Chess Whiz Jude Acers survives Katrina
When Katrina hit, I wondered what would happen to Jude Acers - a chess master who plays for money on the streets of New Orleans - after the hurricane. I have been following the news - first he was missing, now he has been interviewed in the Greeneville shelter. I played him once for $5 in 2001. He even accepted credit cards on his cardboard table set up on the sidewalk. I paid cash. It was a kind of close game, but he beat me. He seemed like a pretty nice guy. There was one point, though, when I believe he was trying to pick me up because he would brush his foot against mine a couple of times. It was very subtle and I moved my foot away each time, so I am only about 95% sure this is what was going on.
A lot of nice things are being written about him, and a "Jude Acers fund" has been set up.
I have heard before that he was kicked out of the United States Chess Federation for submitting false tournament results in order to lower his rating, so that he could qualify for more prizes.
Here is an interesting interview with him in which he says "the USCF is a corporate ripoff" and that "the Asian invasion has just begun... Start studying your Mandarin right now."
Adding evidence to my theory that there is a much higher ratio of crazy chess players than non-chess players, he was once committed to an institution.
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Comments
The foot brushing was no doubt a psychological tactic and not a pick-up ... you should add it to your repetoire of "dirty chess tricks."
Posted by: C. Maoxian at September 19, 2005 09:20 PM
Yes, you are exactly right, Mr. Chairman. Those hustlers are good at that kind of thing. I remember thinking that at the time. But I also believe he was trying to pick me up.
Posted by: Ugly![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.uglychart.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 19, 2005 11:06 PM
Dude was trying to pick you up during a chess game ? That is special. I'm in agreement with The Chairman that it was intended as a distraction, but the fact that you also believe he had the hots for you made it a double distraction. Maybe you need to think of some twitch or annoying habit that you can use during these types of competitive chess matches.
Tribe wins again, 7-5 over the Pale Hose. The remaining schedule shows that it will likely take 93 or 94 wins to secure the A.L. wildcard spot. Plus there's still a chance for the Tribe to win the A.L. Central division. 12 games to go - we shall see ...
Posted by: Todd at September 20, 2005 08:22 AM
Yeah it sounds strange, but he is flambouyantly gay. I don't like those cheap tricks, so I won't do them even if they will give me an advantage. But I don't really blame hustlers for doing it because they are trying to make a living. They have a lot of good distracting tricks. There was this guy in Washington Square park in NYC who wasn't that great at chess, but he was a tremendous hustler. All the tourists loved him and gave him their money. Even chess players who were much better than him would get distracted and lose.
The Indians are on fire - I love it. It would be totally awesome if they could enter the post season as Central division champs. But as long as they get at least the wildcard spot, I am content.
Posted by: Ugly![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.uglychart.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 20, 2005 08:40 AM
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