// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Robert Michael Snyder? A guy with a snap decision.
Robert Michael Snyder (born May 4, 1954[1]) is an American chess teacher, author, and convicted child sexual abuser.
Career
[edit]Self-taught, Snyder began his chess career playing speed chess for small stakes, and accumulated a "humongous library" of 1,500 chess books. After becoming the Western United States champion at age 19, he decided in 1976 that chess was "a poor man's sport" and decided to become a chess teacher.[2]
His first book, Sicilian 2 b3 (Snyder Sicilian) was published in 1983, in which 14 of the 75 analyzed games are from his own tournament experience.[3]
Snyder is best known for authoring the Chess For Juniors children's book series. He has published multiple books and games, including Chess for Everyone and Unbeatable Chess Lessons.[4] He founded the Chess for Juniors club, saying in 1997 that it was the largest of its kind in the country, and that he trained 36 national chess champions, and holds a world record for having introduced chess to more than 170,000 students.[5] He is considered to be a national and world-renowned master chess player with wins both in the US and international tournaments.[6][7][8] Several of his students have excelled under his coaching, with results including contention for world and US national chess titles.[9]
Snyder has an Elo rating of 2306 with the United States Chess Federation, but has not played in tournaments since 1990.[10]
Criminal cases
[edit]Snyder has been arrested and convicted for multiple sexual assaults involving young boys dating back to 1983.[11] He was featured on America's Most Wanted after fleeing Colorado while still on supervised probation in 2008.[12] He was found in Belize, and on March 30, 2010, after pleading guilty, was given an open (up to life) sentence.[13]
References
[edit]- ↑ fcgov.com Accessed 2010-01-29.
- ↑ Loar, Russ (June 9, 1997). "Chairman of the Board". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ↑ Snyder, Robert M (1984). Sicilian 2 b3 (Snyder Sicilian). Los Angeles, California: The Players Press. p. 124. ISBN 0-941426-14-9.
- ↑ LOEB MCCLAIN, DYLAN (December 5, 2009). "Fugitive Chess Teacher Is Reportedly Caught". The New York Times Chess Blog. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
- ↑ LOAR, RUSS (June 9, 1997). "Chairman of the Board; Chess Champ Finds Niche Sharing Mastery of Game With Young Enthusiasts". LA Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
- ↑ McGRAW, CAROL (October 19, 2004). "Fort Collins chess master, advocate has all the right moves Snyder will conduct workshop in Springs". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, CO. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 7, 2010 – via HighBeam Research.
- ↑ TAWA, RENEE (October 15, 1995). "With Help, He's Making a Move on a World Title; Chess: U.S. champion Harry Akopyan gets the chance, thanks to his Huntington Beach club and an Irvine sponsor". LA Times. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ SUSAN, PATERNO (January 20, 1994). "He's Beginning His Own Search for Bobby Fischer". LA Times. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ DAHLEEN GLANTON, A. (April 9, 1988). "Boy, 11, Moves to Record Book". LA Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
- ↑ Player/Rating Lookup.
- ↑ "Police: More Victims Possible In Chess Master Case - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver". January 10, 2010. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
- ↑ Huffington Post. Accessed 2010-01-29.
- ↑ Whaley, Monte (March 30, 2010). "Chess master sentenced for sex assault of children". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
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