November 11, 2008: IM William Addison dies in California; played in Fitchburg in early 1960s

Sad news has come to us about the passing of international master William G. Addison of San Francisco, one of the top players in the country in the 1960s, who died on October 29 at age 74. Born William Grady Addison on November 28, 1933 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he rose to the top of the ranks in U.S. chess in the 1960s. He played in five U.S. championships during that decade, with his best performance being in the 1969-70 tournament, when he placed second behind GM Sammy Reshevsky. He was also a two-time member of the U.S. men's team in the Chess Olympiad, playing the 1964 Olympiad in Tel Aviv, Israel, and in the 1966 Olympiad in Havanna, Cuba.

In the early 1960s, he was a surprise participant in the Central New England Open tournament in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. His last international tournament was the 1970 Interzonal tournament in Palma De Mallorca, Spain. His last published FIDE rating was 2490. His peak USCF rating was 2595. In the December 1972 USCF rating list, he was ranked 9th in the country, with a rating of 2475.

After the Interzonal he quit chess to pursue a career in banking, working for the Bank of America in San Francisco. He had come to San Francisco in the early 1950s after serving in the U.S. military and became driector of the Mechanics Institute Chess Club in that city in the late 1960s.

This obituary was provided by, George Mirijanian - Publications Coordinator for Massachusetts Chess Association.

William G. Addison - may you Rest In Peace.