The Sad Story of Roy Ervin

    Roy Ervin (1951-2001) was an FM with orn IM norm when he passed away at the age of 50 in Red Bluff, California, the city where his mother lived. His story is heartbreaking. By all accounts of those who knew him, he was a kind and gentle soul who had a great talent for the game and who, if not for his unfortunate fate, might have been a Grand master. 

    Ervin learned to play from his sister at the age of 4, but took a real interest in it at age 7. He was born in Los Angeles and attended school in Van Nuys until he entered high xchool in Sherman Oaks. After graduation he enrolled in Occidental College in Los Angeles in a program for science and math that was associated with Cal Tech in Pasadena, but he left mid-term and moved to Santa Monica because there was more chess action and there he played for money on the beach. 

    He played in the famous Lone Pine tournaments in 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978. In 1974, he represented the US in the World Student Team Olympiad. After the Student Olympiad he toured through France and Germany before ending up in Amsterdam. 

    While in Amsterdam he got involved in drugs and began suffering from schizophrenia, a chronic brain disorder that when it is active can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation. While there he was hospitalized for six months, then returned home to California. 

    Ervin refused treatment for his condition claiming that it made him "stupid". Schizophrenia is initially treated with drugs that work by blocking the effect of the chemical dopamine, or other chemicals inn the brain. 

    In spite of his schizophrenia he continued to play chess. At one of the Lone Pine tournaments after he lost to Yugoslav GM SvetozarGligoric, Ervin tried to commit suicide by slitting his wrists. Then in 1977, after a loss in the US Open in Columbus, Ohio, he again slit his wrists. At another time he tried to cut off his nose with a pair of scissors. 

    At one point he was homeless and lived on the beach in Santa Monica. Also, at one point he was briefly committed to a mental hospital in Chico, California. Ervin smoked 2 to 3 packs of cigarettes a day and died of lung cancer at the age of 50. 

    The 1971 US Open was held in Ventira, California and was won by Walter Browne. Ervin places 29-52 with a score of +7 4 =2; his opponent finished with a 65 score. There were 398 players. In the game Chism’s King is harassed, but safe until he grabs a Pawn a move too soon at move 24. The conclusion of Fritz’ analysis with Stockfish is that Ervin’s play was “flawless”. 

 

ChessBase

Olin Chism–Roy Ervin0–1C04US Open, Ventura, CaliforniaVentura, CA USA11.08.1971Stocjfish 16

C04: French Defense, Tarrasch Variation 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.d2 c6 This move became popular during the 1970s and early 80s when Anatoly Karpov begab successfully using it. Although it is not especially aggressive, it is quite safe. 4.gf3 f6 Black hopes to close the center by enticing white to play 5.e5 5.e5 5.d3 While hardly bad, this allws black easy equality after b4 6.0-0 6.b5+ c6 and the B must return to d3 7.d3 xd3+ 8.cxd3 b6 equals 5...d7 6.c3 f6 He must challenge white in the center. Anything else favors white. 7.exf6 xf6 8.d3 d6! 9.0-0 0-0 10.h3 10.e1 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.b3 e6 13.e2 g5 14.h3 h5 Black is winning. Kochiev,I (2053)-Duda,J (2724) chess.com INT 2023 10...h8 11.e2 e5 White has a very passive position and as a result, black is in the process of developing a string initiative. 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xe5 13.h2 is not much better. f5 14.b3 e7 Better was 14...Rae8 with the advantage. 15.d4 d7 16.g4 xg4 17.xg4 7g6 18.e6 is about equal. Bakalarz,L (2137) -Strzemiecki,Z (2333) Krakow POL 2009 13...xe5 14.f4 xf4 15.f3 xf3 This is really the only good move, but with careful play whiter should be able to offer an adequate defense. 16.xf3 h2+ 17.f2 e5 18.f4 Returning the exchange is the best course of action. 18.e3 e6 19.g1 f8+ 20.f3 xf3 21.xh2 xh2+ 22.e2 d7 Black should eventually be victorious. 18...c5+ 19.e3 19.e1 xf3+ 20.xf3 xf4 and black has won a piece. 19...xf3 20.xc5 h4 20...e5 was just a bit better. After 21.g1 f4+ 22.e1 f5 23.f2 e4 Black is only very slightly better as white has no real attacking prospects. 21.xd5 Thanks to black's last somewhat passive move thanks to his centralized Q and two Bs white has now achieved equality. Ervin's mext move is the best way of keeping his attack goind although white should be able to defend himself. xh3 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 e6 24.xb7 A fatal mistake. Black now activates his R the the threat of ...Bd5 attacking the Q and g-Oawn prove fatal. 24.e1 xa2 25.xb7 d8 26.e4 d2+ 26...d5 is met by 27.xd5 and black has lost a piece and with it the game. 27.e1 Black is threatened with mate, so... d8 28.f2 a5 29.d4 g8 with complete equality. 24...d8 25.d4 25.f1 d5 26.b5 xg2+ 27.e1 c4 28.f8+ xf8 29.xc4 e8+ 30.d1 xb2 31.d4 b1+ 32.d2 e1+ 33.c2 e2+ wins 25...d5 The attack on g2 ends the game. 26.xa7 xg2+ It's mate in 5 27.e3 e8+ 28.f4 e4+ It's mate next move. Ervin's play was evaluated as "flawless" by the engines. 0–1

Download PGN