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”. 

 

[Event "US Open, Ventura, California"] [Site "Ventura, CA USA"] [Date "1971.08.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Olin Chism"] [Black "Roy Ervin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C04"] [Annotator "Stocjfish 16"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "1971.??.??"] {C04: French Defense, Tarrasch Variation} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 { 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. Ngf3 Nf6 {Black hopes to close the center by enticing white to play 5.e5} 5. e5 (5. Bd3 {While hardly bad, this allws black easy equality after} Nb4 6. O-O (6. Bb5+ c6 {and the B must return to d3} 7. Bd3 Nxd3+ 8. cxd3 b6 {equals})) 5... Nd7 6. c3 f6 {He must challenge white in the center. Anything else favors white.} 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. Bd3 Bd6 $1 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 (10. Re1 e5 11. dxe5 Ndxe5 12. Qb3 Be6 13. Be2 g5 14. h3 h5 {Black is winning. Kochiev,I (2053)-Duda,J (2724) chess.com INT 2023}) 10... Kh8 11. Be2 e5 { White has a very passive position and as a result, black is in the process of developing a string initiative.} 12. dxe5 Ndxe5 13. Nxe5 (13. Nh2 {is not much better.} Bf5 14. Nb3 Ne7 {Better was 14...Rae8 with the advantage.} 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Ng4 Bxg4 17. Bxg4 N7g6 18. Ne6 {is about equal. Bakalarz,L (2137) -Strzemiecki,Z (2333) Krakow POL 2009}) 13... Qxe5 14. f4 Rxf4 15. Nf3 Rxf3 { This is really the only good move, but with careful play whiter should be able to offer an adequate defense.} 16. Rxf3 Qh2+ {[%mdl 128]} 17. Kf2 Ne5 18. Bf4 { Returning the exchange is the best course of action.} (18. Re3 Be6 19. Qg1 Rf8+ 20. Bf3 Nxf3 21. Qxh2 Nxh2+ 22. Ke2 Bd7 {Black should eventually be victorious. }) 18... Bc5+ 19. Be3 (19. Ke1 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 Qxf4 {and black has won a piece.} ) 19... Nxf3 20. Bxc5 Nh4 (20... Ne5 {was just a bit better. After} 21. Qg1 Qf4+ 22. Ke1 Bf5 23. Qf2 Qe4 {Black is only very slightly better as white has no real attacking prospects.}) 21. Qxd5 {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.} Bxh3 {[%mdl 32]} 22. Bf3 Nxf3 23. Qxf3 Be6 24. Qxb7 {[%mdl 8192] A fatal mistake. Black now activates his R the the threat of ...Bd5 attacking the Q and g-Oawn prove fatal.} (24. Re1 Bxa2 25. Qxb7 Rd8 26. Re4 Rd2+ (26... Bd5 {is met by} 27. Qxd5 {and black has lost a piece and with it the game.}) 27. Ke1 {Black is threatened with mate, so...} Rd8 28. Kf2 a5 29. Rd4 Rg8 {with complete equality.}) 24... Rd8 25. Bd4 (25. Rf1 Bd5 26. Qb5 Qxg2+ 27. Ke1 Bc4 28. Rf8+ Rxf8 29. Qxc4 Re8+ 30. Kd1 Qxb2 31. Bd4 Qb1+ 32. Kd2 Qe1+ 33. Kc2 Qe2+ {wins}) 25... Bd5 {The attack on g2 ends the game.} 26. Qxa7 Qxg2+ {It's mate in 5} 27. Ke3 Re8+ 28. Kf4 Re4+ {It's mate next move. Ervin's play was evaluated as "flawless" by the engines.} 0-1