at the active life he lived. It seems like he peaked later in life chess wise than most. I admire that! I'm gonna go look at some of his games now. |
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| Nov-11-08 | | savagerules: I thought I read where after the 1970 interzonals where he didn't advance he disgustedly quit chess and went into banking. Apparently this wasn't the whole truth and he kept playing for a few years more. Only reason I remember this is where Addison played the Scandinavian against Fischer in the interzonal and Fischer apparently grinned mischievously when he saw this defense. |
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| Nov-11-08 | | malthrope: <savagerules> - what you just said <"Apparently this wasn't the whole truth and he kept playing for a few years more. Only reason I remember this is where Addison played the Scandinavian against Fischer in the interzonal...> is simply not true. You are dealing with people who actually knew this man as a friend. The chess game that you are referring too - Fischer vs W G Addison, 1970 - was played at the 'Palma de Mallorca' Interzonal in Spain, 1970. This was Bill's last chess tournament and so far as we know he never played competitive chess ever again. May I also suggest that you read my reply back to <Eyal> in my - malthrope chessforum - where I discuss this very fact. :) Sincerely, - Mal |
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| Nov-11-08 | | savagerules: <malthorpe> I wonder, did he ever regret quitting before the Fischer chess boom took off a couple years later? Did he quit playing offhand or club games too or just rated games? In the uscf link it said he played in 1974 olympics and it should have been 1964 instead, that's accounts for the misunderstanding. |
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| Nov-11-08 | | malthrope: <savagerules: <malthorpe> I wonder, did he ever regret quitting before the Fischer chess boom took off a couple years later? Did he quit playing offhand or club games too or just rated games? In the uscf link it said he played in 1974 olympics and it should have been 1964 instead, that's accounts for the misunderstanding.> First, I never saw or heard of Bill playing any kind of chess game after he returned from the 'Palma de Mallorca' Interzonal in Spain, 1970 - rated, offhand or otherwise. Second, in the Chess Olympics, Bill played in 2 of them as a participant for the USA team in Tel Aviv 1964 and Havana 1966 (Note: Not 'Leipzig 1970' as I first reported from memory in my response back to <Eyal>). Today has not been a particularly good day for me... :( Sincerely, - Mal PS: <whiskeyrebel> - you're quite welcome! :) |
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| Nov-11-08 | | AnalyzeThis: Thanks for the very interesting info on William Addison. Life goes by too fast. |
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| Nov-12-08 | | malthrope: <AnalyzeThis: Thanks for the very interesting info on William Addison.> You're welcome <AnalyzeThis> ! :) Thought to share one last reminisce coming directly from Bill... On select Sunday afternoons when he was the acting Director of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club (late 60's) all the talented Juniors would gather along with Bill and analyze the latest GM games with him. This was a very rewarding experience for us as we could see into his mind and how he thinks about chess as well as how he goes about constructing his master plans. Of which we all tried to emulate, of course! ;) One day we were analyzing a chess game of Petrosian's in which he was attacking. <Go Tiger!> Bill told us (and I quote verbatim): <"Petrosian making threats is like facing cream puffs at twenty paces!"> I'll never forget that one. <grin> The more you think about it the deeper it is! ~lol~ <Life goes by too fast.> It sure does as we are only here for just a brief spec in time... :^) - Mal |
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Nov-13-08
 | | tpstar: Here's a nice win by Addison featuring a decisive cross-pin = W G Addison vs R Steinmeyer, 1962 |
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| Nov-13-08 | | brankat: Thank You CG for designating IM W.Addison the Player of the Day! |
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Nov-13-08
 | | ketchuplover: R.I.P. Herr Addison
Thanks for your contribution to chess :) |
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| Nov-19-08 | | Resignation Trap: Thanks to http://www.chessgames.com for adding the photo! |
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| Mar-12-10 | | arthurp: It was in 1962 in Fitchburg,MA.There was a tourney.The local master and NE champ hardly ever lost.This CA crew cut man beat him in 30+moves.I was shocked!Looking closely at the board he was playing on I noticed that he wore slippers,smoked a pipe with Rum&Maple tobacco.Later I was going over an ending with my friends and the CA player suggested I use some books he had.He went out to his car and brought in Cheron's 3 vol. on the endgame!What person would care about a group of B players?Later I found out it was IM William Addison on his way to NY after this weekend tournament.When I got home I had a pipe,got some Rum&Maple tobacco and wore slippers to my next tournament.Strange to say I didn't play like IM William Addison! |
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| May-31-10 | | Vollmer: I am fairly confident that Mr. Addison was quite amused that he quit competitive chess at his peak rating . I am also amused . Well done . RIP |
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| Jun-01-10 | | malthrope: It's good to see the light shinning down on Bill for <"Player of the Day"> once again! (on Memorial Day - May-31-10) :D He was quite an accomplished player and for all those that knew him we collectively considered him Grandmaster strength even though he was only an International Master by title. He played many fine Chess games much more than the <"Notable Games"> list would suggest (his victory over Donald Byrne in 1963 and his draw with Bobby Fischer in 1965). This one immediately comes to mind (uncovered by <achieve> which he kindly shared with me after Bill had passed away)... W G Addison vs G Sigurjonsson, 1968 A wonderful tactical skirmish in the middlegame. My comment back to Niel's at the time was: <"Yes, that was a great Chess game! (BTW: I've also met GM Gudmundur Sigurjonnson). All of us considered Bill Addison a GM with an IM title. His highest FIDE rating achieved was 2595 which speaks for itself (considering it was pre-inflation). Don't think there is anyone that knew him that thought otherwise... ;)"> You can read the entire post here (posted Nov-15-08): malthrope chessforum Perhaps this year I'll make it a 'personal task' to review some more of his best efforts and suggest to <CG.com> that they be duly added to the list! ;) R.I.P. my dear old friend...
I think of you often. :)
Sincerely, - Al
Berkeley, CA |
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Oct-29-10
 | | wwall: Just finished a bio on Bill Addison on the second anniversary of his death. http://www.chess.com/article/view/b... |
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| Nov-05-10 | | TheFocus: <wwall> Excellent article. Bravo! |
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| Nov-05-10 | | jackpawn: Yes, very informative article. Thanks! |
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| Nov-28-10 | | wordfunph: <Mr. Benko had incorrect information about Bill and his wife. Bill Addison was already married to his wife, Joanne, and she never made any such statement. She never asked Bill to give up anything. Bill Addison went to Palma de Mallorca with it totally agreed that if he did well, he would continue with chess; if not, not.> that clears everything, thanks <wwall>.. |
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| Nov-28-11 | | talisman: happy birthday. one of the best from Baton Rouge! |
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| Oct-27-13 | | whiteshark: In Memoriam: http://chessjournalism.org/2009entr... (by George Mirijanian) |
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| May-23-15 | | TheFocus: <Bill Addison was a model of what a chess master should be. Yes, I well remember when he came to the Koenig Memorial last year. He regaled us with stories of the old days...His description of Kurt Bendit was a priceless tribute. And he was clearly following the international scene. But he was so vigorous, so animated that day that I can't believe he can be gone. I can say quite honestly that there is no person I have ever played -- and I played against him often in 1953-1969 -- that made such an impression on me and brought so much enjoyment, win or lose, from the experience> - Bob Burger. |
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| Nov-28-16 | | TheFocus: Happy birthday, William Addison. |
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Jul-14-19
 | | jinkinson: Wikipedia page for Addison: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willi... |
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