It's been six years since the Lauger family lost their son Judd to a tragic car accident. But Barbara and Steve Lauger are perpetuating their son's memory -- and his love of chess -- through sponsorship of the Lauger Memorial Classic September 10 in DeKalb.
The DeKalb club often honors chess luminaries through events like the Steinitz, Grunfeld, Lasker, Tarrasch, Alekhine and Najdorf. For six years the club has even recognized George Orwell who purportedly played chess with shopmates at his first job clerking at a London bookstore. Now Judd Lauger's name is added to the list of Memorial tournaments in DeKalb.
Says his mother Barbara: "My son Judd loved chess — he got the chess gene that runs in both sides of the family, from two grandfathers."
"He loved to play it, study it, ponder it, discuss it and compete in it. Chess was serious business to Judd and he expected people to understand that."
The parents recall, "More than once his fiancée was scolded for calling him while he was playing a game. (Like she should somehow know, right?)"
"When he played in tournaments, if he didn’t win, he would sometimes call (his parents) in such despair that we’d worry about him, but he always bounced back quickly, playing with as much enthusiasm as ever."
Recalls his father, Steve -- who will play in the event, "Internet chess was great, because when we lived halfway across the country from each other, we could play together anytime we wanted. He had a fabulous, irreverent sense of humor, except when —as you might guess — it came to chess."
Continuing, "For chess, he was as resolute and determined as anyone could be; even wickedly gloating when he won, as chess players are wont to do." (Editor's note: strongly discouraged at events where I happen to TD).
"We lost Judd in September 2010 in a car accident. While we miss him dreadfully, we always smile when we remember him in chess mode."
"For him, a good game was like pulling on the gloves and revving up the engine."
Steve has a prediction regarding the tournament already: "I’m pretty sure that one way or another he’ll be somewhere near the tournament, studying strategy, looking over shoulders, groaning over losses, and gloating — definitely gloating."
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Full details regarding the Judd Lauger Memorial Classic can be found on the ICA Calendar. There are sections for everyone from Booster (U1200) through Reserve (U1600) to Open, with a family-supported prize fund.