EMORY TATE

Emory Andrew Tate Jr. was born on December 27, 1958, in Chicago, Illinois.

His father, Emory Andrew Tate Sr., was an attorney. His mother, Emma Cox Tate, ran a truck-leasing business. Emory grew up in a large family with nine children, learning early the importance of competition, strategic thinking, and standing out from the crowd.

Emory learned chess as a child, taught by his father.

Unlike most chess players who study books and memorise openings, Emory developed his own unique style through pure intuition and tactical creativity. He never studied chess books. He refused to use chess computers. He simply SAT DOWN and PLAYED.

This unconventional approach made Emory Tate one of the most feared tactical players in American chess history.

But chess wasn't Emory's only talent.

He was gifted with languages, speaking English, Spanish, and Russian fluently. As an exchange student in Mexico, Emory was selected for the Indiana University Honours Programme in Foreign Language, Spanish Division in 1975, spending two months living with a Mexican family.

This linguistic ability would later prove invaluable during his military service and demonstrate the same mental brilliance he displayed on the chessboard.

Emory Tate served in the United States Air Force as a Staff Sergeant, where he excelled as a linguist.

His fluency in Spanish and Russian made him an invaluable asset. Whilst other servicemen struggled with foreign languages, Emory mastered them effortlessly – the same way he mastered chess tactics.

During his military service, Emory Tate became a CHESS LEGEND among servicemen.

He won the United States Armed Forces Chess Championship FIVE times:

1983 (as Senior Airman)
1984 (as Sergeant)
1987 (as Staff Sergeant)
1988 (as Staff Sergeant)
1989 (as Staff Sergeant)

Fellow Air Force veteran and 2003 US Armed Forces Chess Champion Leroy Hill said: "All the players had street names. Emory's was 'Extraterrestrial' because we thought his play was out of this world."

That nickname – "Extraterrestrial" – perfectly captured Emory Tate's chess genius.

His combinations seemed impossible. His sacrifices appeared insane. His attacks were unstoppable. Opponents couldn't comprehend how he saw positions 10 moves ahead without ever studying theory.

Emory Tate proved that NATURAL BRILLIANCE combined with FEARLESS EXECUTION beats theoretical knowledge every time.

Emory Tate's chess style was AGGRESSIVE, TACTICAL, and UNCOMPROMISING.

Whilst other players calculated safe, positional advantages, Emory launched brutal sacrificial attacks. He threw pieces at his opponent's king with reckless abandon. He created complications that only HE could navigate.

Emory Tate never played for draws. He played for DESTRUCTION.

His peak FIDE rating was 2413 in October 2006, ranking him 72nd in the United States and among the top 2000 active players worldwide. His peak USCF rating was 2499 in April 1997.

He earned the International Master title in 2007 after securing his third norm at the 2006 World Open.

But statistics don't capture Emory Tate's true genius.

His son Andrew explained: "I never saw him study chess books, ever. He also hated chess computers and never used them. He just sat down and played."

This was Emory's secret. Whilst others memorised opening theory, Emory developed TACTICAL VISION. Whilst others relied on computers, Emory sharpened his MENTAL CALCULATION. Whilst others played safe, Emory played BRILLIANT.

Emory Tate was inducted into the Indiana State Chess Hall of Fame in 2005.

He also won the Alabama State Championship in 2010, proving his dominance extended across multiple states and decades.

Emory Tate's greatest legacy wasn't his chess championships. It was his children.

Emory had three children with his British wife:

Andrew Tate – 4x World Kickboxing Champion, entrepreneur, founder of The Real World
Tristan Tate – Professional kickboxer, entrepreneur, business partner to Andrew
Janine Tate – Attorney in the United States

Emory taught his sons EVERYTHING about winning.

When Andrew won an Indiana State Chess Championship at age five, Emory played him without looking at the board whilst cooking dinner. Emory won in a Sicilian Defence – demonstrating mastery so complete he didn't need to see the pieces.

Andrew Tate said: "My dad taught me everything. Absolutely everything. And my fighting style in the ring mimics his on the board."

The same tactical aggression Emory used to destroy Grandmasters became Andrew's fighting style.

When Andrew started kickboxing, Emory would criticise him for keeping his hands up defensively. Emory believed in ATTACKING. In DOMINATING. In making opponents fear YOU instead of playing safe.

This philosophy – offensive dominance, fearless execution, mental superiority – became the foundation of Andrew and Tristan's success in kickboxing and business.

Emory Tate didn't just teach chess. He taught the WINNER'S MINDSET.

Emory Andrew Tate Jr. died on October 17, 2015, at age 56.

He was competing in the Sam Shankland Open chess tournament near San Jose, California. During the 2nd round of play, Emory suffered a heart attack at the board.

He died doing what he loved most – playing chess.

GM Maurice Ashley, America's first Black Grandmaster and Emory's friend, said: "Players like him do not come along every day, every month, every year. He was one in a generation, and he will be thought of, always, with a chuckle and a smile. No doubt he is challenging Tal to some blitz right now. May he rest in peace."

The chess world mourned the loss of one of its most colourful and talented figures. Thousands of testimonies and tributes poured in from players worldwide who had witnessed Emory's tactical brilliance firsthand.

But Emory Tate's legacy didn't end with his death.

Everything he taught his sons about mental dominance, strategic thinking, and refusing to accept defeat lives on. Andrew and Tristan Tate built a $400+ million empire using the exact principles their father taught them.

Now, through The Real World, 155,000+ students are learning these same winning principles.