California and Chess

 

Chess moved west with the earliest wagon trains.  Some of the diaries of journeys mention chess play during the long trip.  Chess had presumably been introduced in California by the Spanish.

In March 1848, chess sets were advertised for sale in the California Star newspaper.

In March 1849, chess tables were advertised for sale in the Weekly Alta newspaper.

In 1850, a chess room existed at the Stockton Club in Stockton, California.

In 1850, an article appeared in the Sacramento Transcript stating that chess was not a standard for measuring the abilities of your acquaintances, nor a subject for daily toil and nightly meditation.  Chess should be simply a recreation.

In 1851, a description of the Sutter Hotel in Sacramento mentioned that the saloon had chess pieces set up on their marble tables.

On July 21, 1851, chess master Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant (1800-1872) arrived in San Francisco.  He was the French consul to California.

In November 1851, the San Francisco Chess Club was formed, meeting in a building at No. 32 Merchant Street.  St. Amant gave a chess exhibition there.

In December 1851, the California Institute in San Francisco had a back room with tables for chess players.

In 1852, the Mercantile Library Association was formed.  It consisted of a chess room, which was frequented by its members.

The Mechanics’ Institute (on Polk Street) chess club had it first meeting on December 11, 1854.  The Institute was incorporated on April 24, 1855.

In 1855, a chess room was established in the Sacramento Club in Sacramento, California.

In 1855, the Pioneer Chess Club was formed in San Francisco.  The club met at the Pioneer Association Hall and had about 20 members.  The President was Willard B. Farwell.  The Vice President was William Rufus Wheaton (1814-1887).  Secretary and Treasurer was John H. Gardiner.  Other founding members were H. O. Burrows and T. J. Grotjan.

In 1855, the German Chess Club, San Francisco was formed.  Its president was Professor William (Wilhelm) Schleiden.

In 1856, The German Chess Club defeated the Pioneer Chess Club in a correspondence match.  The German Chess Club won a supper.

In 1856, a chess game between Schleiden and Grotjan was played.  It is the earliest recorded game in California. 

In December 1856, the Sacramento Chess Club was formed.  The officers were Dr. B.B. Brown, President; Joseph Mogridge, Secretary; and Dr. T.B. Baillie, Treasurer.

In December 1856, the San Francisco German Chess Club challenged the San Francisco Pioneer Chess Club in a correspondence match.  The moves were published in the local newspapers.  The German Chess Club won the game and the match after checkmating in 42 moves.

In March 1857, P. Vertimer was elected President of the Sacramento Chess Club.  J. Weston was elected Secretary and Treasurer.

In April 1857, the Sacramento Chess Club (Jackson and T. B. Baillie) challenged the San Francisco Pioneer Club (Shaw and Grotfau).  Two correspondence games were played at the same time. 

In 1857, Selim Franklin (1814-1884) of San Francisco was on the Planning & Rules Committee for the first American Chess Congress in New York, won by Paul Morphy.

In October 1857, there were four members on the “Committee of Cooperation” of the First American Chess Congress from California.  These members were T. B. Baillie, Selim Franklin, T. J. Grotjan, and William R. Wheaton. 

In December 1857, a chess tournament was held at the Mercantile Library.  Players included R. H. Bacon, Brigham, Castle, Cook, Farley, Goodwin, Hammond, Hunter, Krause, Lapsley, Matthew, Matthews, Miller, Roberts, Seymour, Shaw, Stone, Sullock, Tagliaboe, Wallace, and G. Webb.

In March 1858 there was a California Chess Congress (also called the Pacific Chess Tournament or Grand Chess Tournament).  It was the first major chess tournament in California.  Three San Francisco chess clubs joined together to host the Congress: the Mechanics’ Institute, the German Chess Club of San Francisco, and the Pioneer Chess Club.  The President of the Congress was Selim Franklin.  Members of the Committee of Management included R. H. Bacon , Thomas Byrne, M. Elias, Willard B. Farwell, George Pen Johnston, Edward Jones, Charles Mayne, Daniel S. Roberts, Wilhelm Schleiden, B.F. Voorhees, and William Rufus Wheaton.  Other committee members included John E. Ager, Dr. Edward Autenreith, Dr. T.B. Baillie, Thomas H. Blythe, O. Hoffman Burrows, Dr. B.B. Brown, Judge J.D. Carr, T. H. Caswell, A.P. Crittenden, A. Despecher, John S. Ellis, John M. Freeman, J.H. Gardiner, Rodmond Gibbons, J.B. Haggin, Charles J. Hughes, Thomas D. Johns, M. M. Harvey, P. Kalkman, Capt. E.D. Keyes, James B. McMinn, Joseph Mogridge, John A. Monroe, J.P. Nourse, Joseph A. Nunes, E. S. Osgood, A.B. Perkins,  Julius K. Rose, Otis V. Sawyer, George F. Sharp, John Shaw, S.C. Simmons, and Lloyd Tevis.  The entrance fee was $5.  The spectator fee was $2.50.  Ladies accompanied by subscribers were admitted free.  On fair days, there were nearly 400 spectators for this tournament.

On March 22, 1858, the California Chess Congress began at the Hall in Hunt’s Building in San Francisco, at the corner of Sacramento and Kearny Streets with 46 players.  There were 8 players in the First Class, 26 players in the First Division of the Second Class, and 12 players in the Second Division of the Second Class. 

The 8 players in the First Class (no odds) included Edward Jones, E. Justh, Selim Franklin, Philip Kalkman, Daniel S. Roberts, Wilhelm Schleiden, John Shaw, and Charles Sutro.

The 26 players of the First Division of the Second Class (receiving knight odds from the First Class) included R. H. Bacon, E. D. Baker, Thomas Byrne, M. Castle, J.C. Cattan, Albert Charter, M. Elias, John S. Ellis, W. B. Farwell, R. Gibbon, George Grotjan, C.E. Hawley, Leopold Hyam, George Pen Johnston, Theodore Kintrel, J. Levinson, Lewis Levinson, Matthews, John McKee, L. B. Mizner, Julius K. Rose, A. F. Scott, S. C. Simmons, J. Stamper, Struver, and W. R. Wheaton.

The 12 players of the Second Division of the Second Class (receiving rook odds from the First Class) included James Fuller, J.H. Gardiner, George Ladd, E.A. McLemore, James B. McMinn, E. J. Muygridge, Charles A. Parsons, E. L. Ritter, Otis V. Sawyer, George F. Sharp, B. F. Voorhies, and George O. Whitney.

Selim Franklin won 1^st prize, a gold watch.  Edward Jones took 2^nd prize, an inlaid rosewood chess table.  John S. Ellis won 1^st prize in the First Division of the Second Class, a chess set.  R. H. Bacon won 2^nd prize, a gold specimen watch seal.  J.H. Gardiner won 1^st prize in the Second Division of the Second Class, a quartz specimen seal.  George F. Sharpe won 2^nd prize, also a quartz specimen seal.   The problem solving tournament was won by William Wheaton, a Staunton chess set.

In October 1858, a chess club was organized in Downieville, California (population 5,000).

In December 1858, the Shasta Chess Club challenged the Yreka Chess Club in a correspondence game.  Well Fargo was used to bring the moves each trip.

On January 18, 1859, the Cosmopolitan Chess Club was formed in San Francisco on Montgomery Street.  Its President was Daniel S. Roberts.  Vice President was William Schleiden.  Secretary was Washington Bartlett.  Treasurer was Thomas Bull.    Directors included John S. Ellis, John Shaw, John H. Gardiner, Herman Siering, and Thomas D. Johns.  There were about 150 members and was at one time the largest chess club in the United States.

From May to July 1859, the Cosmopolitan Chess Club had a chess tournament.  In Class 1, Division 1: Jones, Justh, Roberts, Schleiden, Shaw, Siering, and Sutro.  In Class 1, Division 2: Baker, Bereolzheimer, Blumenthal, Byrne, Chater, Ellis, Farwell, Kinzel, J. Levinson, L. Levinson, Meyer, Mizner, Monroe, Moore, Scott, Struver, Vertimer, and Wheaton.  In Class 2, Division 1: Bowman, Dewey, Johns, Kemp, Lupton, Nourse, Pincus, Rose, Rosenbaum, Swasey, and Tyler.  In Class 2, Division 2: Barrett, Bartlett, Carlton, Dow, Hill, Hudson, Labatt, Ladd, Lupton, and Whitney.  John Shaw won in Class 1, Division 1.  Tyler won his section.

In 1859, a chess tournament was held during the California State Fair in Sacramento.

In 1860, the Olympic Club opened in San Francisco.  It was one of the best gymnastic clubs in the country.  It also had a chess room.

In 1861, the Mercantile Library Association had a large and beautiful chess room for the accommodation of its members.  It had 16 chess tables with daily and nightly chess players playing chess.

By 1868, the Mercantile Library had 20 chess tables.

In 1869, the San Francisco Mercantile Library advertised that chess, reading and lounging were the correct thing to do at the comfortable rooms of the library during the cold season. 

In January 1872, an executive committee was formed at the Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club.  It included J. Browning, A.L. De Laguna, W.J. Stoddart, William Stout, and P. L. Webb.

In May 1872, the Mechanics Institute chess tournament was won by William P. Stout, followed by John Stone and A. Summerfield.

In December 1873, the San Bernardino chess club challenged any chess club in Los Angeles.

On Jan 6, 1874 the annual meeting of the Mechanics’ Chess Club elected its officers.  They were: President, W.P. Stout; VP, L. Summerfield; Treasurer, J. Browning; Secretary, W. Freer; Editor, W.W. Smith.

In December 1874, a meeting to form a chess club at the Sacramento Library did not have enough people to justify a chess club.

In 1875, a chess player asked the board of directors of the Los Angeles library whether anything in the bylaws prevented people from playing chess on Sundays.

In the fall of 1879 a chess club was started in Livermore, California.

In 1880, the Los Angeles Athletic Club was founded, 226 South Spring Street.. It included a chess room.

In 1881 a Mercantile Library chess team (one of the players was Joseph Redding) played a match against the Mechanics’ Institute chess team.

In 1881, Professor Fritz Peipers (1844-1918), a music teacher, played four boards blindfolded simultaneously in San Francisco.  He won all 4 games.

In 1882, chess players in Los Angeles met at Paynes & Stanton’s Photograph Gallery.  There was also a chess room apart from the general library at the Los Angeles Public Library.

On January 5, 1884, the Argonaut, a weekly literary magazine published in San Francisco, began a chess column edited by J. Fennimore Welsh. It was the first regular chess column on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Welsh was succeeded by J.E. Tippett, who conducted the chess column, called "The Chess-Player," from 1884 to March 6,1886. Tippett later moved to Boston.   It was later edited by Dr. H. J. Ralston (1906-1993).

In 1884, Johann Zukertort (1842-1888) spent a month in San Francisco, giving some simultaneous chess exhibitions from July 2 to 25.  His visit was arranged by Joseph D. Redding (1858-1932) and J. E. Tippett.  A reception committee consisted of Judge O. Hoffman, Jeremiah Lynch, and H. Heinemann.  A Committee of Arrangements consisted of E. Yerworth, J. Holstein, J. F. Welsh, Louis Van Vliet (born in Amsterdam in 1854), B. Marshall, F. Peipers, J. F. Pope, Theodore Payne, R. O. Oakley, Captain Scott, M. M. Estee, and J. W. Jefferson.

On July 3, 1884, Zukertort played 7 games at the Mercantile Library, winning 6 and losing 1.  He lost to J. F. Welch.

On July 8, 1884, Zukertort played 12 boards blindfolded at Irving Hall (139 Post Street).  He won 9, lost 2, and drew 1.  He played against Joseph D. Redding, Herman Heineman, E. Yerworth, Dr. B. Marshall, L. Van Vliet, Selim Franklin, Jules Holstein, Fritz Pipers, F. Waldstein, M. Critcher, R. Oakley and J. F. Welch.  He lost to Redding and Welch.  He drew his game with Waldstein.

A few days later, Zukertort played 9 players.

On July 21, 1884, Zukertort defeated Selim Franklin in a chess game played at the Chess Room of the Mechanics’ Institute.

Joseph Redding won three games from Zukertort in July 1884 at the Mechanics' Institute and claimed the California championship in 1884-85. Redding became president of the San Francisco Art Association in 1886.

Zukertort was paid $354.50 for his chess exhibitions fees while in San Francisco.

On April 18, 1885, the Golden Gate Chess Club was formed in San Francisco. Its president was Dr. Benjamin Marshall, a correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle. Vice President was N. Manson; secretary was Fritz Peipers; treasurer was F. Waldstein.    The first Golden Gate Chess Club champion was Waldstein.  Other top players were Manson, Peipers, and Seligsohn.

In August 1885, J. Waldstein won a tournament held at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club followed by N.J. Manson, Fritz Peipers, and Seligsohn. First place prize was a $20 chess set.

A second tournament in 1885 was held at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club and was won by H. I. Heinemann, who won 8 straight games. His prize was an oil painting of Tampa Bay, Florida, valued at $100.  The other players in the tournament included Halwegan, Hansom, Lynch, Richard Ott, Peck, Peipers, Redding, Reis, Scott, and Van Vliet.  An additional prize of one year’s subscription to the British Chess Magazine was offered by the chess editor of the Argonaut for the most brilliant game of the tournament.

In June-July 1886, a match was played between Van Vliet and Joseph D. Redding. Van Vliet won the match.

In February-March 1887, a match was played between Louis M. Van Vliet and J. H. Jefferson in San Francisco.  Van Vliet won the match.

Earlier San Francisco players included Montgomery, Wise, Franklin, J. H. Jefferson, Welsh, Van Vliet, Holstein, Carey and Shipman. 

In May 1888, San Francisco was visited by leading British chess player George Hatfeild Dingley Gossip (1841-1907).  Gossip played several games with J. Redding.

In October 1888, the Sacramento Chess Club was formed.  Officers included Professor J.C. Bainbridge, President; G. W. Railton, Vice-President; Edward D. Tesreau, Secretary-Treasurer; Miss R.R. Patton, Edward R. Marcus, H. O. Gregory, and L. F. Griffin, Trustees.  There were over 20 club members.

In 1888, Redding won a San Francisco tournament by beating Dr. B. Marshall and Dr. Walter Romaine Lovegrove (1869-1956).  Redding was called the Pacific Coast chess champion in local papers.

In 1889, Redding won a telegraph match played against the entire Sacramento Chess Club.

In 1889 Dr. Walter Romaine Lovegrove defeated Crichton in a match held in San Francisco.

In September 1890, the automaton Ajeeb was at the Mechanics’ Institute Fair in San Francisco.  It took on all comers in chess and checkers.  It was also exhibited at the State Fair at Sacramento.

In 1891, the Los Angeles Chess Club moved to the Wilson block in Los Angeles where they had comfortable quarters.

In 1891, Walter R. Lovegrove won the first California chess championship. He won a match from Joseph D. Redding (1858-1932), who claimed the championship of the Pacific Coast. The claim was based in a magazine article by Johann Zukertort that Redding was the best player on the Pacific coast.  Lovegrove won by the score of 7-1.

In February 1891, Jackson Whipps Showalter (1860-1935), 5-time U.S. chess champion, visited San Francisco and gave some chess exhibitions at the Mechanics’ Institute.  He said that the chess players in San Francisco were stronger than those of Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

In November 1891, the San Francisco Chess and Whist Club was organized.  The club officers were: Joseph D. Redding, President; P. J. Tormey and H. J. Summerhayes, Vice-Presidents; M. F. Clafling, Secretary; A. S. Baker, Treasurer; S. A. Foster, G. S. Simons, and R. Kindrick on the Governing Committee.  The dues were $1 a month.  The club met at the Supreme Court Building at Larkin and McAllister streets.

In March 1892, chess players of the Mechanics’ Institute and the Chess, Checker and Whist Club got together to organize a chess tournament.  Dr. Marshall presided, and Dr. W. R. Lovegrove, R. Kendrick, Dr. A. L. Scholl, G. Miller, T. D. Condon, N. J. Manson and Max Levy were present.

In December 1892, several living chess games were played during the evenings at the Mechanics’ Institute in association with the World’s International Candle Contest and Baby Show.

In February 1893, there was a resolution to close the chess room in the Oakland library.  The chess players were becoming a nuisance.  Men came and played chess all day and requested the privileges of smoking in the library while playing chess.  The final straw was when a group sat there morning til night and finally asked to be provided with a deck of cards.

In March 1893, a University of California at Berkeley Chess Club was formed.   The president of the club was R. H. Parkhurst (died in 1953).

In March 1893, a chess club was organized in Mill Valley, with Mrs. L. E. Bundy chosen as President,

After winning the U.S. championship match against Showalter, Samuel Lipschuetz (1863-1905) gave up his New York printing business and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1893, thinking its climate would be healthier for him. Upon his departure, Showalter re-claimed the vacant title.

In the early 1890s a whist and chess club was formed in Vallejo.

In 1894, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club chess champion was Walter Lovegrove. 

In August 1894, Lipschutz gave a 20-board simultaneous exhibition at the Athletic Club in Los Angeles.

In 1894 Lovegrove visited Los Angeles where he met and beat Samuel Lipschutz by the score of 3.5-0.5.

In September 1894, a chess match was held between the Los Angeles Athletic Club (H. Jones-Bateman,  W. G. White, C. F. Pierce, C. A. Miller, and H. J. Hastings) and the Los Angeles YMCA and 2^nd and Broadway (J. H. Cook, D. F. Sheldon, G. E. Scammon, R. B. Howell, and J. B. Smith).  The Athletic Club won the match by the score of 27.5 to 22.5

In December 1894, C. F. Pierce won the chess championship of the Los Angeles Athletic Club.  He was followed by C. A. Miller, H. Jones-Bateman, W. Y. White, H. Morris, R. B. Howell, H. J. Hastings, A. Grunewold, R. L. Cozner, J. S. Merrill, G. E. Harpham, H. Kerckhoff, De Camp, P. Orlan, H. P. Anderson, A. W. H. Peyton, J.Chanslor, P. W. Dooner, W. O. Welch, and F. G. Tweed.

From February to December 1894, a Southern California chess correspondence tourney was held.  C. F. Pierce of Los Angeles took 1^st prize.  Arthur Johnston of Santa Ana took 2^nd prize.  C. W. Waterman of Los Angeles took 3^rd prize.  Other Southern California players included: Bateman, Walter Bennett, Candler, R. L. Cuzner, Johnson, A. Johnston, H. Jones, H. Kerchkovv, C. A. Miller, L. Morris, Peipers, Sheldon.

In 1895, Lipschuetz edited a chess column in the Los Angeles Herald.

In 1895, a chess club was organized in San Diego.

In 1895, a series of games was played for the Los Angeles chess championship between C. F. Pierce and L. S. Candler.

In February 1895, Lipschutz played 15 players simultaneously at the Athletic Club in Los Angeles, winning 14 and losing 1, to A. Johnson.

In May 1895, a cable match was planned between San Francisco and Victoria, Canada, but the cable broke.

In May-June 1895, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club played a cable match against the Victoria Chess Club in British Columbia.

In June 1895, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club played a cable match against the Vancouver, British Columbia Chess Club.  The San Francisco team of Kendrick, Redding, and Franklin won.

In June-August 1895, a chess tournament was held at the Mechanics’ Institute.   The first class players were Quiroga, Samuels, Walter Franklin, George Thompson, T. A. Martin, Palmer and Harding.  The second class players were Fairweather, Nevill, Cole, Durkin, Johnson, Hirsch, Lazarus, Denton, Asman, Newman, Thomas, Torres and Spalding.  The event was won by George R. Thompson.

In July 1895, a telegraph match was held between the Mechanics’ Institute in San Francisco and Seattle.

On August 3, 1895, San Francisco played Seattle in a telegraph match.  San Francisco (Kendrick and Lovegrove) won  2 games and drew a 3^rd game (Howe).

In the 1896, the Pickwick Club was formed in Los Angeles which included chess play and chess tournaments.  Promoters of the chess club included Edmondson, Gruendike, Hurdig, Kernaghen, Lockwood, Orban, Stoutenberg, Thomas and Ward.

In 1896, a chess club was formed at Stanford University.  Officers included C. Serpas, C. J. Dulley, and B. Block.

In 1896, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Walter S. Franklin.

In 1896, promoters of chess in the Los Angeles area included Edmonson, Gruendike, Hurdig, Kernaghan, Lockwood, Orban, Stoutenberg, Thomas, and Ward.

In January 1897, a telegraph re-match was played between the Mechanics’ Institute and the Victoria, British Columbia Chess Club.  The game was a draw.  The Mechanics’ Institute players were Rodney Kendrick, Walter Franklin, Oscar Samuels and Valentine Huber.

In February 1897, the Pasadena Chess Club was organized.  Officers were John B. Stoutenburg, president, and Rev. W. H. Ratcliffe, secretary and treasurer.

In March 1897, a chess tournament was held at the Los Angeles YMCA between 12 of the leading players in Los Angeles.  Among the leading players were Sibble, Pierce, Chandler, Griffin and Stone.

In April 1897, the first intercollegiate chess match between Stanford and Berkeley was held.

In 1897, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Oscar Samuels.

In 1897, the Sacramento Chess Club, an annex to the Sacramento Whist Club, was formed and Dr. G. Dixon was its first president.  Presley B. Johnson was its secretary,  Other members included James Bailey, G. A. Bryan, W. D. Lawton, Alvin Bruner, Rev. Dr. C. L. Miel, Colonel R. L. Peeler, T. A. Pudan, A. S. Wallin, C. J. Corwon, and Major W. H. Sherburn.

In 1897, a movement had been started by President De Laguna of the University of California Chess Club to arrange an intercollegiate contest with Stanford.

In March 1897, the University of California at Berkeley Chess Club defeated the Stanford University Chess Club.

In 1897 a telegraph match was being negotiated between the University of California at Berkeley and Harvard.  H. W. Lewis, champion of Harvard during 1894 and 1894, had been in San Francisco representing Harvard in making the arrangements.  A San Francisco newspaper volunteered to furnish the telegraph for the match.  Harvard later declined the challenge.

In 1897 the Berkeley College Chess Club was organized.  Its club champion was R. H. S. Parkhurst.

In December 1897, the U.C. Berkeley Chess Club defeated the Episcopalian Chess Club of San Francisco.

In January 1898, the Sacramento Chess and Whist Club completed its first chess tournament.  The winner was Colonel R. L. Peeler, followed by A. S. Wallin.

In March 1898, the University of California Chess Club (Epstein, W. Hohfeld, Parkhurst, Tewle, Baugh, and Euphrat) defeated Stanford (Serpas, Arnold, Veuve, Knecht, Van Kathoven, and Bixby) by the score of 4.5 to 1.5.

In 1898 the Capital City Chess Club, an annex of the Sacramento Whist Club, was formed.  Members included William W. Macfarlane, A. S. Wallin, Joseph Bailey, John W. Barrett, Mrs, J. W. Barrett, James Morris, Alvin J. Bruner, Thomas A. Pudan and George A. Bryon.

In November 1898, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Walter Lovegrove after a play-off with J. O. Chilton.  Other players included Cutting, Denton, Durkin, Fairweather, Torres, Mitchell, Neville, Eppinger, Ott, Samuels, and Spaulding.

In February 1899, the San Francisco Chess and Whist Club defeated the University of California Berkeley Chess Club by the score of 7-3.

On May 30, 1899, a telegraph match was played between the San Francisco Chess and Whist Club and the Seattle Chess Club.  It was won by San Francisco. Members of the San Francisco team included Rodney Kendrick, A. J. Kuh, Dr. W. R. Lovegrove, N. J. Manson, J. J. Dolan and Oscar Samuels.  Seven games were played.  San Francisco won 3, drew 3, and lost 1.

In 1899, J. J. Dolan won the annual handicap chess tournament of the Mechanics’ Institute.

In July 1900, the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club, was organized and located at the Pacific Railroad Building, 316 W. Fourth Street in Los Angeles. The strongest player at the time was probably Charles W. Waterman (1846-1915) of Los Angeles.  Other members included C. S. Candler, J. F. Thompson, Dr. Hamilton Fraulein, George S. Hupp and F. S. Hopewell.  Officers were C. W. Waterman, president; Dr. Hamilton Forline, vice president; George S. Hupp, treasurer.  The club had over 40 members.

In October 1900, C. W. Waterman won the championship of the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club.  2^nd place went to Robert B. Griffith (1876-1937).  Griffith was a former University of Pennsylvania Chess Champion.

In November 1900, the annual handicap chess tournament of the Mechanics’ Institute began.  Some of the players included Dr. Marshall, Lovegrove, Neville, Lyon, Torres, Jones, Chilton, Huber, Sternberg, Daner, Denton, Palmer, Parker and J. J. Dolan.

In April 1901, the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club had a rapid transit chess tournament of 15 seconds per move.  The event was won by C. W. Waterman.

In July 1901, S. C. Candler won a tournament at the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club.  Other players of the continuous tournament were Beyer, Burns, Clark, Cooper, Albert Greenwood, Harrison, Hupp, Murphy, Miller, Mitchell, Stokes, Salisbury, Taylor, C. W. Waterman and W. S. Waterman.  The President of the Club was Albert Greenwood.

In 1901, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Valentine Huber.

In October 1901, the Western Addition Chess, Checker and Whist Club was organized in San Francisco at 2206 Fillmore street.  The president was Gideon P. Woodward; vice president was Sidney M. Van Wyck; secretaries were Dr. Tobriner and Franklin Pearson; treasurer was C. W. Moores.  Other members included J. H. Harboar and F. L. de Long.  There were over 50 members after a year.

In March 1902, Los Angeles chess players defeated the San Francisco chess players in a telegraph match.  Six boards were played over a leased wire of the Postal Telegraph Company.  The Los Angeles players gathered at the rooms of the Los Angeles Chess and Checker Club and the San Francisco team played at the Mechanics’ Institute.  The Los Angeles players were W. S. Waterman, R. B. Griffith, S. C. Candler, C. W. Waterman, G. E. Northrop, and E. R. Wickersham.  The San Francisco players were Kendrick, Howe, Manson, Yerwartt, Lovegrove, and Neville.

In March 1902, San Francisco defeated Sacramento in a 7-board telegraph match, with 3 wins, 1 loss, and 3 games drawn.

In May 1902, Los Angeles chess players defeated the San Francisco chess players in a telegraph match again.  The Los Angeles team won 3 games, lost 1 game, and drew 2 games.  The Los Angeles players were C. W. Waterman, R. B. Griffith, Albert Greenwood, S. C. Candler, W. S.  Waterman,  and E. R. Wickersham.  The San Francisco players were Epstein, Martin, Welham, Manson, Lovegrove, and Yerworth.

In 1902, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Hobart Eels.

In June 1902, C. W. Waterman won the championship of the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club, defeating S. C. Candler in a match.  Waterman won 2 games and drew 1 game.

In December 1902, Dr. Emanuel Lasker visited San Francisco for two weeks.  He gave simuls at the Mechanics’ Institute, the Western Addition Chess, Checker and Whist Club, and the San Francisco Whist and Chess Club. He lost a game to Dr. Lovegrove at the Mechanics’ Institute.

On December 23, 1902, Lasker played 18 players at the San Francisco Whist and Chess Club.  He won 14 (W. R. Lovegrove, A. J. Kuh, R. Kendrick, S. Meyer, M. Ettlinger, J. D. McKee, C. W. Morres, William Wolff, R. M. Royce, F. L. De Long, E, Nevill, R. B. Motchell, H. G. Meyer, and N. J. Manson), drew 3 (J. P. Cowdry, T. D. Black, and Walter Franklin), and lost 1 (to R. B. Griffith).

On December 26, 1902, Lasker played 22 players at the Western Addition Chess, Checker and Whist Club.  He won 16, drew 4, and lost 2 (to George Halwegan and I. Schonfeld).

On December 27, 1902, Lasker played 5 blindfold chess games at the Mechanics’ Institute, winning 4 and losing 1.  He won against T. D. Black, Harvey Dana, Richard Ott, and J.J. Dolan.  He lost to Dr. B. Marshall.

In January 1903, Lasker visited Los Angeles but played no chess.  Lasker asked for $250 and the payment of his hotel bill in return for a chess exhibition.  The local players thought this was more than the visit was worth and declined to extend the invitation.

In March 1903, the annual meeting of the Los Angeles Chess, Checker and Whist Club was held.  The elected officers were; president, Albert Greenwood; vice president, F. J. Harrison; secretary, J. E. Grant; treasurer, George Hupp.  Other members included S. B. Robnson, F. W. Taylor, R. B. Griffith, W. S. Waterman, W. E. stokes, T.J. Murphy, L. Weston, and Captain Hall.

In 1903, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Nathaniel J. Manson.

In 1903, a chess match between Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley ended in a tie. They played at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.

Members of the Stanford Chess Club include N. E. Dole, W. C. Maloy, F. B. Whitaker, M. L. Lewis, J. E. Turner, R. A. Fuller, O. F. Kehrlein, J. C. Cahoon, L. J. Mayreis, R. J. McFadden, S. C. Haver, N. C. Powers, A. T. Parsons, and J. H. Page.

In 1904, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Wallace E. Nevill, followed by Martin, Spaulding, Jones, Thompson, Colesworthy, Cleve, Durkin, and Sterberg..  The Mechanics' Institute Chess Club was located at 320 Sansome Street, Room 10, San Francisco, California.  Its president was N. J. Manson.

In 1904, there was a Philidor chess club established in Pasadena. Its president was William Ogden.

In 1904, a chess match between Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley ended in a tie. They played at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.

In March 1904, Harry Pillsbury visited Los Angeles.  At the Los Angeles Chess Club, he played 12 players blindfolded.  He lost two games (to F. W. Harrison and C. W. Waterman), drew one game (R. B. Griffith) and won 9 games (T. D. Black, C. A. Miller, J. N. Epstein, W. S. Waterman, J. E. Grant, E. R. Wickersham, L. Weston, F. Neilson, and J. N. Harris).  He blamed his loss on fatigue and loss of sleep after a long train ride.

In April 1904, Pillsbury visited San Francisco.  He played 16 members of the San Francisco Chess and Whist Club.  He lost one game to Arthur Stamer.

In April 1905, a chess match between Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley ended in a tie for the third year in a row. They played at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.   The Stanford team included F. P. Whitaker, R. A. Fuller, E. W. Doane, M. M. Stearns, H. W. Strong, G. E. Dole, and L. Newland.  The Berkeley team included E. K. Strong, A. D. Weitbee, W. Scotcher, E. Kohnke, E. Gibbs, P. C. Dickson, and P. Johnson.

In 1905, Wallace E. Nevill of San Francisco wrote a book called “Chess-Humanics” – A Philosophy of Chess , A Sociological Allegory.

In November 1905 the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Arthur Blaine Stamer (1884-1964).

On April 18, 1906, the San Francisco earthquake destroyed the Mechanics' Institute and all of its records, burning it to the ground. It was later rebuilt. During this time, Adolph Fink (1890-1956) took an interest in chess. He played chess while camping on the hills and seeking refuge from the earthquake and fires. He later became a major figure in California chess.

In April 1907, the University of California at Berkeley defeated Stanford with the score of 4.5-2.5.  This was the first time in 4 years that Berkeley beat Stanford in their annual chess match.

In 1907, members of the Los Angeles Chess Club included Dr. R. B. Griffith, J. E. Grant, A. K. Goodwin, Dr. Hedderley, E. L. Hedderley, Frank A. Garbutt, H. T. Rudisill, Frank Taylor, Mel Nordlinger, George S. Hupp, Ray Dunnigan, T. Staunton, P. M. Newhall, W. Chandler and Walter Fisher.

In 1908, the University of California at Berkeley chess team included R. B. Cooke, R. L. Egenhoff, D. J. Whitney, N.D. Baker and Charles Robinson.

In 1908, the Stanford chess team included T. Figg-Hoblyn, E. J. Cummings, C. I. Chandler, W. M. Davidson, S. B. Show, J. H. Pratt, L. Newland and T, Mimi.

In July 1908, the Los Angeles Police Department raided the Los Angeles Chess Club because the chess players were playing poker.  T. W. Burton, S. L. Godman, C. W. Watermanm L. Watson, W. S. Waterman and J. H. Jones were all arrested and booked for gambling.  Subsequently they were released on $25 bail.

In March 1909, the Mechanics' Institute chess club defeated the Alameda chess club, scoring 4-0.

In 1909, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club champion was Dr. Henry Epsteen.

In April 1910, Stanford defeated Berkeley in their annual intercollegiate chess match.

In 1911, Ernest J. Clarke (1877-1948) won the Pacific Coast chess championship.

In 1913, J. J. Dolan was the president of the Mechanics’ Institute chess club.

In July 1913, Frank Marshall visited Los Angeles.  On his first evening, he gave a 23-board simultaneous exhibition, winning 21 and losing 2.  The next evening, he played 27 boards, winning 23, losing 1, and drawing 3.

From 1913 to 1926, a series of telegraph matches were played between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

In 1914, Los Angeles defeated San Francisco in a telegraph match.

In 1915, Elmer W. Gruer (1890-1931) won the Mechanics’ Institute chess championship.

In 1915, Frank Marshall visited San Francisco and gave several exhibitions.  He played 15 opponents, winning 13 and losing 2.  In another simul against 20 opponents, he won 8, lost 8 and drew 4.  He lost to W. R. Lovegren, Dr. Henry Epsteen, R. C. Stephenson, S. C. Candler, J. Drouillard, F. Sternberg, B. Smith and F. C. de Long.  He drew toF. W. Huber, G. Branch, A. Epsteen and E. W. Gruer and E. J. Clarke in consultation.

The first Hollywood silent film to depict a chess scene may have been A Fool There Was, filmed in 1915, directed by Frank Powell and starring Theda Bara (1885-1955) as the Vamp, one of the first sex symbols of the early 20th century.

In 1915, the San Francisco Chess and Checker Club was formed, organized by S. Rubinstein.

In September 1915, San Francisco defeated Los Angeles in a telegraph match, 9.5 to 5.5.

In 1916, a chess column appeared in the San Francisco Bulletin, probably edited by J. O. Chilton.

In 1916, a chess column appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner, edited by Stasch Mlotkowski until 1921, then by Harry Borochow (1898-1993).

In June 1917, a telegraph match was played between California and New York.

In 1919, the Pasadena Chess Club was formed.

In 1920, a chess column appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, edited by E. J. Clarke.

In October 1921, a telegraph match was played between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. San Francisco won 9.5 to 2.5.

In the 1920s, the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club played a cable match against Los Angeles.

In the 1920s, the Beverly Hills Chess Club was formed by Dr. Charles L. Lindley.

In the 1920s, the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC) formed an active chess club.

In March 1921, E.R. Perry, librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library and former Harvard University champion, won the Los Angeles Chess and Checker Club with an 8-0 score. 2nd place went to Harry Borochow.

In June 1921, Sammy Reshevsky (Rzeschewski) (1911-1992), age 9, gave a 20-board simul at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and met several Hollywood stars such as Charlie Chaplin (1899-1977) and 5-year-old Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) at the simul. Coogan and Reshevsky were wearing boxing gloves for a publicity photo when Coogan punched Reshevsky in the face, giving him a black eye. The only person to beat Reshevsky in the 20-board simul was Dr. Robert B. Griffith (1876-1937), a physician for the film industry in Hollywood.

Reshevsky later gave a 12-board simul at the Hamburger Department Store in Los Angeles, where he lost one game and burst out crying (because it was a boy who won rather than an adult).

In 1921, the silent version of The Three Musketeers, starring Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. (1883-1939) was one of the first films to use chess as a crucial part of the narrative in the film.

In 1921-22, Elmer Gruer (1890-1931) won the 1st California State Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco. Gruer won with a perfect 10-0 score. There were 11 players in the event. 2nd place went to Stasch Mlotkowski, followed by E.J. Clarke, Harry Borochow, A.J. Fink, W. Metzke, Dr. W.R. Lovegrove, Charles Woskoff, George Hallwegen, Bernardo Smith, and S. Swanson.

In September 1922, Adolph J. Fink (1890-1956) won the 2nd California State Championship, held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He scored 9-2. 2nd-3rd went to Harry Borochow and R.F. Lyon, followed by E.F. Schrader, S. Mlotkowski, Bernardo Smith, Donald Mugridge, E.W. Grabill, G.S.G. Patterson, C.H. Whipple, E.R. Perry, and J.F. Smyth.

From July 28 to August 4, 1923, the 24th Western Chess Association (24th US Open) was held in San Francisco. Stasch Mlotkowski (1881-1943) and Norman Whitaker (1890-1975) tied for 1st with 9 out of 11 points. Each won $150. Samuel Factor took 3rd place, followed by Adolph Fink, Elmer Gruer, Walter Lovegrove, F.M. Currier, G.E. Branch, A.W. Ryder, Donald Mugridge, George Patterson, and A.M. Feldman. Mlotkowski won the 3rd California State Championship title for being the top Californian in the Western Chess Association tournament.

In August 1925, Stasch Mlotsowski won the 4th California State Championship, held in Los Angeles. He was followed by A.J. Fink, E.W. Gruer, and E.F. Scharder.

In 1926, Elmer W. Gruer of Oakland won the 5th California State Championship after a play-off with A.J. Fink. The event was held at the Athens Athletic Club in Oakland. 3rd place went to S. Weinbaum. 4th place went to Henry Gross.

On November 14, 1926, the first North-South match between players of Northern California and Southern California met at San Luis Obispo. The South won 7.5 to 4.5.

In August 1927, the 6th California State Championship was held in Los Angeles. E.W. Greur won the event with an 8-1 score. 2nd place went to Don Mugridge, followed by Harry Borochow, A.J. Fink, Henry Gross, S. Rubinstein, G.S.G. Petterson, H. Bierwirth, Bateman, and W. Smith.

In October 1927, Cliff Sherwood started a chess column in the Los Angeles Times.  He was the editor of the chess column until 1933.

In 1928, A.J. Fink won the 7th California State Championship after winning a play-off with Henry Gross. They were followed by W.R. Lovegrove and D.N. Vedensky. The event was held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco.

In September 1929, A.J. Fink won the 8th California State Championship, held in Los Angeles. Fink won the Brock Trophy for having won three California chess championships. 2nd-3rd place went to Harry Borochow and Dr. M. Scholtz. They were followed by Charles Bagby, S. Weinbaum, C.H. Whipple, E.P. Elliott, E.W. Grabill, and H. Bierwirth.

In 1930, Ernest Clarke (1877-1948) was editor of a weekly chess column in the San Francisco Chronicle.

In 1930, George Patterson won the Los Angeles Chess Championship.

In August, 1930, Harry Borochow (1898-1993) of Los Angeles won the 9th California State Chess Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco. 2nd place went to W. Lamb, followed by G.S.G. Patterson, Charles Bagby, Henry Gross, J. Tippan, A.J. Fink, Irving Spero, and R. Kilian.

In October, 1930, the California Intercollegiate Chess League was formed.

In January, 1931, Harry Borochow won the Southern California chess championship (Tallman Trophy).

In 1931, the University of California won the California Intercollegiate championship. The individual winner was Guthrie McClain (1910-1991).

On March 26, 1931, Dr. Charles L. Lindley died in Los Angeles. He was the founder of the Beverly Hills Chess Club.

In April, 1931, the first issue of The Chess Reporter was published by Henry MacMahon of Beverly Hills.

On April 18, 1931, San Francisco beat the East Bay by the score of 14.5 to 10.5. The event was held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco.

In May, 1931, the Beverly Hills Chess Club won the Southern California Chess League, followed by Los Angeles, Long Beach, Cal-Tech, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, and Highland Park.

On May 31, 1931, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was won by the South, with the score of 14.5 - 10.5.

On July 16, 1931, Elmer Gruer died. He was born in 1890. He was California State Chess Champion in 1921, 1926, and 1927.

In August 1931, Hollywood screenwriter Richard Schayer (1880-1956) donated the first prize money of the 10th California State Chess Championship. It was won by Harry Borochow (1898-1993). The tournament was held at the Beverly Hills Chess Club at Wilshire Boulevard and North Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills. Henry Gross and Johnny Tippin took 2nd-3rd place, followed by G.S.G. Patterson, A.J. Fink, W. Lamb, L. Marks, A.H. Bierwirth, C.J. Gibbs, George Goehler, and C.H. Whipple.

In 1931, George Patterson won the Los Angeles Chess Championship. H. Bierwirth took 2nd place.

On November 28, 1931, C.J. Gibbs and Richard Lyon tied for 1st in the Southern California chess championship. Lyon later won a play-off.

In 1931, Clifford Sherwood edited a chess column in the Los Angeles Times.

In 1932, the Hayward High School won the Northern California High School Chess League.

In 1932, Dr. Moses Scholtz won the Los Angeles chess championship.

In 1932, Adolph Fink won the San Francisco chess championship.

On May 29, 1932, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was won by the South, with the score of 10.5 - 9.5.

On August 14, 1932, Alexander Alekhine arrived on the eve of the Chess Congress Masters Tournament (part of the Los Angeles Congress) at the Maryland Hotel in Pasadena, following the 10th Modern Olympic Games at Los Angeles. Alekhine won the event (and $250) with a score of 8.5-2.5. Isaac Kashdan took 2nd with a score of 7.5-3.5. Next were Arthur Dake, Sammy Reshevsky, and Herman Steiner with 6.5. Next came Harry Borochow, 11th California State champion, with the score of 5.5-5.5. He was followed by Fred Reinfeld, Jacob Bernstein, Reuben Fine, and Samuel Factor, all with 5-6. Jose Araiza came next with a score of 3.5-7.5. Last place went to Adolph Fink, San Francisco's strongest player, with a score of 3-8. It was agreed that the California player having the highest score in this event would be declared champion of California. Thus, Harry Borochow became 11th California champion for the third straight year. This international tournament was promoted by Cecil B. DeMille. The tournament organizers also wanted to invite Capablanca, but Alekhine demanded an extra $2,000 appearance fee if Capablanca participated in the event. The money could not be raised (the whole budget for the tournament was $1,500), and Capablanca was not invited. The event ran from August 15 to August 29.

In August, 1932, Alekhine, Kashdan, and Dake took a flight over Los Angeles and Pasadena on the Goodyear airship Volunteer. Kashdan and Dake played a chess game on the airship, which was broadcasted from the airship to a local radio station.

On September 1, 1932, Alekhine gave a 50-board simultaneous display at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He lost at least 2 games (to R.McBride and to Dr. M. Scholtz).

On September 15, 1932, Alekhine gave an 8-board simultaneous blindfold exhibition at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, winning 5 and drawing 3.

On November 7, 1932, a new Hollywood Chess Club was opened at 5704 La Mirada Avenue, Hollywood. California State Champion Harry Borochow gave an 18-board simultaneous exhibition (winning 14, drawing 1, and losing 3). The president of the Hollywood Chess Club was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (1909-2000). The executive board included Lew Ayres (1908-1996), screenwriter Richard Schayer (1880-1956), film director Ernest Laemmle (1900-1950), actor, director, and producer William Wyler (1902-1981), and film director and ediitor Slavko Vorkapich (1894-1976).

On December 15, 1932, world champion Alexander Alekhine gave a 22-board simultaneous exhibition at the Los Angeles Athletic Club (LAAC), winning 19 and drawing 3.

On December 17, 1932, Alekhine played against 26 boards at the new Hollywood Chess Club, winning them all. The next day, he then gave a 7-board simultaneous blindfold exhibition at the Hollywood Chess Club, winning 5 and drawing 2. The president of the Hollywood Chess Club was Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Herman Steiner later became the president of the Hollywood Chess Club. Members included Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Charles Boyer, and Jose Ferrer.

The 1932-33 Southern California championship was won by George Patterson. 2nd place went to Dr. Robert B. Griffith.

In January 1933, Herman Steiner formed the International Chess Club (later called the Hollywood Chess Group), first headquartered at the Hollywood Athletic Club at 6521 Sunset Boulevard, where he conducted a weekly chess lecture and chess class. He later formed a chess clubhouse next to his own house, which was located at 108 North Formosa Avenue in West Hollywood.

On January 7, 1933, Herman Steiner played 80 boards with four players at each table (320 players total) at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He won 70, lost 7, and drew 3.

In February 1933, the Hollywood Chess Club sponsored a movie artists' concert to raise money for a new house project. The master of ceremonies was Neil Hamilton (1899-1984), best known for his role as Commissioner Gordon on the Batman TV series.

In March 1933, E. Richard Schayer became the new president of the Hollywood Chess Club (renamed the Hollywood Chess and Bridge Club), which moved to the 6735 Yucca Street in Hollywood. Schayer was a screenwriter who wrote over 100 films between 1916 and 1956. He wrote some chess scenes into a few of his scripts, such as The Black Cat, with Boris Karloff playing chess with Bela Lagosi.

In 1933, the Beverly Hills Chess Club won the Southern California Chess League Championship.

In 1933, the Castle Chess Club won the first Northern California Chess League, followed by the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club, the University of California Chess Club, the Russian Chess Club, the Black Knight's Chess Club, and the Oakland Chess Club.

In 1933, a match on 25 boards was won by the East Bay against San Francisco by the score of 13 to 12.

On April 8, 1933, Jose Capablanca, age 44, played 32 boards at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He won 25, drew 6, and lost one game, to J. Allen and E. Carlson in consultation.

On April 11, 1933, Jose Capablanca, playing the white pieces, played a game of living chess against Herman Steiner at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The game was pre-arranged by Capablanca, who checkmated Steiner in 25 moves. Cecil B. DeMille presided as referee and announced the moves.

On May 21, 1933, Jose Capablanca played 23 boards at the Hollywood Chess and Bridge Club, winning 21 and drawing 2 games (drew with state champion Borochow and Mrs. May Bain of the Hollywood Club). He later played 32 boards at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. The event was coupled with Herman Steiner's wedding reception where Capablanca was a guest of honor.

In July, 1933, Herman Steiner became chess editor of the Los Angeles Times.

In 1933, the Hayward High School won the Northern California High School Chess League.

There was no official California State Chess Championship from 1933 through 1938.

In 1934, the strongest chess clubs in Southern California included the Yiddish Chess Club, the Los Angeles Chess and Checker Club, the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and the Caltech Chess Club.

In the 1930s, Herman Steiner gave weekly chess lessons to several Hollywood stars and promising chess players. Jose Ferrer (1909-1992) took lessons from Steiner and remarked what a genius chess teacher Steiner was. Other chess students who took lessons from Steiner included Humphrey Bogart, Billy Wilder, Louis Hayward, Fritz Feld, Rosemary Clooney, Jim Cross and Jacqueline Piatigorsky.

In 1934, the Hayward Union High School won the Northern California High School Chess League for the 3rd successive year. Los Angeles High School won the Southern California High School Chess League. Hayward defeated Los Angeles High School by the score of 5-2 to take the state title.

By 1934, the Hollywood Chess Group had about 50 members from the movie industry. In May 1934, Herman Steiner decided to merge his chess classes with the Hollywood Chess Club.

In 1934, the Hollywood Chess Club moved to the former Mountain View hotel at 5956 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.

On May 27, 1934, the Annual Chess Tournament between Northern California and Southern California, held in San Luis Obispo was drawn, with the score of 12.5 - 12.5.

In 1934, Robert Carmany won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1935, R.W. Wise won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In September 1935, the Hollywood Chess Club moved to a new clubhouse in the Lawlor Professionals' School Building at 6107 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood. The club president was LeRoy Johnson, who later served as California Chess Federation president for 10 years.

In 1936, Edward P. Elliot (1873-1955) won the Los Angeles Chess Championship. He won the Western Chess Association championship in 1908 and 1912.

In 1936, Charles Cody won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

On July 19, 1936, the Hollywood Chess Club drew a short-wave radio match, using Morse code, with the Hawaii Army Chess Club. It may have been the first overseas radio chess match. Two boards were played. Hollywood lost on board one game and won on board two.

On May 30, 1937, Herman Steiner was on his way back to Hollywood from the annual North-South chess match when he hit a car head-on. Steiner's passenger was Dr. R.B. Griffith, who played Board 2 for the South (Steiner played Board 1). Griffith died in the car crash and the driver in the other car was critically injured. Dr. Griffith was a medical doctor for the Hollywood film industry. He was the physician for Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin.

In June, 1937, Arthur Dake (1910-2000) gave a 24-board simul at the Mechanics' Institute. He won 18, lost 2, and drew 4 games.

In 1937, Northern California defeated Southern California in their annual match by the score of 13 to 12. The event was held in San Luis Obispo.

In 1937, Robert Carmany won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1938, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 14.5 - 10.5, held in San Luis Obispo.

In 1938, A. R. Chapman won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1938, the Hollywood Chess Group moved to the same Hollywood Boulevard building as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Writers Guild. The club was at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Cherokee Avenue (1655 North Cherokee Ave).

In 1939, I.A. Horowitz (1907-1973) gave simultaneous exhibitions in California. In Los Angeles, he won 19, lost 4, and drew 1. In Carmel, he won 25 and drew 1. In San Francisco, he won 18, lost 1, and drew 4.

In 1939, the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League Chess Club was formed. It defeated Steiner's Hollywood Chess Institute in match play, but lost to the stronger Los Angeles Chess and Checker Club.

In March, 1939, the Mechanics' Institute won the Northern California Chess League, followed by the Castle Chess Club, the Russian Chess Club, the Oakland Chess Club, the University of California Chess Club, the Alameda Chess Club, and the San Francisco Chess Club.

On April 8, 1939, San Francisco beat the East Bay in their annual match by the score of 14.5 to 10.5.

In April 1939, Charles Bagby and A.J. Fink played a 10-game match in San Francisco. The score was 5-5.

On May 21, 1939, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 14 to 12. The event was held in San Luis Obispo.

On November 23, 1939, Philip Wolliston, age 19, won the 12th California State Championship, held at the Hollywood Chess Group, scoring 7-1. 2nd-3rd place went to Harry Borochow and Herman Steiner. George Koltanowski took 4th place, followed by Kovacs, Fink, Patterson, Bazard, and Gibbs.

In 1939, Milton Meyer won the Sacramento City Chess Championship.

In 1940, famous photographer, painter, and artist Man Ray (1890-1976) moved to Hollywood and had his art studio there. He designed several chess sets and hoped one of his designs would become the standard for the World Chess Federation (FIDE), but this never happened.

In 1940, Harold Simon won the Mechanics Institute Championship. Vladimir Pafnutieff (1912-1999) took 2nd. Peter Lapiken (1905-1983) took 3rd.

In 1940, the California School for the Blind defeated the California School for the Deaf.

In 1940, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 18.5 to 6.5. The event was held at San Luis Obispo.

In 1940, Herman Steiner of Los Angeles took 2nd place, behind Samuel Reshevsky, in the American Chess Federation Championship.

In 1940, Reuben Fine (1914-1993) gave several simultaneous exhibitions in California. In Sacramento, he won 13 and drew 1. In San Francisco, he won 18 and drew 3. In Carmel, he won 23 and drew 1. In Los Angeles, he won 29 and drew 3. In Hollywood, he won 14 and drew 4. In Santa Barbara, he won 15, drew 1, and lost 1.

There was no California State Chess Championship in 1940 through 1944.

In 1941, the Russian Chess Club (founded by Peter Prokoodin in 1931) of San Francisco won the Championship of the Northern California Chess League.

In 1941, Herman Steiner played against 400 players on 100 boards in Hollywood. He won 83, drew 11, and lots 6 in 9 hours and 20 minutes. The event helped raise money for the British War Relief.

On September 6, 1941, Larry Remlinger was born in Pasadena.

In 1942, Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) was active in chess in Hollywood and he played chess with patients in Veterans hospitals. He was also playing correspondence chess with several GIs overseas until he was visited by the FBI in 1943 and was told not to play any more correspondence chess with military members for the duration of the war. The FBI was reading his mail and thought that the chess notation he was sending to Europe were secret codes.

In August, 1942, Herman Steiner of Los Angeles tied for 1st with Abe Yanofsky at the 43rd US Open in Dallas.

In 1943, George Croy won the Los Angeles City Championship.

In 1943, Herman Steiner won the California Open State Championship with the score of 17-0. Dr. Salo Finkelstein took 2nd place.

In 1943, the Hollywood Open was held at the Hollywood Chess Club. The tournament was won by Harry Borochow.

In 1943, Milton O. Meyer won the Sacramento Championship. J.B. Gee took 2nd place.

In 1943, Robert Trenberth won the Alameda County Championship.

In 1943, Army Private Arthur Dake, member of the military police, won the championship of Camp Roberts in San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties.

On October 17, 1943, Walter Cunningham was born on Los Angeles.

On April 6, 1944, Jude Acers was born in Long Beach.

From April 15 to May 7, 1944, the 5th U.S. Championship was held in New York. Sven Algren of California participated and tied for 8th-9th place.

In November, 1944, Herman Steiner gave a large simultaneous exhibition in Los Angeles for the Russian War Relief.

In January,1945, A.J. Fink and Herman Steiner tied for 1st in the 13th California State Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco, each scoring 8-1. There was no play-off. Charles Howland took 3rd place and James Hurt took 4th place, followed by H, Donnelly, Charles Svalberg, I. Goldberg, M. Forti, C. Jarrell, and H. Tower (who went 0 for 9).

In 1945, Humphrey Bogart was a director in the U.S. Chess Federation.

The June-July 1945 cover of CHESS REVIEW had Charles Boyer playing Humphrey Bogart, while Herman Steiner and Lauren Bacall looked on.

From July 28 to August 12, 1945, the Hollywood Chess Group and the Los Angeles Times organized the Pan-American International Tournament. Singer and actress Carmen Miranda (1909-1955) was there to open the event and draw the players' numbers for the pairings. Humphrey Bogart, a tournament director of the U.S. Chess Federation, was selected as the Master of Ceremonies. One of the spectators of the tournament was actress Marlene Dietrich (1904-1992. The event was won by Sammy Reshevsky who won $1,000. Reuben Fine took 2nd place. Herman Pilnik took 3rd. I.A. Horowitz took 4th. Isaac Kashdan took 5th. Eugene Levin won the Interscholastic Tournament.

In 1945, Humphrey Bogart and his new wife (they were just married and both were chess players), Lauren Bacall (1924- ), along with Charles Boyer (1899-1978) and Herman Steiner, appeared on the cover of the June-July Chess Review magazine. The shot was taken during the filming of The Confidential Agent.

In September, 1945, only Herman Steiner of Hollywood managed a plus score against the USSR team in a radio match. He won one game and drew the other with Isaac Boleslavsky.

In September, 1945, Nancy Krotoschin Roos (1905-1957) won the speed championship of Hollywood. She won the Belgium Women's Championship in the 1930s and, in 1942, participated in the U.S. Women's Chess Championship, tying for 2nd place. She tied for 1st place in the 1955 U.S. Women's Chess Championship.

In 1945, Pete Velliotes won the championship of the Santa Barbara Chess Club.

By the 1940s, the Hollywood Chess Group had over 100 members.

In 1945, the Modesto Chess Club was formed. It was soon having simultaneous exhibitions by George Koltanowski, Herman Steiner, Al Horowitz, and Weaver Adams.

On December 21, 1945, Duncan Suttles was born in San Francisco.

In 1946, the Beverly Hills Chess Club was organized by Ellis Levy, with about 30 members. Meetings were held at a clubhouse at Roxbury Park on Olympic Boulevard in Beverly Hills.

In 1946, Herman Steiner won the International Masters' Tournament in London.

In 1946, the Santa Rosa Chess Club was formed.

In 1946, Arnold Denker successfully defended his U.S. Championship title by defeating Herman Steiner by the score of 6-4. The match was played in Los Angeles.

In 1946, Isaac Kashdan settled in Los Angeles.

In 1946, Eugene Levin (1930- ) won the California Junior Championship.

In May, 1946, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 15-12 at San Luis Obispo.

In July, 1946, Herman Steiner of Los Angeles won the US Open in Pittsburgh.

In 1946, Carroll Capps (1917-1971) won the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Championship in San Francisco, scoring 10-2. Vladimir Pafnutieff took 2nd and Adolf Fink took 3rd. Capps became president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chess League and was a science fiction author (C.C. MacApp).

In 1946, Morris Gordon won the Los Angeles City Championship. George Croy took 2nd.

In 1946, A.J. Fink won the 14th California State Championship. Vladimir Pafnutieff took 2nd. Neil Falconer took 3rd.

In 1946, G. Steven won the Santa Monica Championship. Carl Budd took 2nd.

In 1946, John Sperley won the Long Beach city championship.

In 1947, George Koltanowski established his residence in California and moved to San Francisco with his wife, Leah.

In 1947, the Hollywood Lasker team won the Los Angeles Metropolitan League championship.

In 1947, Herman Steiner was the chess advisor for the movie Cass Timberlane, starring Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner. Steiner told Lana Turner, "Don't play chess. Sitting at a chess board for hours might make you fat and spoil your perfect figure." There were several chess scenes in the movie.

In 1947, M. Meyer won the Sacramento city championship.

In 1947, R. Banner won the Los Angeles Rapid Transit championship.

In 1947, Eugene Levin won the California State Junior championship.

In 1947, Salo Finkelstein won the Los Feliz Chess Club championship in Los Angeles. Finkelstein was once ranked 8th in the "100 Greatest Mental Calculators."

In May, 1947, Northern California defeated Southern California by the score of 17-5.

In 1947, Jim Cross of Glendale took 2nd-3rd in the U.S. Junior Championship, held in Cleveland.

In 1947, Emil Bersbach won the championship of the Los Angeles Bay Area, held in Santa Monica.

In 1947, Hyman Gordon won the Los Angeles City championship. His twin brother, Maurice, won the 1946 Los Angeles City championship.

In 1947, Dr. Sidney Weinbaum won the San Gabriel Valley tournament in Pasadena. He had a PhD in Physics from Caltech and worked with Linus Pauling. Weinbaum was Los Angeles chess champion twice in the 1920s. He was later arrested, went to prison for 3 years, and lost his security clearance at JPL for being active in leftist causes during the "Red scare" in the late 1940s.

In 1947, Reuben Fine defeated Herman Steiner 5-1 in a match held in Los Angeles.

In 1947, the Coronado Chess Club was organized in San Diego.

In May, 1947, Weaver Adams, New England Champion, gave a 16-board simul in San Jose, winning all his games.

In November, 1947, George Koltanowski began editing the California Chess News (later to become Chess Digest). He was also a chess columnist for The Press Democrat.

In 1948, chess and checker Newell Banks gave a 25 board simul in San Francisco. In chess, he won 13, drew 2, and lost 1. In checkers, he won 7 and drew 2. Baseball great Ty Cobb played one of the checker games and got a draw.

In 1948, Carl Budd won the Santa Monica Beaches tournament. Robert Greene took 2nd.

In 1948, Sidney Sirelson won the Las Feliz Chess Club Championship in Los Angeles.

In 1948, James Cross of Glendale took 3rd in the U.S. Junior Championship at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

In 1948, J. B. Gee won the Sacramento City Championship. M. Meyer took 2nd,

In 1948, Robert Wyller of Hillsboro played 1,001 postal chess games at once.

In April, 1948, Sven Almgren (1900-1973) won the U.S. Championship Preliminary tournament, held in Los Angeles. Herman Steiner took 2nd.

In April, 1948, Olaf Ulvestad gave an 18-board simul at the Mechanics' Institute. He won 14, lost 2 (to Earl Pruner and John Pesak), and drew 2. He then gave a 20-board simul in Palo Alto. He won 16, lost 2 (to Gordon Mills and John O'Boyle), and drew 2. He then played a 16-board simul in San Jose, winning 15 and losing 1, to Bert Mueller.

In May, 1948, Northern California tied with Southern California by the score of 28.5 to 28.5.

In 1948, Herman Steiner won the California State Speed Championship.

In 1948, Herman Steiner won the U.S. Chess Championship, held in South Fallsburg, New York, ahead of Isaac Kashdan.

On August 11, 1948, George Kane was born in Palo Alto.

In September, 1948, James Cross of Glendale, age 18, won the 15th California State Championship, held at Atascadero. A.J. Fink of San Francisco took 2nd. Neil Falconer of Berkeley took 3rd, followed by Ray Martin and Wad Hendricks. The event was a 36-man Swiss tournament, open to all players. The tournament was also considered the first California Open Championship.

In 1948, S. Kendrashoff won the Russian Chess Club Championship in San Francisco. O. Schirovsky took 2nd.

In 1948, Ray Martin won the Santa Monica Open Chess Tournament. Paul Quillen took 2nd. Emil Bersbach took 3rd.

In 1948, Herman Steiner won the Los Angeles County speed championship. Harry Borochow took 2nd.

In 1948, Paul Quillen won the Los Angeles County Championship. Adolph Weiss took 2nd.

In 1948, Herman Steiner and Jim Cross tied for 1st in the Hollywood Open.

In 1948, Ray Martin won the Los Angeles Chess Club championship.

In 1948, J.E. Garnet won the San Diego City-County Open Chess Championship.

In 1948, Herb Paul won the Modesto Chess Club Championship.

On December 16, 1948, Ernest J. Clarke, of San Francisco died. He was 71. He was considered the Dean of Pacific Coast Chess. He was born in 1877 and started a chess column in the San Francisco Chronicle in the 1920s.

In 1949, Max Euwe played a 52-board simul in Los Angeles, winning 28, losing 6, and drawing 18. A few days later, he played a 22-board simul at the Mechanics' Institute, winning 16, losing 3, and drawing 3.

In 1949, Phillips Wyman won the Salinas City Championship. George Oakes took 2nd.

In 1949, the Castle Chess Club (formed in 1929) in Berkeley won the San Francisco Bay Area Chess League.

In 1949, Wallace Smith of San Francisco died. He had been a member of the Mechanics' Institute since 1910. He was 62.

In 1949, J. B. Gee won the Sacramento City Championship.

In 1949, Klasse won the Long Beach Chess Club Championship.

In 1949, George Croy won the Las Feliz Chess Club Championship in Los Angeles.

In 1949, Charles Bagby won the Northern California Championship.

In 1949, the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club won the annual Los Angeles County team championship.

In May, 1949, Southern California defeated Northern California by the score of 26.5 to 24.5. The event was held in Atascadero.

In 1949, the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club won the California Interclub Championship after defeating the Castle Chess Club.

In 1949, Herman Steiner won the California State Speed Championship. Jim Cross took 2nd. Randolph Banner took 3rd.

In 1949, Ray Martin won the Los Angeles Open Chess Championship. R. P. Smith took 2nd. George Croy took 3rd.

In 1949, Jim Cross of Glendale tied with Arthur Bisguier and Larry Evans in the 4th annual U.S. Junior Championship, held in Fort Worth, Texas. Earl Pruner of San Francisco took 4th place.

In 1949, MSgt Russell Donnelly won the Fort Ord Chess Club Championship. PFC Wilfred Ingalls took 2nd.

On September 3, 1949, the California Chess Federation was officially formed.

In September, 1949, George E. Croy won the 16th California State Championship. Irving Rivise took 2nd, followed by Leslie Boyette, Jim Cross, Earl Pruner, Robert P. Smith, and Clark Jones. The Open Minor Tournament was won by Phil Smith of Bakersfield. The event has held in Atascadero.

In 1949, Arthur Stamer won the Oakland Chess Club Championship.

In 1949, Phillip Waterman won the Beverly Hills Chess Club Championship.

In 1949, Robert Konkel won the Northern California Championship. Earl Pruner took 2nd.

In 1949, Nancy Roos won the Los Angeles County Women's Championship with a score of 14-0.

In 1949, Alan Bourke won the Palo Alto Chess Club Championship.

In December, 1949, George Koltanowski played 271 games in 12 hours, winning 251, losing 3 (to Les Talcott, Andy Buschine, and Robert Willson), and drawing 17. He faced 37 players at a time. The event was sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle (The Chronicle Chess Festival). There were over 2,000 spectators.

In 1949, Larry Ledgerwood won the Oakland Chess Championship.

In 1949, Ray Martin won the Los Angeles County Championship. Irving Rivise took 2nd. Morris Gordon took 3rd.

In 1949, Carroll Capps won the Mechanics' Institute Championship.

In 1949, Charles Bagby and Leslie Boyette tied for 1st in the Northern California Championship.

In 1950, Ray Martin won the Hollywood Invitational, ahead of Herman Steiner and Jim Cross.

In 1950, George Koltanowski and Herman Steiner were awarded the International Master title.

In September, 1950, Ray Martin of Santa Monica won the 17th California State Championship, held in San Francisco. George Croy and Vladimir Patnutieff tied for 2nd-3rd, followed by Phil D. Smith, Charles Bagby, Sven Almgren, W.H. Steckel, and Leslie Boyette.

In September 1950, Arthur Spiller of Culver City won the California Open, held in Santa Barbara. There were 23 players.

In 1950, the Santa Monica Chess Club won the Los Angeles County Championship.

In 1950, Charles Bagby won the Northern California Championship.

In November, 1950, the USCF published its first rating list as of July 31, 1950. The top California player was Isaac Kashdan (2574), followed by Herman Steiner (2394), Harry Borochow (2374), and Jim Cross (2321). Others included Almgren (2137), Boyette (2216), Capps (2160), Croy (2284), Falconer (2108), Fink (2211), H Gordon (2106), Hendricks (2179), Ray Martin (2170), Pruner (2253), Rivise (2286), Sable (2102), R.P. smith (2197), Solona (2184), and J.H. Watson (2193),

In December 1950, the Valley Chess Club was formed, which met at the Recreation Building at Vancwen Park in North Hollywood. It later moved to North Hollywood Park. Charles Boyer was an active member in this club.

In 1951, members of the Capablanca Chess Club in Havana, Cuba arrived in Hollywood to play the Hollywood Chess Club. The Hollywood team won, scoring 11.5-7.5

In 1951, Arthur Stamer became director of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco. He remained director until his death in 1964.

In 1951, Guthrie McClain was co-founder and Associate Editor of the California Chess Reporter.

In September, 1951, Arthur R. Spiller won the 18th California State Championship, played in Santa Monica. Irving Rivise took 2nd, followed by Sven Almgren, Earl Pruner, Adolph Weiss, Ray Martin, and Charles Svalberg.

In September 1951, Neil Falconer won the California Open, held in Santa Cruz. Vladimir Pafnutieff and William T. Adams took 2nd-3rd. There were 43 players.

In December, 1951, George Koltanowski played 50 games blindfolded at 10-seconds-per move, winning 43, drawing 5, and losing 2 in 9 hours of play in San Francisco.

In 1951, George W. Chase won the championship of the Cosmo Chess Club in Los Angeles.

In 1951, J.B. Gee won on tiebreak over M.O. Meyer in the Sacramento City championship.

In 1951, Richard Mathews won the championship of the Palo Alto Chess Club.

In 1952, Lionel Joyner won the Los Angeles County Championship after a play-off with Morris Gordon. 3rd place went to Ray Martin, followed by Steve Mazner, Sven Almgren, Arthur Spiller, and Sam Geller.

In 1952, the San Jose Chess Club won the Central California Chess League title, scoring 6-0. 2nd place went to the Sacramento Chess Club, followed by the Fresno Chess Club, Stockton CC, Pittsburg CC, Modesto CC, and Oakdale CC.

In 1952, George Koltanowski, playing blindfolded, defeated Humphrey Bogart in 41 moves in San Francisco.

On February 12, 1952, James Tarjan was born in Pomona. He became a grandmaster in 1976.

In May 1952, Svetozar Gligoric took 1st place on tiebreak over Oscar Pomar in the Hollywood International tournament. The event was played at Mama Weiss' Czardas Restaurant in Beverly Hills. Herman Steiner took 3rd place, followed by Arthur Dake, Lionel Joyner, Jim Cross, Isaac Kashdna, W. Pafnutieff, Ray Martin, and Mrs. Graf-Stevenson. George Koltanowski was invited to play in the event, but a feud between him and Steiner prevented that from happening.

In 1952, M.O. Meyer and R.I. Richards tied for 1st place in the Sacramento City Championship.

In 1952, Winston Strong won the Fresno Chess Club Championship.

In 1952, F. Byron, C. Capps and J. Schmitt tied for 1st in the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Championship.

In 1952, the California State Chess Federation (CSCF) was formed.

In 1952, the 19th annual North-South match, held in San Luis Obispo, was won by the North, 32 to 27. The North has now won 11 times, the South has won 5 times, and there has been a tie 3 times.

In 1952, Ray Martin won the California Rapid Transit Championship, held in San Luis Obispo, with the score of 22-3. 2nd place went to Sven Almgren. 3rd place went to Irving Rivise.

In 1952, L. Woolfe won the Stockton Chess Club Championship.

In 1952, Hans Zander won the Inglewood Chess Club Championship. 2nd place went to Abe Freeman.

In 1952, Robert Burger won the Central California Chess League Tournament, held in Modesto. 2nd place went to M.O. Meyer.

In 1952, Irving Rivise took 1st place on tiebreak over Ray Martin at the Southern California Championship, held in Los Angeles. Eugene Levin took 3rd place.

In 1952, Dimitry Polikoff took 1st place in the Northern California Championship, held in San Francisco. 2nd place went to Henry Gross, followed by C.M. Capps.

In September 1952, Irving Rivise and Henry Gross tied for the 19th California State Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco. Eugene Levin took 3rd place, followed by Neil Falconer, Ray Martin, Dimitry Poliakoff, Robert Burger, and Arthur Spiller.

In September 1952, Sven Almgren won the California Open Championship, held in Santa Barbara. 2nd-6th were Pete Veliotes, P.D. Smith, Steve Smale, March Eucher, and M. Gordon.

In 1952, Larry Evans defeated Herman Steiner 10-4 in a U.S. Championship match held in Los Angeles.

In 1952, Alva Larsen won the San Gabriel Open, played in Pasadena, with a perfect 9-0 score. Edward B. Adams and Syvertsen tied for 2nd-3rd.

In 1952, the first tournament of the Chess Friends of Northern California was held in San Francisco. Val Zemitis won in the top division, followed by Jim Meyers and Henry Gross.

In 1952, J. Wolfe of UCLA won the first California Intercollegiate Championship,held in Los Angeles. 2nd place went to C. Marko of LA State.

In 1952, Eugene Rubin won the Cosmo Chess Club Championship in Los Angeles with a perfect 9-0.

In 1952-53, Arthur Spiller and Louis Spinner tied for 1st in the Los Angeles County Championship, held in Los Angeles. Irving Rivise took 3rd place, followed by Sven Almgren.

In 1953, Isaac Kashdan won the 20-player Hollywood Invitational with the score of 18.5-0.5. 2nd place went to Eugen Levin, followed by Herman Steiner.

In 1953, the USCF awarded the 1954 U.S. Open to Hollywood. A month later, the USCF Tournament Committee rescinded that award. The reason for the change was a fundamental disagreement between the Committee and the Hollywood sponsors. The Hollywood plan was to have the Open in a number of sections. The sponsors were to raise a large prize fund so as to guarantee cash prizes and extra money for the Master Section to attract master chess players. Prizes for the other sections were to be trophies only. The plan was rejected by the USCF, and they awarded the site to New Orleans (won by Larry Evans).

In 1953, Henry Gross won the Northern California Open in San Francisco. 2nd place went to Bill Addison, followed by Dimitry Poliakoff and R. Currie.

In August 1953, Herman Steiner won the Southern California Qualifying Tournament with a perfect 10-0 score. 2nd-3rd went to H. Gordon and J. Wolfe, followed by L. Remlinger, R. Gross, and S. Mazner. The tournament was held in Hollywood.

In September 1953, Herman Steiner won the 20th California State Championship, held at the Hollywood Chess Group headquarters in Los Angeles. Henry Gross took 2nd place, followed by William Addison, Sven Almgren, Robert Currie, Hyman Gordon, Irving Rivise, Dmitry Poliakoff, Robert Burger, and J. Wolfe.

In September 1953, Eugene Levin won the California Open Championship, held in San Jose. He won on tiebreak over P. Lapiken. Both had a 6-1 score. 3rd through 5th went to V. Pafnutieff, M. Gordon, and J. Alexander,

In 1953, Henry Gross won the Chess Friends of Northern California championship.

In April, 1954, the Hollywood Chess Group held the 1st official California Women's Championship, organized by Herman Steiner. The winner was Mrs. Sonja Graf-Stevenson, scoring 8-0. 2nd-3rd place went to Mrs. Gregor Piatigorsky and Lena Grumette.

In 1954, Ojars A. Celle won the Sacramento City Championship.

In 1954, Herman Steiner won the California Open, held in Santa Barbara. Jim Schmitt took 2nd. There were 81 players.

In 1954, Sven Almgren won the Los Angeles County Championship on tiebreak over Harry Borochow. 3rd-4th place went to Louis Spinner and R.W. Banner.

In 1954, the San Jose Chess Club won the Central California Chess League on tiebreak over the Sacramento Chess Club. Robert Burger won the individual championship tournament.

In 1954, the Hollywood Chess Group organized the Second Pan-American Chess Congress. It was won by Arthur Bisguier. 2nd place went to Larry Evans. 3rd-4th place went to Nicolas Rossolimo and Herman Steiner.

In June-July 1954, the U.S. Junior Championship was held in Long Beach. Ross Siemms of Toronto, Canada took 1st place. 2nd place went to Larry Remlinger. 3rd-4th went to Saul Yarmak and Charles Kalme. There were 44 players from 10 states and Canada.

In 1954, William Addison won the Northern California Open. 2nd place went to Dmitry Poliakoff, followed by James Schmitt.

In 1954, the annual North-South match was won by the North by the score of 38-20.

In 1954, Robert Currie won the Golden Gate Chess Club Championship in San Francisco. William Addison, Henry Gross, and Robert Konkel tied for 2nd-4th.

In 1954, Irving Rivise (1918-1976) won the Southern California Championship. 2nd-3rd place went to Ray Martin and Robert Cross.

In 1954, Roy Russell won the Atascadero Chess Club Championship.

In 1954, Herman Steiner won the California Open, held in Santa Barbara. 2nd place went to Jim Schmitt, followed by Val Zemitis, Isaac Kashdan, Sven Almgren, and Vladimir Pafnutieff.

In November 1954, Herman Steiner won the 21th California State Championship, scoring 7.5 out of 9. 2nd-3rd went to Dmitry Poliakoff and Eugene Levin, followed by Irving Rivise, Ray Martin, James Schmitt, William Addison, Milton Meyer, and Robert Cross. The event was held in San Francisco.

On November 25, 1954, Diane Savereide was born.

On December 6, 1954, Peter Prokoodin died in San Francisco at the age of 66. He founded the Russian Chess Club in 1931 and served as its president for 20 years.

On December 10, 1954, J.C. McReady died at the age of 80. He was a member of the Mechanics' Institute for 45 years.

In 1954, Lou Domanski won the championship of the Cosmo Chess Club in Los Angeles.

In January 1955, the Southern California Chess League was formed. The club members were Hollywood, Beverly Hills, City Terrace, Cosmopolitan, Inglewood, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Valley, North American Aviation, and Water & Power. Most of the meetings were at the Hollywood Chess Club, which was the strongest club, which included Grandmaster Isaac Kashdan.

On January 17, 1955, Terry Crandall was born in Pasadena.

In the summer of 1955, the Mechanics' Institute CC defeated the Log Cabin CC with the score of 6-1.

In May, 1955, George Koltanowski set a new U.S. record by playing 110 boards at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. He won 89, drew 17, and lost 4 in 12 hours and 10 minutes of continuous play. The event was sponsored by the Chess Friends of Southern California.

In 1955, James Schmitt won the first official San Francisco Championship after a playoff with Henry Gross. 3rd place went to William Addison.

From August 8-20, 1955, the 56th U.S. Open was held in Long Beach. 1st place prize was a 1955 Buick (a Ford-Mercury was advertised before the tournament) worth $3,000. It was won by Nicholas Rossolimo on tiebreak over Samuel Reshevsky. Reshevsky won $1,000 for 2nd place. Donald Byrne took 3rd place, followed by Larry Evans and Abe Turner. Sonja Graf won the women's title. There were 156 players in this 12-round event.

In September 1955, William Lombardy, James Sherwin, and Abe Turner tied for 1st place in the San Diego Open.

In 1955, J.O. Thomas was the Inglewood Chess Club Championship.

In 1955, William Addison won the Golden Gate Chess Club Championship in San Francisco. 2nd-3rd place went to Gilbert Ramirez and Carroll Capps.

In 1955, Eugene Levin won the Southern California Championship.

In 1955, Herman Steiner won the California Open, held in Fresno. 2nd-3rd went to Roger Smook and Ray Martin.

In 1955, Henry Gross won the North California Championship, held in San Francisco. 2nd place went to Walter Pafnutieff. 3d place went to William Addison.

On November 25, 1955, International Master Herman Steiner, who was born in 1905, died at the age of 50. He came home from the 5th round (his score was 4 wins and one loss) of the 22nd California State Championship in Los Angeles and postponed his 6th round game, scheduled for that evening, because he felt unwell. At 9:30 PM, while being examined by his doctor, he was stricken by a massive coronary occlusion and died. Out of respect to Steiner's memory, the State Championship was cancelled. Steiner's final game was a draw against William Addison.

When Herman Steiner died in November 1955, the Hollywood Chess Group was headed and managed by Jacqueline de Rothschild Piatigorsky (1911- ), wife of world-renowned cellist Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976). The club was renamed the "Herman Steiner Chess Club," in memoriam to Herman Steiner.

In 1955, Isaac Kashdan became chess editor of the Los Angeles Times.

In 1956, Gilbert Ramirez won the California Open.

On June 27, 1956, Larry Christiansen was born in Riverside. He became a grandmaster in 1977.

In 1956, Samuel Reshevsky gave a simultaneous display in Los Angeles. One of the players that got a draw from him was Humphrey Bogart.

In 1956, Sonja Graf-Stevenson (1908-1965) won the California Women's Championship, held at the Herman Steiner Chess Club in Los Angeles. Lina Grumette (1908-1988) was 2nd and Jacqueline Piatigorsky was 3rd.

In 1956, Nancy Roos of Los Angeles tied for 1st in the U.S. Women's Championship with Gisel Gresser.

On July 18, 1956, Dr. Walter Romaine Lovegrove died in San Francisco at the age of 86. He won the first California championship in 1891. He was born in 1869.

In November 1956, Gilbert Ramirez won the 23rd California State Championship, held in San Francisco.

On December 15, 1956, Adolf (Adolph) Fink died in San Francisco at the age of 66. He was a life member of the Mechanics' Institute. He was California State Champion three times (1922, 1928, and 1929) and co-champion, with Herman Steiner, in 1945. He was born in 1890.

On January 14, 1957, Humphrey Bogart died. He was an enthusiastic chess player, subscribed to CHESS REVIEW and CHESS LIFE, and was a chess director for the USCF and for California.

In 1957, Gilbert Ramirez won the California Open Championship.

In February, 1957, Samuel Reshevsky played 77 opponents simultaneously in Los Angeles, winning 54, drawing 21, and losing 2 (to John McMilland and Dr. Sam Naiditch).

On April 6, 1957, Nancy Roos died in Los Angeles.

In 1957, Southern California beat Northern California 37-36.

In July, 1957, Robert Fischer (2298), age 14, won the U.S. Junior Championship, held at the Spreckels-Russell Dairy auditorium in San Francisco. He won 8 games and drew one (to Gilbert Ramirez). Gilbert Ramirez of San Francisco was 2nd. Stephen Sholomson of Los Angeles was 3rd. There were 33 players, directed by George Koltanowski. Fischer also won the speed championship. Fischer won a typewriter for his efforts. Ramirez won a radio.

On July 23, 1957, Kim Commons was born in Lancaster. He became an International Master in 1976.

On July 26, 1957, Nicholas deFirmian was born in Fresno. He became a grandmaster in 1985.

On September 24, 1957, William B. (Pat) Patterson died at the age of 51. He helped establish the Palmdale Chess Club.

In 1957, Jim Schmitt won the California Open.

In November 1957, Jim Cross won the 24th California State Championship, held in Los Angeles. Sonja Graf-Stevenson (1914-1968) won the Women's Championship.

On September 25, 1958, (William) John Donaldson was born in Los Angeles. He became an International Master in 1983.

In 1958, Fritz Leiber won the Santa Monica Open. Gordon Palmer took 2nd.

In November 1958, Charles Bagby won the 25th California State Championship, held in San Francisco. 2nd place went to Bill Addison. 3rd place went to Irving Rivise, followed by Joe Mego, Phil Smith, Saul Yarmak, Gordon Palmer, and Arthur Wang.

In 1959, the Herman Steiner Chess Club moved to its third location, 8371 Beverly Blvd, West Hollywood. It was located in a converted upstairs three-bedroom apartment, or "duplex."

In 1959, Richard Shorman was editor of the Oakland YMCA Chess Bulletin.

In 1959, Dudley Hosea of San Diego died. He was a noted supporter and promoter of the game in the area.

In September 1959, Tibor Weinberger of Glendale won the California Open chess championship in Fresno. He tied with Robion Kirby with a 6-1 score, but won on tiebreaks. There were 123 players.

In November 1959, Tibor Weinberger won the Southern California chess championship, held in Los Angeles.

In December 1959, Tibor Weinberger won the 26th California State Chess Championship, held in Los Angeles. Zoltan Kovacs and James Cross tied for 2nd-3rd.

In 1960, Arthur Wang of Berkeley won the California Junior Chess Championship.

In 1960, Harry Borochow was California State Membership chairman.

In September 1960, the California Open was won by Zoltan Kovacs, scoring 6.5 out of 7. 2nd place went to L. Simon, followed by Walter Cunningham, Tom Fries, Irving Rivise, William Carr, Imre Barlai, and A. Keyes.

In November-December 1960, Zoltan Kovacs won the 27th California State Chess Championship, held in San Francisco. Sven Almgren took 2nd place. 3rd-4th went to Bill Addison and Irving Rivise, followed by Julius Loftsson, Tibor Weinberger, John Blackstone, Frank Hufnagel, Carl Diecesn, and Herb Dastell.

On December 13, 1960, George Koltanowski played 56 games blindfolded in San Francisco. He won 50 and drew 6.

In the 1960s, the Herman Steiner Chess Club was consistent first prize winners in team chess matches for the annual Los Angeles Team Matches. Members of the Steiner Chess Club included club regulars such as Jack Moskowitz, Carl Pilnick (1923- ), Irving Rivise (1918-1976), Morris Gordon, William Addison (1933-2008), Tibor Weinberger (1932- ), and Jim Lazos.

In 1961, the Piatigorskys purchased a property at 8801 Cashio Street. on the Westside of Hollywood, just south of Beverly Hills. They commissioned Frank Loyd Wright, Jr. (1890-1978) to design a chess venue to accommodate chess tournaments of 150 players or more. The place was used for the 1961 Fischer-Reshevsky match (Jose Ferrer was the master of ceremonies) and the 1962 California Junior Championship. The place also put on large simuls by Samuel Reshevsky, Svetozar Gligoric, Larry Evans, and others.

In 1961, Stephen Matzner won the California Collegiate Championship.

In February 1961, Tibor Weinberger won the first annual open chess tournament of the Westchester Chess Fiesta, held at Loyola University in Los Angeles. He tied with Leslie Simon with a 5-1 score, but won on tiebreaks.

In 1961, Isaac Kashdan was elected president of the California State Chess Federation.

In 1961, Walt Cunningham won the California Junior Championship.

In June 1961, Leslie Simon won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Santa Monica. 2nd-6th place went to Tibor Weinberger, Jerry Hanken, Ronald Gross, Zoltan Kovacs, and Irving Rivise.

In 1961, Dr. Max Schlosser won the 1st San Bernardino Chess Club Championship.

In 1961, Erik Osbun won the Northern California Open.

In 1961, Samuel Reshevsky and Bobby Fischer played a match in Los Angeles, under the sponsorship of Jacqueline Piatigorsky. Jose Ferrer served as master of ceremonies at the opening game.

In 1961, Gordon Barrett (1921-2010) began editing the Terrachess bulletin in Southern California.

In August 1961, the 62nd U.S. Open was held in San Francisco, due to the work of Guthrie McClain. The winner was Pal Benko, scoring 11-1. Zoltan Kovacs of Los Angeles took 2nd place.

In September 1961, Stephen Sholomson won the California Open, held in Fresno. Tibor Weinberger and John Jaffray tied for 2nd-3rd.

In November 1961, Ray Martin won the Southern California championship, held in Los Angeles. He won on tiebreaks over Jerry Hanken.

In December 1961, Tibor Weinberger and Irving Rivise tied for 1st in the 28th California State Championship, held in Los Angeles. Walt Cunningham took 3rd place.

In December 1961, Tibor Weinberger won the Santa Monica Open, scoring 7-1. Robert Jacobs took 2nd place.

In February 1962, Tibor Weinberger won the 2nd annual Westchester Open, held at Loyola University in Los Angeles.

In 1962, Irving Rivise and Tibor Weinberger tied for 1st in the 29th California State Championship, held at the Herman Steiner Chess Club in Los Angeles.

In 1962, Emil Bersbach won the San Bernardino Open.

In 1962, Roy Hoppe won the Mechanics' Institute Open.

In 1962, the Mechanics' Institute won the Bay Area Chess League.

In 1962, William Addison won the Southern California Open. 2nd place went to Saul Yarmak.

In 1962, Walter Cunningham won the California Open. 2nd place went to William Addison.

In June 1962, the annual North-South match was held in Fresno. The North team won for the fifth year in succession, scoring 29-14.

In 1962, Wilson Alza won the South California Amateur Open.

In 1962, Anthony Saidy won the Los Angeles Metropolitan Open.

In 1962, D. Conwit won the Monterey Park Chess Club Championship.

In 1962, Boris Bylinkin won the Downey Chess Club Championship.

In 1962, Charles Henin won the Riverside Open.

In 1962, William Addison won the Santa Monica Open.

In 1962, N. Robinson won the Herman Steiner Invitational.

In 1962, Thomas Heimberg (1937-2006) won the Mechanics' Institute Open. He was a violist with the Oakland and San Francisco Symphony.

In December 1962, William Addison won the 29th California StateChampionship, held at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco. 2nd place went to Irving Rivise. 3rd place went to Peter Cleghorn.

In February 1963, Larry M. Evans won the 3rd annual Westchester Fiesta in Los Angeles.

In February 1963, William Addison won the Los Angeles County Speed Championship, held in Santa Monica. He scored 16-1. Leslie Simon took 2nd place.

On February 12, 1963, Doug Root was born in Long Beach.

In 1963, Anthony Saidy won the Herman Steiner Chess Club Championship. 2nd place went to William Addison.

In 1963, the Steiner Chess Club won the Los Angeles Chess League Championship.

In 1963, Northern California beat Southern California by the score of 21-18.

In 1963, Stephen Matzner won the California Collegiate Championship.

In 1963, Robert Jacobs won the San Bernardino Open.

In 1963, D. Ragozin won the Los Angeles Individual High School Championship.

In 1963, J. Blackstone won the California Junior Championship.

In May 1963, Zoltan Kovacs won the San Fernando Valley Open in Encino on tiebreak over Ray Martin. Tibor Weinberger took 3rd place.

In June 1963, Anthony Saidy won the Los Angeles Open, played at the City Terrace Chess Club. 2nd place went to Jerry Hanken, followed by Sven Almgren.

In 1963, J. Murphy won the Whittier Chess Club Championship.

From July 2-28, 1963, World Champion Tigran Petrosian and Paul Keres tied for 1st at the Piatigorsky Cup Tournament. It was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. 3rd-4th went to Najdorf and Olafsson. 5th went to Reshevsky. 6th went to Gligoric. 7th-8th went to Benko and Panno. Bobby Fischer was invited, but he requested a $2,000 appearance fee. His invitation went to Pal Benko. Isaac Kashden directed the event. One of the spectators at the first Piatigorsky Cup was Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), who took some chess literature home with him.

In September 1963, Irving Rivise won the California Open, held in Fresno. He won on tiebreaks over Tibor Weinberger (2nd place on tiebreak) and Julius Loftsson (3rd place on tiebreak). All scored 6-1.

In 1963, the California masters included William Addison, Peter Cleghorn, Robert Cross, Walter Cunningham, Morris Gordon, Charles Henin, Robert Jacobs, Zoltan Kovacs, Julius Loftsson, IStephen Matzner, rving Rivise, Anthony Saidy, and Tibor Weinberger.

On February 17, 1964, Arthur Stamer died in San Francisco. He won the Mechanics' Institute Chess Championship in 1905 and 1923.

In March 1964, Roy Hoppe won the 12th Northern California Championship, played in Oakland.

In March, 1964, Walter Cunningham won the California Collegiate Championship. John Blackstone took 2nd place.

In April, 1964, Walter Harris won the Sacramento City Championship.

In April, 1964, Janis Salna won the first Walnut Creek Open championship.

By 1964, the Herman Steiner Chess Club on Beverly Blvd ended and players migrated to the site on Cashio St.

In 1964, William Addison won the Herman Steiner Chess Club Championship. Julius Loftsson took 2nd place.

In 1964, Northern California beat Southern California by the score of 29-19.

In 1964, Duncan Suttles won the Southern California Open.

In 1964, Professor E. B. Adams, age 85, won the San Gabriel Valley Open.

In 1964, Hans Poschman and Robert Pellerin founded the Fremont Chess Club.

In 1964, Norman Wood won the San Francisco Championship.

In 1964, Martin Morrison and Elwin Meyers became the editors of En Passant, the newsletter of the Oakland Chess Club.

In 1964, Martin Morrison resurrected the Berkeley YMCA Chess Club.

In 1964, Bobby Fischer gave simultaneous exhibitions in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Davis, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, and Ventura.

In 1964, the Herman Steiner Chess Club sponsored part of Bobby Fischer's great simul tour of the USA. Fischer played 50 opponents at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood. The board fee was $3.50 and $1 for spectators. Fischer won 47, drew 2 (Andy Sacks and Nicholas Enequst), and lost one game (Donn Rogozin). These three players were all junior members of the Herman Steiner Chess Club.

In 1964, Allan Troy won the Bernard Oak Memorial Open in Los Angeles.

In August 1964, Tibor Weinberger won the Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica. Larry Evans, John Blackstone, Irving Riviese, and Nathan Robinson tied for 2nd-5th place.

In 1964, Robert Jacobs won the Riverside Open.

In April 1965, the Santa Monica Chess Club defeated the Herman Steiner Chess Club, scoring 9.5-6.5.

In January 1965, Arthur Wang won on tiebreak over Michale Bedord for the Northern California Championship of the Chess Friends of Northern California. The event was played in Berkeley.

In 1965, Earl Pruner won the B. Stamer Memorial Tournament at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Room in San Francisco,

In 1965, William E. Maillard won the South California Tournament of Champions.

In March, 1965, Tim Delaney won the San Bernardino Chess Club Championship.

In March 1965, Ed Kennedy and Norman Lessing tied for 1st in the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club Masters & Experts Invitational.

In July 1965, Robert Trenberth won the San Francisco Amateur Championship. Ira Pohl took 2nd place.

In July 1965, Don Sutherland won the Northern California Championship, played at the Mechanics' Institute. Carroll Capps took 2nd place.

In July 1965, Arthur Bisguier won the 4th annual Pacific Southwest Open, played in Santa Monica. 2nd place went to Carl Pilnick.

In August, 1965, Pal Benko win the 5th annual Southern California Open, played in Santa Monica. Larry Evans took 2nd place.

In September 1965, Captain John A. Hudson, of Mather AFB, won the California State Open, played in Fresno. He won on tiebreak over John Blackstone. Both scored 6-1.

In September, 1965, Ira Pohl won the Bay Area Championship.

In 1965, David Blohm won the California Junior Championship.

In October 1965, the 4th annual Central California Open and Qualifying Tournament was won by David Blohm on tiebreak over Frank Thornally, William Haines, and Arthur Wang. The event was played in Sacramento.

In 1965, Don Young won the San Gabriel Open in Pasadena.

In November 1965, Tibor Weinberger won the Riverside Open, scoring 6-0. 2nd place went to Robert Jacobs, followed by Enos Wicher.

On November 21, 1965, Pal Benko won the Mission Bay Open in San Diego with a 5-0 score. Larry Evans took 2nd place.

On November 28, 1965, Pal Benko won the 1st American Open, held at the Club del Mar in Santa Monica. 2nd-6th wnet to Larry Evans, Anthony Saidy, Robion Kirby, Irving Rivise, and James Schmitt. There were 124 players. Benko's prize was $600 and a trophy.

In 1965, Andy Sacks won the first annual Student Chess Club in Los Angeles. 2nd place went to Steve Gruen.

In December 1965, Donald Sutherland won the 32nd California State Championship, held in Los Angeles. 2nd place went to Zoltan Kovacs, followed by David Blohm, Ronald Gross, Ira Pohl, and Arthur Spiller.

In 1966, Isaac Kashdan was the President of the California State Chess Federation.

In 1966, Jim Hurt (1917-1999) founded and directed the LERA (Lockheed Employees Recreation Association) Chess Club in Sunnyvale.

In 1966, Harry Borochow became the first chess player of being elected to the Hall of Fame of the Southern California Chess League.

In 1966, Jim Tarjan won the California Junior Chess Championship.

In 1966, Ted and Ruby Yudacufski founded the Monterey Chess Club.

In March, 1966, Tim Delaney won the San Bernardino Chess Club Championship.

In April, 1966, William Maillard won the El Segundo Open.

In April 1966, Richard Schultz and Phil Smith tied for 1st in the 2nd Visalia Amateur Open.

In 1966, Rex Wilcox won the Mechanics' Institute Invitational. Alan Bourke took 2nd place.

In 1966, Raymond Ng won the Oakland Chess Club Championship.

In 1966, Borel Menas won the Northern California championship.

In May, 1966, Serge Von Oettingen and Anthony DiMilo tied for 1st in the Sacramento City Championship.

In May, 1966, Carl Pilnick won the Herman Steiner Chess Club Championship in Los Angeles.

In May, 1966, Robert Jacobs won the San Bernardino Open.

In May, 1966, the 33rd annual Northern California vs. Southern California team match, held in Fresno, was won by the North by the score of 24.5 to 15.5.

In May, 1966, Mohamed El Sayed won the Davis, California Championship.

In June, 1966, James Tarjan, age 14, won the California Junior Championship, played at the Herman Steiner Chess Club in Los Angeles.

In June, 1966, David Blohm of San Francisco, took 2nd-3rd place in the first annual U.S. Junior Championship, held in New York City. The event was won by Walter Browne. Blohm tied with Robert Wachtel.

