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Premature Announcements
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2026 11:14 am
by John Upham
It occurred to me if one was able to announce ones passing prior to its actuality then you could read the accolades before its too late.
Likewise when lifetime awards are presented it probably means a visit to ones doctor is over due as perhaps others know something you don't'
Just a thought...
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2026 11:23 am
by Christopher Kreuzer
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2026 4:31 pm
by John Townsend
Edward Winter has an interesting feature article on this very topic, entitled
Chess and Untimely Death Notices:
https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/ext ... aries.html
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 10:38 am
by Kevin O'Connell
I saw Nigel Short's blitz tournament (June 28, 9/9, *) in Vanuatu referred to as the Nigel Short Memorial Blitz.
I did not screenshot it and can't now find it, but this is the tournament (no mention here of the Memorial aspect):
*
https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1447312 ... S&SNode=S0
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2026 2:39 pm
by Richard Thursby
Some years ago, my then club's president celebrated his eightieth birthday less than six months before suffering a fatal heart attack. At his memorial gathering someone (I forget who) commented how it was good that he got to hear everything that might have been said at his funeral said to his face.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 12:11 am
by Chris Rice
The Nigel Short Memorial Blitz took place in Suva, Fiji a week or two ago and was won by Nigel with 9/9, I couldn't find a link to the tournament on the chess results server. His Facebook feed was full of congratulations from people who thought he played well for a dead man. Unfortunately I also could not see the reason why it was called a Memorial, perhaps it was a lost in translation type of error.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2026 6:55 am
by Kevin Thurlow
"The Nigel Short Memorial Blitz took place in Suva,"
It could be more of a "tribute" event and it's lost in translation (as you said), "remembering" equating to "memorial"?
The English Federation for Correspondence Chess has been running these tribute events for a few years, where they want to thank someone for distinguished service to CC, and the honoured person gets to play in his/her own event, and can also suggest who is invited. It's a nice idea.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2026 3:26 pm
by John Townsend
May I suggest that the incidence of "premature announcements" underlines the need, more than ever, to give sources when reporting deaths in this section of the forum. We have a useful obituaries column, but safeguards are needed to help maintain a decent standard.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 4:17 pm
by Brian Denman
Capt H A Kennedy died in 1878, but he was quite pleased to read the nice comments made about him when The Field published details of his death about three years before his eventual passing.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 4:24 pm
by IM Jack Rudd
Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2026 6:55 am
"The Nigel Short Memorial Blitz took place in Suva,"
It could be more of a "tribute" event and it's lost in translation (as you said), "remembering" equating to "memorial"?
The English Federation for Correspondence Chess has been running these tribute events for a few years, where they want to thank someone for distinguished service to CC, and the honoured person gets to play in his/her own event, and can also suggest who is invited. It's a nice idea.
I think "Testimonial" is the word used in football for this. It's a good word.
Re: Premature Announcements
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2026 7:22 pm
by John Townsend
Kennedy is buried only a few miles from my home, near Reading's Cemetery Junction. It is thought by some to be a rough area. When my wife was alive, she wouldn't let me visit his grave on my own, for fear of my being mugged - or something worse - so I was contemplating taking along some appropriate "muscle". He died at Ailsa House, on the KIng's Road - appropriate because Berkshire used to play its county matches close by at the Technical College.