Alex Sherzer was a chess grandmaster and a medical doctor who died unexpectedly on December 4, 2022, at the age of 51. His death shocked and saddened the chess and medical communities, as well as his family and friends. But what was the cause of his death, and what was his life story?
A Brilliant Chess Career
Alex Sherzer was born on February 1, 1971, in Fallston, Maryland. He showed a talent for chess at an early age, and became the U.S. Junior Champion in 1991. He also won the U.S. Cadet Championship Under 16 in 1986, and the World Under-18 Championship in 1989. He became an International Master in 1989, and a Grandmaster in 1993. He was one of the strongest chess players in the U.S. in the early 1990s, and shared second place with Boris Gulko at the U.S. Championship in 1992. He also defeated many famous grandmasters, including Viswanathan Anand, in his chess career. He was known for his heavy preparation of the Berlin Defence of the Ruy Lopez, a solid and reliable opening.
A Medical Degree and a Controversy
In the late 1990s, Sherzer decided to pursue a medical degree at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary, where he had befriended the Polgar sisters, Susan, Sofia, and Judit, who were all renowned chess players. He also met Bobby Fischer, the legendary chess champion who had fled the U.S. after his controversial match with Boris Spassky in 1972. Sherzer became involved in an attempt to bring Fischer back to the U.S. legally, but the plan failed due to Fischer’s racism and erratic demands.
Sherzer graduated from medical school in 2002, and moved to Florida, where he became a practicing doctor. He also volunteered with Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian organization that provides medical care in conflict zones and disaster areas. He was passionate about helping people in need, and traveled to many countries, such as Haiti, Sudan, and Afghanistan, to offer his services.
However, Sherzer also faced a serious legal trouble in 2003, when he was arrested in Mobile, Alabama, for allegedly attempting to solicit sex from a 15-year-old girl he met on the Internet. He was charged with traveling across state lines to engage in sexual activity with a minor, a federal offense that could have resulted in a 30-year prison sentence. Sherzer pleaded not guilty, and claimed that he was entrapped by an undercover agent who posed as the girl. He also said that he had no intention of meeting the girl, and that he was only chatting with her as a form of therapy for his depression. The case went to trial in 2004, and Sherzer was acquitted by the jury, who found that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
A Mysterious Death
Sherzer continued to work as a doctor in Florida, and was an active member of the chess community. He also maintained a close relationship with his six siblings, Lorraine, Larry, David, Michelle, Elizabeth, and Christopher. He was never married, and had no children. He was described by his friends and family as a loving, generous, and humorous person, who had a heart of gold.
On December 4, 2022, Sherzer was found dead in his home in Bonita Springs, Florida. The cause of his death was not determined yet, and the investigation was still ongoing. His family and friends were devastated by his loss, and expressed their grief and condolences on his memorial website. [6]
Sherzer’s death was a tragic end to a remarkable life, that was marked by both achievements and challenges. He was a chess grandmaster and a medical doctor, who dedicated his life to his passions and to helping others. He was also a human being, who faced his own struggles and controversies. He will be remembered and missed by many people who loved him and admired him.
