Hello. This is to inform you that our community has lost two of its members.
NM Bill Richards passed away recently at age 64. (Thanks to NM Mike Zaloznyy for the information.) After leaving Southern California, Bill lived in Phoenix and then Las Vegas. I believe he had the largest club on Chess.com with close to 30,000 members. Among his chess achievements was a simul draw against former World Champion Tigran Petrosian in 1982.
TD Michael Belcher died yesterday in his sleep at age 48. (Thanks to Ron Morris for the information.) Michael was involved in the beginnings of the Metropolitan Chess Club, which brought norm tournaments back to Southern California and also organized high-profile camps with top players such as GM Loek Van Wely, 2004 World Championship finalist Mickey Adams, and former World Champion Vishy Anand.
Kele Perkins
Whittier Chess Club