First, the bad news: British IM Michael Basman passed away last month at the age of 76. In recent decades his biggest claim to fame was as an organizer who did a great deal to promote junior chess in the U.K., but before that it was as an exponent and advocate of some of the worst openings known to humanity - most notably the Grob (1.g4??). To his credit, and unlike some charlatans in the business, he didn’t just write about these openings, looking to take a few quid off of a gullible public, but would play these openings in real games, even against grandmasters. One might question his judgment and his sanity, but not his integrity! Sometimes the story had a happy ending, too - among his scalps you’ll find 20th century stars like Jonathan Speelman, John Nunn, Henrique Mecking, and Ulf Andersson. He even managed a draw with Mikhail Tal - he could play.
Rest in peace.
Second, the good news, especially for my Dutch readers: New In Chess has published a book on IM Manuel Bosboom. This is not an ad for the book: I don’t have it and probably won’t get it, as I’ve got too many other books (in chess and on other topics) that are already sobbing from years of neglect. But I heartily approve of the idea of this book: it’s good to celebrate chess’s somewhat weirder side. Players like Basman, Bosboom, Kamran Shirazi, Stefan Bücker and others who are willing to “misbehave” in the opening and in their general philosophy towards the game help make chess a richer and more attractive game.
Three points of clarification. First, I’m not talking about actual misbehavior. Jerks and people who go heavy on the gamesmanship are a blight on chess in particular and life in general. I’m referring only to “mischief” on the board. Second, and as mentioned in the first paragraph: while I’m all for nonsense in the opening - something I’ve engaged in myself - one ought to be scrupulously honest about the quality of those openings when speaking to a paying public, and not dishonest about it to anyone. Third, while one may have a “calling” to be a chess eccentric - if so, God bless you! - for the rest of us I think it’s worth incorporating a bit of it into our chess and our chess diets, but it should not be the main thing.
So, kudos to Bosboom and condolences to Basman’s friends and family. Go forth and play something offbeat in their honor.