My father is a retired Naval Aviator, a career military officer. He flew aircraft from the dual winged to the jets. One of the finest memories of my youth was attending the dedication of his S2F command at Norfolk, Virginia 1955. His submarine chaser aircraft defended the Atlantic fleet.

I like to think of my father as a superman in the thick of very important national history. He was at sea when half the Pacific Fleet was OUTSIDE Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. A little known story is the reason why, since the entire fleet was scheduled to be in port on that day. The flagship caught its propeller in a tow line, while the accompanying part of our fleet stayed with it.

Murphy's law was reversed. Yes things do go wrong, sometimes just at the right time! You can see the metaphysics of it as deeply philosophical. Think of it as divine providence, if you will, including a good deal of serendipity in the art of the possible. Now no one would look for problems, just in this case the far lesser problem worked its lifesaving miracle.

My mother in her young years was an accomplished ballet dancer, gaining invitations to London. Unfortunately, World War II made it impossible for her to attend. She is really the very best mom, and some of my young friends said so on occasion, while I was growing up. So it is not just my opinion.

All parents must want their children to do things that they may have been denied upon events in life. In a way my journey to London accomplished what she would have wished in her own field.

Attending Damien Memorial High School, from 1963 to diploma in 1967, and graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1973, I understand Future Studies, with a minor in American Studies. I am listed as contributing research to the Rand Corporation sponsored 1991 book (in my given name: Lewis Anthony Shipman) America at the Threshold. It involves NASA Mars and other planetary exploration scenarios. So you understand the enthusiast position on space.

As an author and working as Data Base Manager at the Times World Championship London 1993, I could envision chess excelling with space exploration. While free time at the game enhances thoughtful living, a good supportive research must validate self improving quality. Anything to encourage study in one area invites study into other fields. For youth that is a good principle, while students who need to study would study anything at all.

MY STORY: RECENT YEARS IN THE CHESS WORLD

After years and years of studying and playing tournament chess, I obtained the United States Chess Federation master title, winning the Hawaii State Chess Championship 1992.

Calling Eric Schiller who stayed at my place for a few days when he was on vacation in 1991, I cited renewed attention to the game though computer data entry and studies. I found the response "that is worth something."

So began chess authorship, opening the game up to others from improving works, with seven books on disk so far through this insight of Eric Schiller.

In 1993 he asked me to journey to the Times World Chess Championship. Arriving in early September at Simpson’s in central London on the Strand, we worked "pick and shovel," moving computers into the press room, and installing software. Microsoft sponsored the event, with Windows for Workgroups on all our Compaq 486 ethernet computers.

After two days in a hotel room across the street, I moved to Greenwich, nearby the Royal Observatory. It was a college dormitory, having good rooms as a converted house. A park nearby and across the street, invited a short walk to the observatory. Funny thing, here I am in tourist heaven Hawaii, going "heh heh," about all the tourist junk, then what I do what on vacation?

You guessed right. "Shop 'till ya drop."

The match went on with an essential routine, and I was very happy with my associates. My task was versatility, assembling computer networks, installing software, annotating games, and keeping the grandmaster analysis room in touch with the main bulletin workstation. You name it, almost anything and I did it for the press room. Imagine calling out moves from the match going out to the world on the internet, and to journalists sending moves by modem to the nations. Princess Diana visited the Savoy Theatre early in the match, while all of us were enamored for the Royal Game.

During the first days there were very many journalists present. ABC news did a story about the Harlem Chess team.

Simpson’s London is an historic site, where many great chess players have battled since the last century. From Staunton to Morphy to Chigorin and Steinitz, all the greats have brought their games into chess history through their sojourn to Simpson's. I have to compliment Brian Clivaz the manager of the restaurant, who was so helpful to me and so many others during the match.

October 1, 1993 the staff moved to another house, then came Grandmaster Joel Benjamin who played a role in the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer. My friend the late Col. Ed Edmondson once said, "what a game this is, you get to meet people from all over the world." My argument is that "it’s the people," and that is the real reason why I enjoy the game. Deep competition also makes sense while one aspires to win.

I cannot forget the lovely Sarah Chrisopher, Cathy Forbes, and M.L. Rantala. The wonderful women there added greatly to the excellent occasion of the event.

On October 25, 1993 I played World Chess Champion Gary Kasparov two five minute games on the stage at the Savoy Theater. Gary’s opponent in the world championship, Nigel Short commented in the Savoy theater exclusively on these games. Earlier I prepared by playing he, Michael Adams, and Speelman. All of these people are Grandmasters, the top chess players in the world.

Losing both games on time, I talked with Gary outside for about 20 minutes about chess and life, asking that he would look me up when he comes to Hawaii. Eric had already told Gary of the benefit of setting up a chess academy in Hawaii, and I would be ready to help on that possibility.

Going upstairs to the press room, I found compliments from Gary’s entourage. They said "you did well, you held him back," and also "you have to understand, Gary is a very vain man and he wants to win every game decisively." I said, "Well, I think he is a good guy when he is not playing chess."

Later in 1994 Eric established the annual Hawaii International Chess Tournament.

This year of 1996 brought three Grandmasters, Gufeld, Blatny, and Joel Benjamin who lived with M.L. Rantala and I in the staff house in 1993.

I continue to play chess at the internet chess club, looking forward to the next tournaments as it now seems once a year. Hawaii International 1997, 1998 will respectfully play at Waikiki, and the United States Open at Kailua-Kona 1998.

Best wishes to all.