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Baraka Shabazz
B Shabazz 
Baraka Shabazz at Dupont Circle (Photo: Washington Post)
 

Number of games in database: 3
Years covered: 1980 to 1981
Highest rating achieved in database: 2033


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BARAKA SHABAZZ
(born 1967) United States of America

[what is this?]

Baraka Shabazz was born Christine Barker in Denver, Colorado circa 1967, later changing her name to Baraka Shabazz. She and her family later moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and subsequently to Oakland, California, and then to the Baltimore, Maryland area. By age 15, she was one of the top women players in the country. She was the first African-American woman to reach the rank of USCF expert (2000 Elo), and became the sixth-ranked female chess player in the United States. She finished ninth out of twelve players in the 1981 U.S. Women's Championship.

Shabazz received national attention, becoming the subject of articles in the <Washington Post>, and <People>, <Jet>, and <Ebony Jr.> magazines. Her family experienced financial difficulties and she stopped playing chess after the 1983 World Open. She eventually moved to England.

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/20... http://www.people.com/people/archiv... http://news.google.com/newspapers?n... https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...

Last updated: 2021-05-02 10:35:49

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 page 1 of 1; 3 games  PGN Download 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. M Arne vs B Shabazz 0-1361980Berkeley OpenC24 Bishop's Opening
2. J Harmsen vs B Shabazz  0-1341981Wch u16gC30 King's Gambit Declined
3. B Shabazz vs C Kemish  1-0351981Wch u16gA47 Queen's Indian
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Shabazz wins | Shabazz loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-19-14  Nightsurfer: Just two days ago, on <January 17th, 2014>, the extraordinaire <Michelle Obama> has celebrated her <50th birthday> (in case that you might doubt that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel...), and <Michelle Obama> is a great fan of chess as well (just see that autograph card that the First Lady of the USA has sent to the <Berkeley Chess School>: http://www.berkeleychessschool.org/...), therefore it is very good to learn today that <Baraka Shabazz>, that young pioneer of female chess in the African-American community (please read: http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/20... and http://www.thechessdrum.net/histori...), has now got her own personal page at ChessGames.com! :-)
Jan-20-14  Nightsurfer: Today is <Martin-Luther-King-Day 2014>, so it is very good to learn that <Baraka Shabazz> has become <Player of the Day>! A great gesture by you people of ChessGames.com! Thank you so much!
Jan-20-14  Nightsurfer: <Baraka Shabazz> has become the role model for young female players everywhere, be it in the African-American community or in Africa, just think of Valquiria Rocha or Tshepang Tlale by just naming two outstanding examples!
Jan-20-14  charliehertan: Bataks was introduced to me as Malcolm X's daughter circa 1980! She was a stunningly vibrant personality. I was not even aware she played, so the meeting in new Paltz ny was a sheer coincidence though I was very active in the NYC chess scene at the time.
Aug-26-20  SBC: The bio is wrong. Shabazz finished 9/12 in the 1981 U.S. Women's Championship with a 4.5 score. Alexey Rudolph scored 3.5 while Diana Lanni and Alison Bert scored 3.0 each.
Aug-27-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  sakredkow: <She played in the 1981 U.S. Women's Championship, but finished 9th.> I don't mean to nitpick but...You don't have to say "but finished 9th." You can just say "finishing 9th." Her standing doesn't diminish the achievement of her participation.
May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: Sad story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/arch...
May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  OhioChessFan: Another interesting take:

https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2...

May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  perfidious: Regrettable indeed.

Reminds me of someone I knew in my twenties whose parents lived through his chess talent and exerted enormous pressure on him. Got so bad he had to walk away too.

May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  saffuna: That happens in all sports, doesn't it? Sometimes it works (Tiger Woods, Williams sisters), sometimes it doesn't (Todd Marinovich, Mary Pierce).
May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Check It Out: Her parents were living vicariously through her chess accomplishments, and were probably hoping to cash 💸 in as well.

Its understandable that those childhood forces would sap her passion for the game.

May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  saffuna: <Her parents were living vicariously through her chess accomplishments, and were probably hoping to cash 💸 in as well.

Its understandable that those childhood forces would sap her passion for the game.>

Totally understandable. Any time parents give up their careers to support a child's development in sports it puts too much pressure on the kid. There are numerous terrible stories in tennis alone.

May-02-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: Yeah, it sounds like the parents decided their kid was going to be their gravy train. Because chess is SO lucrative . . .

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