An Interview with Ben Beach
By Clara McGrew
Photo courtesy of Bethel McGrew
1. How did you first get interested in chess?
When my dad took me to a chess tournament in first grade.
2. What is your favorite part of the game?
The middle game is my favorite part of the game.
3. What were your first chess books?
My first chess books were Winning Chess Tactics and Silmanʼs Complete Endgame Course.
4. What are your favorite chess books?
My favorite chess books are Garry Kasparovʼs My Great Predecessors series.
5. Approximately how many chess books do you currently have?
I own about 60 chess books.
6. How many hours a day do you generally study/play chess combined?
I spend about 6-8 hours a day studying/playing chess.
7. Which do you do more often: study chess or play chess?
I study chess more often than I play it.
8. Who is your favorite chess player?
My favorite chess player is either Anatoly Karpov or Tigran Petrosian.
9. Do you think your chess style is similar to theirs?
I think it is similar to their style, but deviates from it from time to time.
10. What are your chess goals for the future?
My chess goal for the near future is to make 1200 by the end of the summer, but the goals for the far out future are hazy.
Here is a recent game that Benjamin played, annotated by Dr. Tim McGrew: