In 1971, Kim Commons won California State Chess Championship, ahead of James Tarjan. In 1974, he tied with Peter Biyiasas for the American Open title.[1] In 1976, he won three International Chess Tournaments in Bulgaria: Varna, Plovdiv and Primorsko.
Commons played for the United States in the 22nd Chess Olympiad in Haifa, winning team and individual gold medals with six wins, three draws and no losses.[2]
He also played for United States in two World student team championships:[3]
- In 1972, on the second reserve board in the 19th World Student Team Chess Championship in Graz (+6, =3, -2),
- In 1977, on first board in the 22nd World Student Team Chess Championship in Mexico City (+3, =3, -2).
In 1976, he was awarded the FIDE International Master (IM) title.
Commons stopped playing chess in later years.
He received a bachelor's degree in physics from University of California. For the second half of his life he lived in Arizona, where he was the founder and owner of Club Red, a Mesa music club.[4]
