Robert Byrne, 1928-2013
April 13, 2013
BryneFischer.jpgUS Chess Champion, Grandmaster, author and long-time New York Times chess columnist Robert Byrne died on April 12, 2013 at 84 years old after a long illness. Byrne, the US Chess Champion in 1972, represented the United States nine times in Chess Olympiads and won seven medals.

Byrne defeated Bobby Fischer in the 1965 US Chess Championship. 

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Upon hearing the news, Hikaru Nakamura tweeted "RIP Robert Byrne...one of the legends of American chess" while Anthony Saidy wrote, "a great American player and a friend whose example taught me much."

A memorial service will be on Sat., April 20, at 1 PM at Dorsey Funeral Home, 15 M Wilton Place, Ossining, NY 10562. Attendees are welcome. RSVP to [email protected]. You can also send a message to be read aloud.

As chessplayers and friends begin to reflect on Byrne's life, games and writings, we also encourage readers to comment in this thread.