In July, 1966, Duncan Suttles won the 3rd annual Arthur B. Stamer Memorial Tournament in San Francisco. Anthony Saidy and Earl Pruner took 2nd-3rd place.

In July, 1966, Tibor Weinberger won the Pacific Southwest Open in Santa Monica. Irving Rivise and Mike Leidner took 2nd-3rd.

In August, 1966, John Blackstone won the 16th Annual Valley of the Moon Outdoor Chess Festival at Sonoma.

In August, 1966, Charles Whitman won the Barstow, California Open.

On August 14, 1966, over 900 spectators watched the Fischer-Spassky game at the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup. It was the largest audience ever to witness a chess tournament in the United States.

On August 15, 1966, Boris Spassky won the 2nd Piatigorsky Cup Tournament, held at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. 2nd place went to Bobby Fischer. Bent Larsen took 3rd place. Portisch and Unzicker took 4th-5th. Petrosian and Reshevsky took 6th-7th. Najdorf took 8th. Ivkov took 9th. Donner took 10th. Spassky won $5,000 and Fischer won $3,000. The event had over 900 spectators, the largest audience ever to witness a chess tournament in the United States. Some of the spectators included Edward G. Robinson, Henry Fonda, Richard Boone, Joan Blondell, Rhonda Fleming, Van Cliburn, Victor Borge, and Leopold Stokowski.

On August 19, 1966, Bent Larsen played a clocked simul against seven experts at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club, winning all 7 games. He then played 43 opponents, scoring 32 wins, 6 losses, and 5 draws.

In 1966, Phil Smith and Richard Schultz tied for 1st in the second annual Visalia Amateur Open.

In September, 1966, Irving Rivise won the California Open, held in Fresno. John Blackstone took 2nd place. There were 109 players.

In 1966, Harry Borochow (master emeritus) became the first player in the Southern California Chess Hall of Fame.

In 1966, Charles Henin won the Southern California Open.

In 1966, Norris Weaver won the Northern California Championship, held in Berkeley.

In October 1966, the 5th annual Central California Open and Qualifying Tournament was held in Sunnyvale. Raymond Schutt won the event.

In November, 1966, Allan Troy won the San Gabriel Valley Open, held in Pasadena. Ben Kakimi took 2nd place.

In 1966, Rex Wilcox won the Golden Gate Chess Club Championship.

In November 1966, Larry Kaufman won the 2nd American Open at Santa Monica on tiebreak over Robion Kirby.

In November 1966, Frank Thornally won the San Francisco Bay Area Championship. 2nd-4th were Erik Osbun, Ziad Baroudi, and Jairo Gutierrez.

In December, 1966, the first annual Bay Area Amateur Open Championship, held in Oakland, was won by Dennis Fritzinger. John Ulrich took 2nd place.

In December, 1966, the University of California (Berkeley) took 2nd place in the 1966 U.S. Intercollegiate Championship. The event was won by M.I.T.

In January, 1967, Charles Henin won the California State Championship, held in San Francisco. Erik Osbun took 2nd place.

In April, 1967, Anthony Saidy won the El Segundo Open.

In 1967, D. Litowsky won the Capital Coty Chess Club Championship in Sacramento.

In 1967, Richard Shorman became a chess columnist for the Hayward Daily Review.

In May, 1967, Tibor Weinberger won the San Bernardino Open. 2nd-4th place went to Anthony Saidy, Jim Tarjan, Robert Jacobs, and Sid Rubin.

In 1967, Koit Tullus won the San Jose Chess Club Championship.

In 1967, Walter Harris won the Sacramento City Championship.

In 1967, the Ernest Shields Open in Bakersfield, was won by Walter Browne (2367).

In 1967, Carl Pilnick won the Herman Steiner Chess Club Championship. Jim Tarjan took 2nd place. David Lither took 3rd place.

In 1967, Bobby Fischer stayed at Lina (Lena) Grumette's home in West Hollywood. He stayed for several months.

In May, 1967, Jugoslav Stankovic won the Golden Bear Open, held at Berkeley. 2nd place went to Frank Thornally. 3rd place went to Anthony Lee.

In May, 1967, Northern California beat Southern California by the score of 17-15. The event was held in Fresno.

In May, 1967, John Blackstone and Phil Smith won the California Rapid Transit Championship.

In June, 1967, Dave Anderson won the San Diego Open. Daniel Molnar took 2nd place.

In July, 1967, James Tarjan took 7th in the 2nd annual U.S. Junior Championship, held in New York City.

In July, 1967, Tibor Weinberger and Robion Kirby, professor of mathematics at UCLA, tied for 1st at the Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica. 3rd-5th place went to Anthony Saidy, David Andersen, and Jerry Hanken.

In 1967, Paul Heinrich won the Los Angeles High School Championship.

In 1967, Laszlo T. Binet won the Southern California Open. Carl Pilnick took 2nd.

In 1967, Norman Lessing won the Santa Monica Chess Club Championship. 2nd place went to Paul Quillen. 3rd place went to Arthur Spiller.

In 1967, Charles Henin, Jim Tarjan, and Viktors Pupols tied for 1st in the California Open.

In 1967, Walter Browne won the South California Championship. 2nd place went to Ronald Gross.

In 1967, Robert Gish won the Whittier Amateur Open.

In 1967, Norman Lessing won the U.S. Senior Championship.

In 1967, Harold Milner won the Northridge Chess Club Championship.

In 1967, Dennis Waterman won the 2nd annual San Francisco Bay Area Amateur Championship.

On August 28, 1967, Julio Kaplan won the World Junior Championship in Jerusalem.

In October, 1967, William Addison and Anthony Saidy tied for 1st in the Santa Monica International. Walter Browne took 3rd place.

In November, 1967, John Blackstone won the Northern California Championship, held in San Francisco. Ziad Baroudi took 2nd place.

In 1967, Frank Thornally and Gilbert Ramire tied for 1st in the Golden Gate Chess Club Championship in San Francisco.

In November, 1967, Jack Tanner won the Thanksgiving Open, held in Ventura.

In the 1960s, Lina Grumette ran a chess club in her West Hollywood home called The Chess Set.

In November, 1967, Dr. Anthony Saidy won the 3rd American Open in Santa Monica. 2nd-3rd went to Pal Benko and John Blackstone. Walter Browne took 4th place. There were 131 players.

In December, 1967, the highest USCF-rated California chess players were Larry Evans (2593), William Addison (2503), Anthony Saidy (2488), Charles Kalme (2455), Walter Browne (2367), Tibor Weinberger (2347), Jack Moskowitz (2342), Koit Tullus (2335), James Lazos (2316), Earl Pruner (2304), John Hudson (2303), and Zoltan Kovacs (2293). Top juniors were Walter Browne (2367), Alan Benson (2133), James Tarjan (2132), and David Blohm (2101). Top Women were Jacqueline Piatigorsky (1902), Lina Grumette (1777), and Greta Olsson (1718).

In December, 1967, the University of California (Berkeley) won the 1967 U.S. Intercollegiate Championship. Team members were Frank Thornally, Richard Laver, Steve Spencer, Mike Morris, and Sam Sloan.

In January 1968, John Blackstone won the Los Angeles County Open, held in Santa Monica. 2nd-5th place went to Tibor Weinberger, Sven Almgren, Laszlo Binet, and William Maillard.

In February 1968, Tibor Weinberger won Masters tournament in Santa Monica, scoring 6-0.

On March 3, 1968, Sammy Reshevsky won the Interzonal play-off, held at the Herman Steiner Chess Club in Los Angeles. Reshevsky beat out Leonid Stein and Vlastimil Hort.

In March 1968, Tibor Weinberger won the West Coast Open, held in Santa Monica, scoring 6-0. Paul Quillen took 2nf place.

In 1968, John Dedinsky won the Palo Alto Championship. Ira Pohl took 2nd place.

In 1968, Ted Yudacufski won the St. Patrick's Day Tournament in Monterey.

In July, 1968, James Tarjan tied for 3rd-4th in the U.S. Junior Championship, held in New York City.

In 1968, the 14th Davis Tournament was won by Serge Von Oettingen.

In 1968, K. Michael Goodall won the Central California Chess Association Regional, held in Berkeley.

In April 1968, Tibor Weinberger won the San Bernardino Open on tiebreaks. Peter Rhee took 2nd place. Bothe score 5.5-0.5.

In May 1968, Tibor Weinberger won the John Gilbreth Memorial Open Tournament in Long Beach on tiebreaks over Charles Henin. Both score 5.5-0.5 points. 3rd-5th place went to Jim Tarjan, David Andersen, and Ronald Gross.

In June 1968, the 35th annual North-South match was held in Fresno. The North won with the score of 21-9.

In June 1968, Jim Tarjan won the California Junior Championship.

In 1968, Bruce Antman won the Ventura Marina Chess Festival. Bob Reynolds took 2nd place.

In 1968, Kon Grivainis won the Contra Costa County Open, held in Concord.

In 1968, Peter Rhee won the O.H. Wentcher Memorial, formerly the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club Championship.

In July 1968, James Tarjan won the Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica, scoring 7-0. There were 197 players. 2nd-4th place went to Felipe Galvez, Larry Remlinger, and Tibor Weinberger.

In August 1968, Tibor Weinberger of Santa Monica played in the U.S. Championship in New York. The event was won by Larry Evans. Weinberger took 11th place. He defeated Herbert Seidman and drew against Nicholas Rossolimo and Bernard Zuckerman.

In August 1968, Charles Henin won the Bakersfield Open.

In September 1968, Tibor Weinberger, John Blackstone, and Gil Ramirez tied for 1st in the California Open, held in Fresno.

In 1968, John Blackstone won the Peninsula Open in Sunnyvale.

In 1968, James Tarjan won the El Segundo Open.

In 1968, Ted Yudacufski won the Monterey Amateur Open.

In 1968, Charles Henin won the Southern California Championship. Walter Browne took 2nd place.

In 1968, Walter Browne won the Long Beach Classic. Frank Thornally took 2nd place. There were 118 players.

In 1968, Allan Troy was nominated to the South California Chess League's Hall of Fame.

In 1968, John Blackstone won the Arthur B. Stamer Memorial in San Francisco. Jude Acers took 2nd place.

In 1968, Jose Salas Tossas won the San Diego Open.

In 1968, Ken Grivainis won the Monterey International Open.

In 1968, Martin Morrison created Scacchic Voice (later renamed Chess Voice).

In 1968, Charles Henin won the Ernest Shields Open, held in Bakersfield.

In November, 1968, Gary Anderson won the Thanksgiving Open in Ventura.

In 1968, Alex Sohobeck won the Monterey County Championship. In November, 1968, James Lazos won the 4th American Open, held in Santa Monica. Walter Browne and Larry Remlinger tied for 2nd-3rd. There were 160 players.

In December, 1968, 455 players entered the 2nd annual School Chess Festival in Van Nuys. Over 100 schools were represented.

In December, 1968, the highest USCF-rated players were William Addison (2456), Charles Kalme (2455), Dr. Anthony Saidy (2454), Walter Browne (2453), Tibor Weinberger (2379), Lazlos Binet (2356), Jack Moskowitz (2342), James Tarjan (2337), and John Hudson (2315). Top juniors included Browne, Tarjan, Steven Hohensee (2176), George Kane (2160), Peter Rhee (2150), and Robert Reynolds (2079).

In 1968, I. Lyon won the El Segundo Chess Club Championship. Peter Rhee took 2nd place.

In 1968, Walter Browne won the Riverside Open. John Blackstone took 2nd place.

In 1968, Donald Bicknell won the Whittier Amateur Open.

In 1968, David Forthoffer won the 3rd annual San Francisco Bay Area Amateur Open.

In 1968, Keyhecco Kahyai won the Los Angeles County Open.

In 1968 Hans Poschmann and Robert Pellerein founded the Fremont Chess Club.

In 1969, Frank Thornally won the Mechanics' Institute Invitational. David Blohm and Rex Wilcox tied for 2nd-3rd.

In 1969, David Blohm won the California State Championship, held at the Mechanics' Institute in San Francisco. George Kane and Raymond Schutt tied for 2nd-3rd.

In 1969, Robbie Newbold won the Redlands Open.

In 1969, Albyn Jones won the 5th Visalia Amateur.

In 1969, Steve Spencer won the New Year Open in Walnut Creek.

In 1969, Jose Salas Tossas won the San Diego Open.

In 1969, Sandor Racz won the Ventura County Chess Club Championship.

In March 1969, Aki Kanemori won the West Coast Open, held in Los Angeles. He scored 6-0.

In April 1969, Aki Kanemori won the 5th annual El Segundo Open. 2nd-4th place went to Tibor Weinberger, Kim Commons, and Charles Henin.

In June, 1969, James Tarjan took 2nd-3rd in the U.S. Junior Championship, held in New York City.

In 1969, Don Bicknell won the Downey Chess Club Championship.

In 1969, Philip D. Smith won the Cherry Tree Open in Monterey.

In 1969, Jude Acers (2205) won the Capital City Open in Sacramento. H. Noland took 2nd place.

In 1969, Alex Suhobeck won the Walnut Creek Open.

In 1969, Edward Kennedy won on tiebreaks at the Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica.

In 1969, Tom Lux, former U.S. Amateur Champion, won the 5th annual Monterey Open. Alex Suhobeck and Richard Fauber tied for 2nd-3rd.

In 1969, Bruce Antman won the California Junior Championship. Albyn Jones took 2nd place.

In 1969, David Amkraut won the Central California Chess Association Championship.

In June 1969, Bill Addison and Tibor Weinberger tied for 1st in the annual Bakersfield Open.

In July 1969, Earl Pruner won the 2nd Long Beach Classic. Tibor Weinberger and Jude Acers took 2nd-3rd place.

In July 1969, the Pacific Southwest Championship was held in Santa Monica. Ivars Dalberg, Ed Kennedy, Keykhosro Kahyai, and Tibor Weinberger all tied for 1st place with a 6-1 score. Ed Kennedy was declared the winner on tiebreak points.

In 1969, Fred Fornoff won the San Diego Bi-Centennial Open.

In 1969, Earl Pruner won the 6th annual Arthur B. Stamer Memorial, held in San Francisco. John Grefe and Jim Schmitt took 2nd-3rd.

In 1969, Ken Morrisey won the Otto Wentcher Memorial (Santa Monica Bay Chess Club championship). Art Spiller took 2nd place.

In 1969, Livermore won the Central California Chess Association's Summer League. Oakland took 2nd place.

In 1969, Roger Myers won the El Segundo Amateur Championship.

In September, 1969, Larry Evans played a 29-board simul at the Mechanics' Institute, winning 28 and drawing one (to Alfred Raymond).

In 1969, Ray Martin won the Ventura Marina Chess Festival.

In 1969, Anthony Hanak won the Mechanics' Institute Amateur tournament.

In 1969, Mike Ewell won the 4th Monterey County Championship. Bernard Lainson took 2nd place.

In 1969, Marlie Thomason won the 22nd annual San Gabriel Valley Open, held in Pasadena. The event is the oldest annual tournament in Southern California.

In November, 1969, William Addison won the Northern California Championship.

In November, 1969, Ray Martin won the 5th American Open, held in Santa Monica. There were 202 entries. Walter Browne, Kim Commons, and Ronald Gross tied for 2nd-4th.

In 1969, Charles Maddigan won the 4th annual San Francisco Bay Area Amateur Open.

In 1969, Don Bicknell won the Whittier Chess Club Championship.

In December, 1969, 636 students played in the 3rd annual Los Angeles Scholastic Open.

In December, 1969, the highest USCF-rated players in California were Charles Kalme (2455), Dr. Anthony Saidy (2447), William Addison (2439), Lazlos Binet (2356), Jack Moskowitz (2355), John Hudson (2346), James Tarjan (2316), and Earl Pruner (2300). Top juniors included James Tartan, Steven Hothouse (2176), Ross Stouten borough (2118), and Gary Pickle (2089).

William Addison (2492) of San Francisco took 2nd place in the 1969 U.S. Championship and won the 1969/1970 Northern California Championship.

