Murray Chandler

Murray Graham Chandler (born 4 April 1960, Wellington, New Zealand) is a New Zealand-born chess player and grandmaster who now represents England internationally.

He won the New Zealand chess championship in 1975-76, and qualified as an International Master in 1977. He represented New Zealand at the Chess Olympiads of 1976, 1978 and 1980 but then switched allegiance to England. He played for England at the Chess Olympiads of 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1992.

He qualified for the title of international grandmaster in 1983.

Amongst his best results have been Commonwealth champion (joint) in 1984, 1st at Brighton 1981, 1st in the Blackpool Zonal of 1990, 1st equal, Lloyds Bank Masters 1979, 1st equal, Hastings Premier 1986/7, and 2nd equal (behind Anatoly Karpov), London 1984. He played for the Rest of World team versus the Soviet Union, London 1984.

He tied first at the British Chess Championship of 1986, but lost in a play-off match.

He was editor of British Chess Magazine from 1991 to 1999.

He returned to New Zealand in 2006 to win his 2nd New Zealand Chess Championship.

One unusual feat was his lifetime scoreline of two wins, no draws, no losses, against Garry Kasparov. One win was in the World Under-16 Championship in 1976, and the other in a simultaneous display in 1985.

Bibliography

• How To Beat Your Dad At Chess (ISBN 1901983056, 1998)
• Chess Tactics For Kids (ISBN 1901983994, 2003)
• Chess For Children (ISBN 1904600069, 2004)

References

• Whyld, Kenneth; Guinness Chess The Records, Guinness Books, 1986.
• British Chess Magazine, passim.