Walter Browne | Chess champion, 66

Walter Browne, 66, who dropped out of high school to embark on a legendary career in competitive chess that made him an American champion several times over, died June 24 in Las Vegas.

On its website, the Las Vegas International Chess Festival said Mr. Browne had just played in the 50th anniversary of the National Open. He went to spend the night at the home of a friend, who told the festival that Mr. Browne died in his sleep. No cause of death was given.

On the Chess.com website, Mr. Browne was described as "perhaps the most dominant U.S. player" after the era of Bobby Fischer, the famed chess master of the 1960s and 1970s. Mr. Browne was also a professional poker player.

Mr. Browne won six U.S. Chess Championships between 1974 and 1983. He won more U.S. championships than any players other than Fischer and Sammy Reshevsky.

Beyond his American successes, Mr. Browne had many international victories in the 1970s and 1980s. He won or tied for first place in tournaments in Italy, Canada, Iceland, Chile, and Indonesia. - Washington Post