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Million dollar world championship in Las Vegas?

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09-01-2009 , 02:26 PM

Paymenoworlater

adept

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,111

Not sure whats going on here.

Migth be the most odd world championship match ever if it will take place.

Stan Vaughan (Sic!) Vs Varuzhan Akobian

Akobian is a relatively unknown 2600 rated GM
The other guy, I never heard about and it does not look like he is even Fide rated either.

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5717

Maybe an OP can add a 6 before million in the title?
Not sure how to edit that.

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09-01-2009 , 02:46 PM

DaMaGor

journeyman

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 243

I imagine Akobian's pretty excited about the free money.

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09-01-2009 , 03:11 PM

swingdoc

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,531

Google "Stan Vaughan chess" This guy is obviously just another moderately delusional, social misfit in the chess world.

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09-01-2009 , 05:38 PM

Shadowlike

journeyman

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 268

Don't confuse Akobian with Vladimir Akopian who is much stronger!

For an outsider like me it seems that a lot of strange things are going on in American chess.

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09-01-2009 , 08:28 PM

swingdoc

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadowlike

Don't confuse Akobian with Vladimir Akopian who is much stronger!

For an outsider like me it seems that a lot of strange things are going on in American chess.

Excellent first point.

The Susan Polgar problem is pretty screwed up, but otherwise only weird, insane **** like this normally gets reported. The American chess scene is pretty normal and solid overall.

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09-02-2009 , 11:32 PM

whiskeytown

sleepless songwriter

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,342

the chessbase article sorta tries to wash it's hands of it - kinda like "We know nothing about it but here is the press release"

at the Riveria - the ass end of the strip - LOL

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09-03-2009 , 02:26 AM

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 92,828

I remember reading Stan Vaughan's ads in the back pages of Chess Life in the 90's. He was always advertising his wacky tournaments, sanctioned only by his wacky organization.

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09-03-2009 , 02:28 AM

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 92,828

Speaking of Stan Vaughan, anybody remember Claude Bloodgood? Wow.

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09-03-2009 , 03:46 AM

swingdoc

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,531

Quote:

Originally Posted by kioshk

Speaking of Stan Vaughan, anybody remember Claude Bloodgood? Wow.

Stories please? Have we had a thread on insane people in the chess community yet? I've played with a guy who has pulled a knife (not on me thankfully!) in more than one chess tournament. Also walked down a row of tables in one round carefully stepping over the chess boards but displaying how pissed he was.

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09-03-2009 , 06:26 AM

#10

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 92,828

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingdoc

I didn't know him personally. He was a master, wrote a book about the Grob, killed his wife, got life in prison, ran a lot of bogus chess tournaments in prison that blew up his USCF rating over 2500. He's dead now.

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09-03-2009 , 09:28 AM

#11

Noir_Desir

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,333

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5735

cliffnotes: Akobian defaults, Vaughn stays World Champion.

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09-04-2009 , 04:39 AM

#12

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 92,828

Quote:

Originally Posted by kioshk

I was wrong; he went to prison for killing his mother, not his wife. And his USCF rating actually reached 2700, not just 2500. Here's his wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Bloodgood

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09-04-2009 , 07:11 AM

#13

whiskeytown

sleepless songwriter

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,342

Quote:

Originally Posted by kioshk

I read about this guy - he practically has a chapter dedicated to him in "King's Gambit" - not too flattering

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09-04-2009 , 09:02 PM

#14

whiskeytown

sleepless songwriter

Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 8,342

The Match is OFF -

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5735

this is almost more fun to watch then a poker trainwreck - LOL

rb

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09-06-2009 , 02:58 AM

#15

Shandrax

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,818

ROFL!!!! This is pure internet gold!!!!

Since Akobian won't play, I am willing to fill in as a substitute. Please tell Mr. Vaughan's agent to give me a call.

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09-06-2009 , 08:46 AM

#16

All-inMcLovin

Wholesome Mod

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,557

In 1974, Bloodgood and fellow inmate Lewis Capleaner received a furlough to play in a chess tournament. They overpowered the single guard assigned to them and escaped, but they were recaptured after a few days.

Wowwwwww

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09-08-2009 , 05:26 PM

#17

kioshk

Nixonian

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 92,828

Claude Bloodgood's not interesting because he's a badass. He's interesting because, while in prison, he devised and implemented a scheme whereby he became the chess player with the 2nd highest USCF rating in the nation.

That's why he's significant. Plus, he killed his mother, c'mon! And he wrote a book about the Grob, the ****ing Grob, which he played regularly.

McLovin, go **** yourself.

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09-10-2009 , 04:41 PM

#18

skalf

banned

Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,458

Gotta love how the very first thing mentioned in the press release, is KGB assassinations. Kind of sets the tone.

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