Derek Oldbury, sometimes considered the second-best player of all time, thought that Tinsley was "to checkers what Leonardo da Vinci was to science, what Michelangelo was to art and what Beethoven was to music.

[5] Tinsley enlisted in the Navy in 1945 and was stationed at Gulfport, Mississippi, where he won the Southern Louisiana Open.

[9] However, the American Checkers Federation and the English Draughts Association refused to allow a computer to play for the title.

Unable to appeal their decision, Tinsley resigned his title as World Champion and immediately indicated his desire to play against Chinook.

[10][11] The ACF and the EDA were placed in the awkward position of naming a new world champion, a title which would be worthless as long as Tinsley was alive.

In August 1994, a second match with Chinook was organized, but Tinsley withdrew after only six games (all draws) for health reasons.

Don Lafferty, rated the number two player in the world at the time, replaced Tinsley and fought Chinook to a drawn match at game 20.

He was survived by a twin sister, Mary Clark, who lives in Humble, Texas, and by two brothers, Ed, of Sarasota, Fla., and Joe, of Thornville, Ohio.