Greetings from Cary, North Carolina USA (and part time in Greece).

Ένα ιδιαίτερο γεια στους Έλληνες φίλους μου. Έχω κατοικία στην Πελοπόννησο και περνάω ένα μέρος του χρόνου μου στην Ελλάδα. Προσπαθώ να μάθω την ελληνική γλώσσα, αλλά έχω πολύ δρόμο ακόμα.

I'm part of the Fischer generation that took up the game in the 70s.

My father Alfred and brother Alan both played chess and initially learned from them. In 9th grade, I joined the middle school chess club at C. Vernon Spratley in Hampton, VA. Kenneth G. Butler was a guidance counselor and avid C-class chess player. He encouraged me to visit the local chess club and my chess journey took off in earnest.

Somewhere around 1973 I played in my very first tournament, a 5 round Swiss. I lost my first 4 games in a row before finally beating T. Bowers for my first tournament victory. My initial provisional rating ended up at 1210.

MCO 11 - a dream book - best Christmas gift from my parents

I played a lot in high school and travelled to many tournaments in the Virginia region. Gary McGowan, Joel Arrington, John McGuire and Jerry Flowers were highly influential in my early chess years. In 1976 I won the junior champion title at the Virginia State Championship.

I took a break in college and didn’t resume until the mid-80s. I was very active in the Tidewater VA chess scene and a co-founder of the then Tidewater Chess Association. We ran many regional tournaments and which provided my the opportunity to improve. Dr. Errol Liebowitz was a key influence who helped raise my game to master level. I was awarded the USCF National Master title in January 1985.

I relocated to Savannah, GA in March, 1987. I remained in the Savannah area thru June, 2021. I was very active in chess tournaments and organizational activities. It was during this time I took on my one and only formal chess student, Alex Dery-Chaffin. I was introduced to Alex thru his father James. Alex was a naturally gifted child and I had the wonderful opportunity to enrich his understanding over the years.

A competitive game of chess with John McGuire.

OTB tournament game with Alex Dery-Chaffin.

I’m currently an active senior player. Highlights of my senior career include:

2014 Georgia Senior Open - First Place
2015 Georgia Senior Open - First Place
2021 North Carolina Senior Open - First Place
2022 5th John Irwin National Tournament of Senior Champions (Palm Springs CA) It was simply incredible to meet many of the legends of my childhood. I had a decent result (2 wins, 2 losses, 2 draws) included draws against GM James Tarjan and GM Larry Kaufman.
2023 US Senior Open Best Player by Age 60-64
2024 North Carolina Super Senior Open - First Place
2024 North Carolina Senior Open - First Place
2024 North Carolina Senior Blitz - First Place
2025 North Carolina Super Senior Open (co-champion with John Timmel and Ken Carberry)
2025 8th John Irwin National Tournament of Senior Champions (Madison WI) I was ranked 13th going in and ended up with 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss and a tie for 8th-11th place. It was a pleasure to play so many players from other states. Lots of memories, good games and new friends.
2025 ACO World Senior (50+) Chess Championship 2025
2nd place “A” group
2nd place Welcome Blitz event
1st place Team Blitz event
1st place Farewell Blitz event
2025 South Carolina Senior Open (tie for first place with Edsel A Pena - SC Senior Champion)
2025 North Carolina Senior Open - Second Place (tie with Patrick McCartney)
2025 Land of the Sky #39 - First Place (tie for first place with IM Ron Burnett and NM Peter Bereolos)

Future planned events:

ACO 65+ Super Senior Championship in May 2026 (Kos, Greece)
ACO 50+ Senior Championship in October, 2026 (Crete, Greece)

Erik Walker and Mark Hoshor sharing first place in the 2021 NC Senior Championship.

Group Photo - 5th Annual John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions

Group Photo - 8th Annual John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions

2025 ACO 50+ Awards Ceremony with GM Daniel King and IM Facundo Pierrot (1st place “A” group).

2025 ACO 50+ post game analysis session with IM Facundo Pierrot and Greek GM Spyridon Skembris.

2025 ACO 50+ Team Blitz event. My amazing partner (Peter Senner) and I took first place in a highly competitive event!

Crazy hair dude at the board

I love making new chess friends! Edsel Pena and I tied for first place in the South Carolina Open Senior Championship with 4 wins and 1 draw each. Edsel took home the state senior title as a SC state resident. What a wonderful and generous person.

I'm a chess evangelist who shares my passion and love of the game. I can often be found at chess meetups in both Cary and Raleigh NC. Chess and beer is a match made in heaven! I also have a residence in the Peloponnese region of Greece.

I am passionate about 960 chess. It eliminates the ability for opponents to regurgitate rote memorization based on opening prep.

hoshor