Francisco Anchondo
Born in El Paso, Texas, on September 30, 1960, Francisco Anchondo first arrived in the Bay Area in November 1983 when the USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier he served on, docked in Alameda. He filled his shore leaves with chess and it was this unfaltering passion for chess which led him to become the Navy Chess Champion in 1988. After leaving the Navy in December 1991, Francisco returned briefly to Alameda for four months before relocating to Oakland. On July 31, 1994, he moved to Hayward (a town located a short drive to the North of Fremont), where he would reside for the next 27 and a half years.
Shortly after settling in Hayward, Francisco met Richard Shorman, whose mentorship was instrumental in sharpening his skills as a formidable attacking chess player. Under Shorman’s guidance, Francisco won the Hayward Chess Club Championship. In the early 2000s, Shorman recommended him to the leadership of the Weibel Chess Club, resulting in Francisco’s appointment as a coach. A few years later, I encouraged Francisco to join Richard and me in analyzing chess games at the Mission San Jose Elementary School chess team on Monday evenings. Together, we shared lessons, strategies, and insights, helping to foster a lively and engaging chess community in Fremont.
It’s worth noting that Francisco’s victory as Navy Chess Champion in 1988 was how he first crossed paths with Emory Tate, the legendary Air Force Chess Champion of that era. Years later, on Francisco’s recommendation, Emory Tate came to reside the Fremont area, further enriching our local chess scene. That story, however, is for another day.
For now, let’s examine a fine example of Francisco Anchondo’s attacking chess.
Francisco Anchondo’s journey exemplifies dedication, community spirit, and the enduring power of chess to foster lasting friendships. His aggressive style at the chessboard and innovative coaching methods have inspired many in the Fremont area. Additionally, Francisco was part of an elite trio of chess instructors—alongside Richard Shorman and myself—who were the only coaches guiding both Weibel Elementary School and Mission San Jose Elementary School during their era of dominance in Northern California and across the nation. Although Francisco has since retired from chess coaching, his significant contributions to elevating scholastic chess in Fremont continue to resonate today.
[Event “Far West Open”]
[Site “Reno, Nevada”]
[Date “2008.03.23”]
[Round “5”]
[White “Anchondo, Francisco “]
[WhiteElo “2022”]
[Black “Mateer, Amanda Rae”]
[BlackElo “2032”]
[Result “1-0”]
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O a6 8.b3 b5 9.Bd3
Ra7 10.Bb2 Nge7 11.Rc1 Rd7 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Ng6 14.g3 Be7 15.Nxb5 axb5
16.Bxb5 Qa8 17.Bxg7 Rg8 18.Nd4 Rc7 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Rxc6 Rxc6 21.Rc1 Kd8 22.Bxc6
Qa3 23.Bb2 Qxa2 24.Qb5 Qa7 25.Bd4
1-0