Emory Tate Jr.
*Emory Tate Jr. was born on this date in 1958. He was a Black International Chess Player.
Emory Andrew Tate Jr. was from the town of Gary, Indiana, and was taught the game of chess by his father, Emory Sr., an attorney. He learned to play chess as a child. He had a gift for languages and could speak Russian and Spanish fluently. Indiana is an active chess state, but in the early days of stardom, Tate spent much time in Chicago, creating a buzz with his hyperactive play.
Observing closely makes it easy to get a glimpse of his brilliant mind. He served as a United States Air Force staff sergeant, where his language skills were invaluable. Tate's reputation improved while in the Air Force and was a 5-time Armed Forces Champion. He had three children with his British wife. His older son, Emory Andrew Tate III (known as Andrew), is a notable kickboxer. His daughter, Janine Tate Webb, is an attorney in the United States. His son said, "The military taught him Russian. He picked up Spanish and German by accident." Even when Tate doesn't win, his play sparks imagination… see Tate-Ashley.
Tate had a large collection of GM wins, and many often wonder why he had not achieved the rank of Grandmaster. By examining the games above, it is apparent that he has GM talent. He also reached the 2500-rating barrier after winning the Eastern Open in December 1996. Tate's highest FIDE rating was 2413 on the October 2006 rating list, which made him the 72nd highest-rated player in the United States and among the top 2000 active players in the world. His peak USCF rating was 2499 on the April 1997 list. Tate earned a reputation as a creative and dangerous tactician on the U.S. chess circuit, where he won about 80 tournament games against Grandmasters. He was one of the highest-rated Black chess players.
Air Force veteran and 2003 United States Armed Forces Chess Champion Leroy Hill said: "All the players had street names. Emory's was "Extraterrestrial" because we thought his play was out of this world." Tate inspired chess players the world over, but many players of African descent consider him to be a legendary figure in the annals of chess history. On October 17, 2015, Tate died after collapsing suddenly during a tournament near San Jose, California.
