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Yasuji Matsumoto Has Passed Away |
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Saturday, 11 January 2003 00:00 |
 Japan Chess Association President Yasuji Matsumoto passed away January 5th 2003. He had just turned 69 last November 20. A long-time sufferer from diabetes, he fell down at the New Year chess tournament and was carried to the hospital by an ambulance. We mourn the passing of a Friend of FIDE and send our deepest condolences to his family.
Japan Chess Association President Yasuji Matsumoto passed away January 5th 2003. He had just turned 69 last November 20. A long-time sufferer from diabetes, he fell down at the New Year chess tournament and was carried to the hospital by an ambulance. We mourn the passing of a Friend of FIDE and send our deepest condolences to his family.
Matsumoto founded the Japan Chess Association and personally funded it for decades. A self-made millionaire, he financed its chess club at the heart of Tokyo at great personal expense and used his business and government contacts to promote chess in a climate dominated by `go` and `shogi`. He became Zone President of FIDE and organized the Asian Zonal Championship in Itoo, Japan. He became a member of the FIDE Central Committee, then Executive Council and Asian Executive Board.
Matsumoto attended almost all FIDE Congresses since the &rsquo60s and led the Japan teams to the Olympiads. He shall be missed by his many friends in FIDE. This photo was taken in his last FIDE meeting at the 1999 FIDE Congress in Doha, Qatar after which diabetes started to take its toll on him. His last activity was as he would have wanted it - a chess tournament. |
