Navy Sailor selected MVP of NATO Chess Championship
USS Thach Public Affairs
2008-01-12
A Sailor attached to the San Diego-based frigate USS Thach (FFG 43), was recently recognized as the Most Valuable Player at the NATO Chess Championship in Ankara, Turkey.
Seaman Buddy K. Duo earned the award for leading the U.S. Armed Forces Team to the overall championship title by winning all of his 26 matches during the competition, despite only playing half the tournament.
“The award and the championship are dreams come true,” Duo said upon his return to San Diego Jan. 4. “The players at the tournament were excellent so it feels great to have success against them. It’s always a challenge to play people who perform at such a high level because it forces you to get better and gives you an appreciation for your own strengths.”
Duo arrived in Turkey mid-way through the two-week tournament with his team nearly 50 points behind the leaders. He played his first match only five hours after flying in from Las Vegas.
Employing his unique free-style tactics, he went undefeated and spearheaded the U.S. comeback against more than 40 teams from around the world. The performance impressed United Kingdom Army Maj. Michael Nash, Chairman of the NATO Chess Committee.
“As the tournament MVP, Seaman Duo left an indelible mark in the lives of all those who participated in this year’s tournament,” said Nash, whose British team befriended Duo during the stay in Turkey. “His superb character, morale, and leadership make him a very great ambassador for the United States. His chess skills are impeccable, and he truly represented USS Thach, the U.S. Navy, and the United States with incredible class. It was a pleasure to meet him.”
Duo also had the opportunity to compete in an exhibition match against a Turkish Grand Master, one of the top-rated chess players in the country. The duel ended in a draw and earned Duo points in his own pursuit of the Grand Master rating.
“It was very humbling to play against the Grand Master,” Duo said. “I feel fortunate that I had the opportunity – I’m glad I played as well as I did against him, but I would have preferred to win outright. It is my goal to be a Grand Master someday so this match was a step in the right direction.”
Here is the full story.
How strong is he?
US Navy ain’t nothing to mess with!! :-), GO NAVY!!
Seems to have a USCF rating of 1117.
Double it and add 300 and he will be close to Grandmaster.
And he got points towards grandmaster by drawing in a simul …
.. chess journalism …
The final standings can be seen at the end of the page http://www.natochess.org/championships.html
Out of 11 teams, USA took 8th place. Looking up the individual results elsewhere, the name of Mr. Duo can not be found.
http://main.uschess.org/content/view/7793/365/ lists the members who made the NATO team – 3 AF, 1 Marine, 1 Army, and 1 Navy personnel. The latter being “Petty Officer First Class Benjamin B. Barquin, stationed aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, San Diego, California”
From the full story:
“He earned his spot on the U.S. Armed Forces team by taking top honors at the Inter-Service Chess Championship held in June 2007 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.”
Actually he came LAST in that event (while earning 1117 rating).
And what kind of team event can you arrive half way through and play 26 ‘matches’.
This story is a bunch of lies from start to finish.
Date: Sun, Jan 13 2008 3:08pm
From: Taylor Kingston
I just got this e-mail from the Military Family Network
administrator:
Dear Mr. Kingston
The story you have reported to MFN has been removed. Some reports are
sent to MFN and once in a while one that has inaccuracies will filter
though. Thank you for notifying MFN on such a story.
Lou
Luis Trevino
VP Media and Communications
This story was a complete fabrication from SN Duo. Recommend removing it from your website.
GO DOU, YOUR THE MAN!!!
I was at the NATO Championship in Turkey in Sep 2007. I assure you that SN Duo was not present. Once I heard about the story, I contacted Navy Public Affairs and exposed it as a hoax.
–Lt Col Douglas Taffinder, USAF
Thank you Lt Col Taffinder! I am a big supporter of military chess and I am very impressed with the way how everyone fought to protect the integrity of the U.S. military.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar