Veteran NM Klaus Pohl of South Carolina recently passed away. He was a 13 time South Carolina State Champion (first in 1980, last in 2015). I wrote him many a prize check for Georgia Chess Association events. I last had the opportunity to visit with him when we represented our respective states at the first two National Tournament of Senior Chess Champions events. He was a fine gentleman who will be greatly missed.
This is a real loss for chess in general, and in the southeast in particular. Klaus was a strong master for decades, and made it over 2400 a couple of times. I directed many events in which Klaus played, and he had a real love of the game. He would come over to Atlanta from his home in Greenville, SC to play in a small tournament just so that he could have someplace to play. Over the board he was a real fighter who would give no quarter, and expected none in return. I will miss him.
I’ve not played or directed in Georgia for years, but I share Mike and Scott’s memories of Klaus.