Marc Esserman (born July 28, 1983) is an American chess player who currently holds the FIDE title of International Master (IM).
[1] In April 1997, at the first-ever Super Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee, he went undefeated (7–0) to become the K–8 co-champion, edging out several players rated over 400 points higher.
Esserman has achieved notable results in major European and U.S. open and invitational tournaments, in which he has defeated numerous grandmasters.
Pre-title major tournament experience was auspicious with a tie for 1st in the 2003 Atlantic Open alongside four experienced GMs, in which he also split the U2400 1st prize.
[25] He tied for 3rd at the Miami Open (2008) with 6½/9 and reported on the top performances, including his own brilliancy in the Smith–Morra Gambit against fellow IM Justin Sarkar.
In particular, GM Kevin Spraggett prefaced his game analysis by observing that "Esserman had already established a reputation for producing some Tal-like masterpieces.
[33] Esserman's games have been featured for their instructional value and deep tactical ideas in Larry Christiansen's popular Internet Chess Club broadcast, "Attack with LarryC" on 11 March 2009, 25 November 2009, and 17 August 2011.
[36][37] A few weeks later in the Capelle-La-Grande International, Esserman defeated Grandmaster Yuri Vovk, again with the Morra Gambit,[38] and drew world champion candidate Artur Yusupov.