Joel Benjamin, one of the greatest American born Grandmasters ever, celebrates his 45th birthday today. He won 3 US championships (1987, 1997 and 2000) and was a member of many US Olympiad teams. His peak FIDE rating was 2620 (7/1993).
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Yes, I do remember Joel Benjamin. Especially the disgusting smugness he displayed about Kasparov’s defeat by Deep Blue.
class act
american hero
Joel Benjamin is one of the All-Time great American players for sure.
Happy Birthday Joel 4!!!!! and i look forward to seeing you in a few weeks! hehe
“Especially the disgusting smugness he displayed about Kasparov’s defeat by Deep Blue.”
What? The fact that pompus windbad like Kasparov loses to common American kitchen appliance?
Why is that a suprise?
In Russia they barely invented flushing toilets. Just ask Kramnik, he though his toilet was a Rybka computer and had wires attached to his toilet.
Why is that a suprise?
It was no wonder why GM Benjamin was smug and disgusted.
GM Benjamin is a great player and a great coach. Happy Birthday.
I ran into GM Joel at the 2003 New York Open. He was analyzing games for the unrated beginners section where I was. I never got to talk to him or introduce myself to him but I get the impression that he was a very nice fellow. I really enjoyed his book “American Grandmaster” and I am a fan of the NJ Knockouts of the US Chess League because of GM Joel.
So happy birthday and many many happy returns.
Felicitations Joel. I met you for first time at the Manhattan Chess Club I was playing Dore Sheppard in the Amateur section and you were playing in the Master section. You walked by our game and after our game was over and while we were going over game you walked by and told us if you could show us something and began to show us amazing lines of play we had not even seen. This was when you were 11 years old so it was most impressive you were an expert at the time I believe. After you walked away we both knew this is a future GM and US Champion and it did happen, so it was an honour.