Larry Bevand

Who is Larry Bevand?

Larry Bevand is a Canadian chess player, arbiter, promoter, and writer.

Bevand served as the chess columnist for the Montreal Gazette newspaper from 1978–2001. He was awarded the title of International Arbiter by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, in 1982. He helped organize the Tournament of Stars, Montreal 1979, which at the time was the highest-category chess tournament ever held. As a player, Bevand reached First Category status, but has been inactive for several years.

Bevand founded the Chess'n Math Association in 1985, and continues to serve as its Executive Director. This group is Canada's national youth chess association, though it is not formally associated with the Chess Federation of Canada. CMA organizes hundreds of youth tournaments throughout Canada each year, and runs national grade championships for players from kindergarten to grade 12. Many of Canada's top players of the past twenty years have begun their careers in CMA events, including Grandmaster Pascal Charbonneau, twice Canadian champion.

Bevand was inducted into the Canadian Chess Hall of Fame in 2001.