KibBlitzing with the Jester of Chess

Jack Edelson
Current place of residence: Merrick, NY
Date of Birth: August 19, 1988
USCF Rating as of 12/6/08: 1939
WCL Grand Prix Points: 0

Photo: Jack Edelson, dressed in a suit he may or may not wear while
serving as a Tournament Director at the Freeport Chess Club.

- What is the craziest time you have ever had at a tournament?

Bradley Open, 2002: waiting 45 minutes at the hotel restaurant for my food, only to be told they’re out of chicken. At 5:00.

- If you could go back and re-do any tournament you've ever played, which would it be and why?

The 2nd Eastern Chess Congress in Stamford, CT, 2004. Not the tournament per se, but in the first round I drew someone who drew Fischer several times, and if I could do it over again, I wouldn’t have lost the scoresheet.

- Who will win the World Championship?

The world championship ceased to exist a number of years ago, when they stopped playing the traditional matches. Don’t ask me when this happened; I don’t follow top-level chess at all.

- Do you have a strategy for earning more Grand Prix points?

Well, my strategy was to not play in any Grand Prix events. That’s working about as well as you’d expect.

- Do you like your knights turned to one side or the other?

I once heard someone say that you should turn them to your left. I’m a simple man and don’t ask many questions. So I turned them to the left.

- Who are your role models in chess?

Colonel Moreau. At Monte Carlo 1903, this chess patron and amateur player played 26 games against the likes of Tarrasch and Pillsbury. He lost all 26.

- Are you skilled in any chess variants?

Well, [Jonathan] Hilton generally beats me in Shatranj.

- Have you ever obtained any physical injuries at chess tournaments?

I was at a chess club when I had to run over and get something before the game. I twisted my ankle pretty badly. I screamed, “Ouch!” and everyone in the room said, “Shhh.” Only at a chess club …

- What is the most money you have ever won at a tournament, and what did you do with it?

I don’t think I’ve ever won $100 in a tournament.

- An opponent rated 500 points lower than you is up a rook against you and offers a draw. What do you do?

I’d take a draw. Not only is the lower-rated player probably good enough to beat me in that kind of position, if I’m down a rook that probably means I’m not on form that day. ?

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