Summary:

•  FIDE International Master in 2005

•  5 - time Georgia State Champion

•  Winner of many other major tournaments in Georgia

•  Long-time contributor to Georgia Chess magazine

•  Instructor and teacher at Kid Chess

One of the strongest chess players in Georgia chess history was FIDE International Master (IM) Stephen Muhammad.  Stephen (née Booth) was born in 1962 in San Antonio, TX.  In 1996 FIDE Master (FM) Stephen Booth moved from the Los Angeles, CA area to Columbus, GA, where he had spent part of his childhood.  His impact was felt immediately.

Stephen Booth was already a pre-1991 USCF Life Master.  He won clear 1^st in the 1996 Georgia Open with a score of 5-0-0.  In 1997 he won 1^st at the 1997 Peach State Open outright with a score of 4½ - ½. In 1997 he received his USCF Life Senior Master Certificate.  In 1998 Stephen (now Muhammad) won clear 1^st at the Atlanta Open with a score of 4½ - ½.  In 1998 he was Georgia State Co-Champion (3-way) with a score of 3½ - ½.

In 1999 Stephen won clear 1^st with identical 4½ - ½ scores at four Georgia tournaments: the Atlanta Championship, the Georgia State Championship, the Boris Kogan Memorial, and the Georgia Open.

 

In the January-February 1999 issue of Georgia Chess, he wrote an article, “Stephen Muhammad on Chess”.  From the March-April 1999 issue through the May-June 2001 issue, he was a regular contributor to Georgia Chess with his articles, “Watch Your Back”.  From the July-August 2001 issue through the November-December 2003 issue, Stephen continued his regular articles, renamed “Knight Line”.  He contributed five continuous, complete years of outstanding chess journalism to Georgia Chess.

 

In the early 2000’s Stephen was an instructor for Kid Chess. Kid Chess owner, Justin Morrison, said that Stephen was an outstanding instructor – excellent as a player, excellent as a teacher, and excellent at getting along with the children.  Justin said that Stephen was one of the most popular and talented instructors that he ever had.

 

At this time, Stephen was directing his energies towards achieving his goal of becoming an IM. He achieved his first FIDE IM norm in July 2001 at the Wilbur Paige Memorial in Harlem, NY in July 2001, scoring clear 1^st with a score of 6-3 (4-1-4).

In 2001 Stephen was Atlanta Championship Co-Champion (2-way) and Atlanta Open Co-Champion (3-way), both with scores of 4-1.  In 2002, he was the Georgia State Co-Champion (2-way) with a score of 4-1.

At the 2002 World Open, Stephen achieved his second FIDE IM norm with a score of 6½ - 2½.

Muhammad won the 2003 River City Open in Columbus, GA, and the 2003 Georgia State Championship, both outright with scores of 4½ - ½.  At the 2003 Chicago Open, he qualified for the U.S. Closed Championship with a score of 4½ - 2½.

At the 2003 U.S. Closed Championship, Stephen achieved his third FIDE IM norm with a score of 5-4. FIDE proclaimed him an IM-elect. But Stephen still had to satisfy the FIDE rating (not USCF) requirement of 2400 before he could become a FIDE IM.

In 2005 IM-Elect Muhammad won clear 1^st at the Peach State Open with a score of 4½ - ½.  He was Co-Champion (2-way) in the Championship Section of the 2005 Georgia Class Championships with a score of 4-1.  He won clear 1^st at the 2005 Boris Kogan Memorial with a score of 4-1.

In May 2005, Stephen achieved a fourth FIDE IM norm at the HB Global Chess Challenge with a score of 5½ - 3½, but he was still short of the elusive FIDE 2400 rating.  In June 2006, he won a fifth FIDE IM norm at the World Open with a score of 6-3 (and achieved his lifetime peak USCF rating of 2468), but more importantly, he finally achieved a momentary FIDE rating over 2400, so FIDE officially declared him an IM.

IM Muhammad was Co-Champion (2-way) of the 2006 Atlanta Open at 4-1. He won clear 1^st at the 2007 Atlanta Winter Congress with 4½ - ½.  In 2007 he was Co-Champion (2-way) at 4-1 of both the 2007 Georgia State Championship and the 2007 Southern Congress.

 

Afterwards, Stephen stopped playing chess and devoted his life to other interests.  Stephen passed away on December 8^th, 2024.  He remains one of the greatest players of all time in Georgia chess.  He was five-time Georgia State Champion (twice outright).  He won many tournaments – in Georgia and in other states.  He persevered to achieve the lofty goal of becoming a FIDE IM.  He was also an accomplished chess teacher and accomplished chess journalist.

IM Stephen Muhammad made significant achievements in teaching, journalism, and especially competition (over-the-board). He has clearly bettered chess in the state of Georgia.

Sources:

  Georgia Chess 1997-2008;

  Interview, Justin Morrison

  U.S. Chess.com

  US Chess article by Jennifer Shahade 3/21/2007

  The Chess Drum online