As I have stated before, it is my belief that if I have tried something, the odds are that so has someone else. I was hardly ever a grand master, but one of my hobbies growing up was chess. Even now I will still play the occasional game online, and this got me thinking about the possibility of successful blind chess players in history. I naturally began researching this question, and one of the more prominent names that I found was that of international chess champion Reginald Bonham.
Reginald Walter Bonham was born in St. Neots, Huntingtonshire, England on January 31, 1906 into a family of successful butchers. It also appears that he was born into a family where deteriorating eyesight was a common occurrence. He was originally educated locally, but when he turned sixteen and his sight began to markedly decline he entered Worcester College for the Blind.
Bonham attended Worcester from 1922-1925 where he showed great promise as a student. He quickly mastered Braille and had a talent for mathematics. It was at Worcester that he also developed a passion for the sports of rowing and chess. He then went on to attend Oxford in 1926 where he eventually became University Chess Champion as well as a finalist for the Oxford rowing crew.
Bonham would return to Worcester College for the blind in 1929 as a teacher of Mathematics and Braille. He would also be an active coach in the areas of rowing, amateur dramatics, bridge, and of course chess. Every young male who came to the school would be taught the game by ‘Bon’, a popular nickname given to him by his students. Worcester had four chess teams in the local and county leagues, and, under ‘Bon’s leadership, they won both leagues on more than one occasion.
Bonham himself would dominate the Worcestershire chess scene for many years winning the county championship twenty times. In 1934 he founded the Braille Chess Magazine which he wrote and edited for 25 years. He was also one of the founders of the International Braille Chess Association in 1951; this organization would become an affiliate of the FIDE, the governing body for all national and international chess organizations, in 1964. He also won the first IBCA international championship in 1956.
Braille chess essentially follows the same rules as the original game with some modifications to the board and pieces. To distinguish between black and white squares on a standard board, the black squares are raised slightly higher than the white squares. Each square also has a hole carved into its center for the pieces to fit into, thus eliminating the danger of accidentally knocking pieces out of place. While chess pieces themselves are inherently tactile (the smooth head of a pawn is easily distinguishable from the round, ridged top of a castle, the pointed head of a bishop, or the decorated head of a king) small pins are placed on the heads of the black pieces to separate their feel from that of their white counterparts. Players are also required to state their moves for their opponent upon completion.
Bonham’s death came on March 16, 1984. He was honored by many blind and sighted chess players for his accomplishments in chess and his passion for teaching. It would seem that passion continues to inspire players even now. Stories like his continue to give hope to individuals such as myself. While I don’t currently need to consider using a Braille chess set; it is always promising to know that a work-around does exist should the need ever arise.
Sources: Eyeway. “Chess”. http://www.eyeway.org/?q=chess.
International Braille Chess Association. “Reginald Walter Bonham: MBE., MA.”. 2004. http://www.braillechess.org.uk/hallfame/Bonham.html.
Michael P. Hill is a native of Elysburg and currently lives in Exeter. He has an Associate’s Degree in Specialized Business and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Due to the difficulty that people with visual impairments have finding employment, Michael is currently working in a sheltered workshop alongside people who are living with multiple physical and mental disabilities.
