Raymond Keene OBE
Life President Emeritus, World Mind Sports Council
International Chess Grandmaster
Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, a title conferred by Her Majesty the Queen in person
Raymond Keene OBE is an internationally recognized Grandmaster, author, and pioneer in the field of mind sports.
Awarded the title of Chess Grandmaster in 1976, the second English player ever to achieve this distinction. He won the British Chess Championship in 1971.
Drawing on his experience at the highest levels of competitive chess, Raymond helped to co-found the World Memory Championships in 1991, together with Tony Buzan and Chris Day. His vision played a key role in establishing memory as a recognized mental discipline and in shaping the global growth of the World Mind Sports Council.
Ray’s career bridges the worlds of strategy, scholarship, and innovation. His contributions have advanced not only the understanding of chess but the broader recognition of the human mind’s potential. As a member of our Honorary Advisory Board, his legacy continues to inspire curiosity, excellence, and the pursuit of intellectual mastery across generations.
Chess and Competitions
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Former British Chess Champion, gold medalist at the EU and European Championships, silver medalist at the Junior World Championship, and bronze medalist at both the World Team Olympiad and Commonwealth Championships.
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Served as Chess Correspondent for The Times of London (1985–2019) and The Spectator (1977–2019), providing over four decades of analytical and historical chess commentary.
Author
Author of 208 books on Chess, Mind Sports, Genius, and Thinking, with his 209th title, “Spiritual Leadership in the 21st Century,” written in conjunction with Tony Buzan and Marek Kasperski, currently in preparation.
His works have been translated into fourteen languages, including Spanish, Hungarian, and Chinese, reaching readers and learners around the world.
Mind Sports
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Global Life President Emeritus, World Mind Sports Council
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President, The Brain Trust Charity
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Organizer of thirty World Memory Championships from 1991 to the present.
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Directed the first ever Human vs Computer World Championship in any thinking sport, Dr. Tinsley vs. Chinook (World Draughts Championship, London 1992).
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Served as organizer and fundraiser for three of Garry Kasparov’s World Chess Championships (1986, 1993, 2000).
Columnist
Currently serves as Chess Columnist for The British Chess Magazine and The Article, continuing his lifelong commitment to sharing insight, strategy, and the evolving art of chess.