At the end of 1969, Walter Browne, youngest and newest grandmaster, gave a 15-board simultaneous exhibition in Hayward, California. He won 14 games and lost one game, to Eric Salo.

The U.C. Berkeley team took 10th place in the 1969-70 North American Intercollegiate Championship, held in Montreal. McGill University won the event.

In the late 1960s, the major chess publication in Central California was the bimonthly SCACCHIS VOICE, edited by Martin Morrison. It was later renamed CHESS VOICE in 1970. The main chess publication in Southern California was TERRACHESS, edited by Gordon Barrett. The official publication of the California State Chess Federation was THE CALIFORNIA CHESS REPORTER, edited by Guthrie McClain.

The 1969/1970 California Chess Championship was won by Charles Henin of Sherman Oaks. David Blohm, winner of the 1968/69 California Chess Championship, took 2nd.

In 1970, the 4th annual San Francisco Bay Amateur Chess Championship was won by Charles Maddigan of Oakland.

In the early 1970s, Agustin Eastwood De Mello hosted a chess club (The Hollywood Chess Club) at his own residence in Hollywood. Hollywood also had its coffeehouses, parks, and donut shops where chess players could always find a game.

In 1970, the 22nd annual San Gabriel Valley Open, in Pasadena, was won by Marlie Thomason. The event is the oldest annual tournament in Southern California.

In 1970, the 2nd annual Cherry Tree Open, held at the Casa Alvarado Chess Center, was won by Bernard Lainson.

In 1970, The Central California Chess Association (CCCA) Class Tournament at Berkeley (The Washingtonian) was won by International Master William Addison.

In February 1970, the 3rd annual John Gilbreth Memorial Tournament in Long Beach was won by Dr. Anthony Saidy on tiebreaks over Tibor Weinberger.

In February, 1970, Grandmaster Larry Evans gave a 16-board simul in Oakland. He won 15 games and lost one game, to David Forthoffer.

On March 19, 1970, Herbert Abel, former President of the Santa Monica Chess Club, died in Santa Monica. He was 72. He founded the American Open Tournament in 1965 and organized chess tournaments in Southern California since 1945.

By the end of March, 1970, the number of California members of the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) was 2,356. A year earlier, there were a little over 1,000 USCF members in California.

In April, 1970, Robert Newbold of Riverside, won the 1970 National High School Championship, held in New York.

On April 15, 1970, Marion Arthur Sanders died. He was born in 1902 and was one of the organizers of the Stockton Chess Club and the Central California Chess League.

In April 1970, the West Coast Open was held in Los Angeles. Jim Tarjan and Tibor Weinberger tied for 1st in the event. Tarjan won on tiebreaks.

In June 1970, Bill Addison score 6-0 to win the Café Figaro Open in Hollywood. James Tarjan took 2nd place. The tournament was sponsored by Bill Cosby.

In June 1970, Ross Stoutenborough took 1st place in tiebreaks at the annual Ernest Shileds Open Tournament in Bakersfield. He tied with Alex Suhobeck and Tibor Weinberger with a 6-1 score.

In 1970, the 6th annual El Segundo Open was won by Julio Kaplan, who scored 6-0. John Grefe took 2nd place. Kaplan was World Junior Champion from 1967 to 1969.

The 1970 Sacramento Championship was won by Jude Acers.

In 1970, the Richard Reti Memorial, held in Monterey, was won by Mike Ewell and Steve Sawyer.

The 1970 California Gold Rush Tournament, held in Orange, was won by Robert Snyder. 2nd place went to William Potts.

In May, 1970, players from the Southern California area defeated players from the Northern California area with 15 wins, 11 losses, and two draws in the annual North-South match. The event was held in Santa Maria.

In May, 1970, Kenneth Morrisey won the California Junior Championship, held in Los Angeles.

In June, 1970, the 6th Annual Monterey International Open was won by Julio Kaplan (1967 World Junior Champion) on tiebreak over Grandmaster Larry Evans, and Frank Thornally, each with 5-0. Larry Christiansen was top junior.

In 1970, the 22nd Davis Championship was won by Serge von Oettingen.

In August, 1970, Julio Kaplan won the 2nd annual Central California Championship, held in Hayward. The Junior Championship was won by Craig Barnes.

The 1970 Whittier Chess Club Championship was won by John Barnard.

The 1970 CCCA Summer USCF Class Chess tournament, held in Concord, was won by Borel Menas.

The 1970 California Open, held at Ventura, was won by Tibor Weinberger. There were 165 players.

The 1970 Monterey Peninsula Chess Club Championship was won by Bernie Lainson.

In October, 1970, Robert Byrne and Larry Evans tied for 1st in the Continental Open in Los Angeles.

In 1970, the 4th annual Fight of the Bumbler Bee, held in Monterey, was won by Charles Pardini.

The 1970 San Diego Open was won by Jesus Mondragon.

In 1970, the Central California Championship, held in Sacramento, was won by Frank Thornally.

In November, 1970, Robert Byrne won the 6th American Open, held in Santa Monica.

The 1970 Monterey County Championship was won by Alex Suhobeck.

In December, 1970, California School Festival, held in Van Nuys, drew a record 873 players. The mayor of Los Angles, Sam Yorty, declared the period from December 19, 1970 as Chess Week.

The most active player in 1970 may have been Jude Acers. He played hundreds of simultaneous exhibitions and won numerous tournaments in California.

The 1970/71 California State Championship, held at Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco, was won by Charles Henin of Sherman Oaks and Dennis Fritzinger of San Francisco.

On January 15, 1971, Carroll Mather Capps, long-time benefactor of San Francisco chess, died. He was also a science fiction writer who wrote under the pseudonym of C.C. MaCapp. He was born in 1913. He was a former president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chess League. He won the Northern California and San Francisco championship several times.

The 1971 San Bernadino Chess Club Championship was won by Stephan Skrypzak.

In February, 1971, Grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric gave a 31-board simul in Oakland, winning 26, losing 4, and drawing 1 game. He then gave a 32-board simul in Monterey, winning 27, losing 4, and drawing 1 game. He then played 52 players at the West Covina and Downey Chess Clubs, winning 43 and drawing 9. He then gave a 36-board simul in North Hollywood, winning 22, losing 7, and drawing 7 games.

In February, 1971, Larry Christiansen won the Western High School Championship.

In February, 1971, Al Larsen won the Pasadena Club Championship, held at Cal Tech.

In February, 1971, Russ Stoutenborough won the Downey Open.

In March, 1971, Bill Wall won the Beale AFB Open, near Yuba City.

From March 14-20, 1971, the first Louis Statham Masters and Experts Tournament was held in Lone Pine. It was won by Larry Evans.

In April, 1971, Edward McCaskey won the 7th Visalia Amateur Open.

In April, 1971, Larry Christiansen won the 3rd Annual High School Championship, held in New York.

In 1971, Thomas Lajcik won the Simi Valley Open.

In May, 1971, the annual North-South match, held in Fresno, was won by the North, 57 to 38.

In May, 1971, the California Class Championship, held in Fresno, was won by James Tarjan.

In May, 1971, Lt Col Henry Giertych won the Beale AFB Championship. 2nd place went to Bill Wall

In May, 1971, Steven D. Cross won the Berkeley Chess Club Open Championship.

In May 1971, Ross Stoutenborough and Tibor Weinberger tied for 1st in the El Segundo Open.

In June, 1971, James McCormick won the 7th Monterey International Open Chess Tournament. 2nd-3rd went to Dennis Fritzinger and David Blohm.

In June 1971, James Tarjan won the California Class Championship, held in Fresno. The annual North-South match was also held, using games played in all the sections of the Class event. The North won 57 to 38. Another event held during the Class Championship was the annual California State Rapid Transit Championship. This was won by Tibor Weinberger.

In July, 1971, Dr. Anthony Saidy won the Pacific Southwest Open in Santa Monica on tiebreak. He scored 6-1, along with Larry Evans, Carl Pilnick, Julius Loftsson, and Tibor Weinberger

In July, 1971, Don Eilmes won the Simi Valley Chess Club Championship.

In August, 1971, Lawrence Hughes won the Central California Chess Championship, held in Hayward.

In August, 1971, the 72nd Annual US Open was held in Ventura and won by Walter Browne and Larry Evans. There were 402 players in the event.

In August, 1971, Grandmaster Florin Gheorghiu gave a 24-board simul in San Francisco, winning 20 and drawing 4 games.

In September, 1971, the 22nd Annual California Open, held in Fresno, was won by International Master Julio Kaplan. 2nd place went to Julius Loftsson. There were 118 players.

In September, 1971, Max Wilkerson won the 1st Annual San Francisco Class Tournament. There were 116 players.

The 1971 San Diego Open was won by Jesus Mondragon. Jeremy Silman took 2nd place.

In October, 1971, Julio Kaplan won the Carrol M. Capps Memorial, held at the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club. There were 81 players.

In October, 1971, Kim Commons won the Los Angeles Open. Tibor Weinberger took 2nd place.

In October, 1971, Marina High School of Huntington Beach won the first California Stated High School Team Championship.

In October, 1971, Robert Newbold won the Central Valley Open, held in Sacramento.

In November, 1971, International Master George Koltanowski gave a 30-board simul in Santa Rosa, winning 25, drawing 4, and losing 1 game (lost to Tom Henry).

In November, 1971, Carl Pilnick won the 7th Annual American Open on tiebreaks over Larry Evans, Walter Browne, Ross Stoutenborough, and David Strauss. The event, held in Santa Monica, drew 306 players.

In November, 1971, John Dedinksy won the 2nd Annual Redwood City Open.

The 1971 California State Championship, held in Sun Valley, was won by Kim S. Commons. 2nd place went to James Tarjan, followed by Dennis Fritzinger.

In December, 1971, the 6th Annual San Francisco Bay Area Amateur Open, held in Oakland, was won by Roger Gabrielson and Lester Schonbrun.

In 1971, Andy Sacks won the San Fernando Valley Open.

In 1971, the 24th San Gabriel Valley Open in Pasadena was won by Ahmad Koopal.

In 1971, David Argall won the West Covina club championship.

In 1971, Gene Olsen won the Orange Chess Club Championship.

At the end of 1971, Jude Acers gave 124 simultaneous exhibitions in 82 different cities and towns. He visited 30 states in 6 months.

In 1972, Martin Morrison received the title of FIDE International Arbiter. He was the National Secretary of the USCF.

In 1972, Craig Barnes of Berkeley won the 4th Annual U.S. High School Championship, held in New York.

In 1972, Larry Christiansen won the Western High School Championship with a 6-0 score. Craig Barnes took 2nd.

In February, 1972, Greg Francis won the Pasadena Chess Club Championship.

In 1972, Jeff Kent won the Simi Valley Open.

In 1972, Don Steers won the Los Angeles County Championship.

In March, 1972, John Barnard won the 8th Visalia Amateur Open.

In March, 1972, James Tarjan won the Berkeley Grand Prix.

In March, 1972, Grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric gave a 13-board simul at U.C. Davis. He won 11 and drew 2 games (drew with Tom Dorsch and Sergius von Oettingen).

In March, 1972, Svetozar Gligoric won the Louis D. Statham Masters and Experts Chess Tournament at Lone Pine.

In April, 1972, Vitaley Radaikin won the Marin Chess Club Championship, held in Mill Valley.

In May, 1972, Jose Mondragon won the Aztec Open in San Diego.

In May, 1972, the annual North-South match, held in Fresno, was won by the South by a score of 124-118.

In May 1972, Robert Snyder won the high school division of the 8th annual Tournament of Champions, held at Los Angeles High School.

In May 1972, Roy Ervin won the Herbert Abel Memorial Tournament in Santa Monica on tiebreak over Tibor Weinberger.

In June, 1972, R. Carl Shiflett won the Berkeley Chess Club Open.

In June, 1972, Rex Wilcox won the 8th Monterey International Open.

In July, 1972, John Grefe won the Championship of Central California.

In July, 1972, Ross Stoutenborough won the California Chess Classic, held in Los Angeles. There were 155 players.

In July, 1972, Captain John Manson won the Beale AFB Open near Yuba City. 2nd place went to Sergeant Bill Wall.   3^rd place went to Lt. Col Henry Giertych.

In August, 1972, Robert Zuk won the San Diego Open.

The 1972 California Junior Championship was won by Mark Saylor.

In September, 1972, John Grefe and Ziad Baroudi tied for 1st at the Pacific Open, held in San Francisco.

In October, 1972, David Reynolds won the Los Angeles Open.

In 1972, Robert Hurdle won the California High School Championship, followed by Chris Strong.

In 1972, the 25th San Gabriel Valley Open in Pasadena was won by Gabor Istanyi.

In November, 1972, John Grefe won the West Coast Open, held in Berkeley. There were 206 players. 2nd-3rd place went to Dennis Fritzinger and Borel Menas.

In November, 1972, Larry Remlinger of Long Beach won the 8th American Open, held in Santa Monica. There were 428 players in the event. Bobby Fischer showed up in the last round and signed autographs.

In November, 1972, the Beale AFB Open was won by Henry Giertych (1929-2002), John Manson, and John Bales.

In 1972, Roy Ervin won the Hayward Regional tournament. There were 201 players.

In 1972, Steve Sawyer began editing the CALIFORNIA CHESS TOURNAMENT BULLETIN.

By the end of 1972, the Berkeley Chess Club had over 400 USCF members.

In 1973, musician and actor Bobby Darin (1936-1973) was about to sponsor the richest chess tournament ever, the Bobby Darin International Chess Classic. However, he died during a heart operation on Los Angeles and the event was canceled. Bobby Darin was always explaining chess during his Bobby Darin show. He was playing chess just before he went into surgery. His wife, Sandra Dee, was also a chess player. Bobby Darin's son, Dodd, runs a chess publishing house.

In February, 1973, Craig Barnes won the Central California Grand Prix, held in Berkeley. 2nd place went to James McCormick. The tournament had 267 players.

In March, 1973, Arthur Bisguier won the 3rd Lone Pine International. 2nd place went to Walter Browne and Laszlo Szabo.

In March, 1973, Philip Smith won the Northern California Open, held in Sacramento.

In March, 1973, Henry Giertych won on tiebreak over William Archbold in the Beale AFB Spring Open.

In April, 1973, James McCormick, Gene Lee, Dennis Waterman, and Robert Newbold won the Western Open, held in San Jose.

In April, 1973, Kenneth Fitzgerald won the Santa Cruz Open. In April, 1973, Russell Vorpagel won the Visalia Amateur Open.

In May, 1973, Diane Savereid won the Southern California Women's Championship, held in Hollywood, with a 6-0 score. Lima Grumette took 2nd.

In June, 1973, Larry Christiansen (2390) of Riverside won the 1973 U.S. Junior Championship, held in San Francisco. Mark Diesen took 2nd.

In June, 1973, Romeo Rodriquez, James McCormick, and Max Burkett won the San Anselmo Open.

In June, 1973, Lt Col Henry Giertych won the Beale AFB Ch. Bill Wall and John Manson took 2nd-3rd place.

In June, 1973, Takashi Kurosaki won the California Junior Championship, held in San Francisco.

In July, 1973, Craig Barnes won the 10th Annual Stamer Memorial in San Francisco.

In July, 1973, Kim Commons won the Paul Masson American Class Championship, held in Saratoga. 2nd-3rd went to John Dedinsky and Roy Ervin. The tournament had 537 players.

In July, 1973, David Strauss won on tiebreak over Walter Browne in the California Chess Classic, held in Los Angeles.

In July, 1973, John Williams won the Simi Valley Chess Club Championship.

In August, 1973, Jeff Kent won the San Diego Open. There were 158 players.

In August, 1973, Paul Stang won the Fort Ord Championship.

In September 1973, Walter Browne won the Golden West Open, held in Los Angeles. There were 347 players. 2nd place went to Kim Commons.

In September 1973, Tibor Weinberger won on tiebreak over Boris Siff and James McCormick in the California Open, held in Monterey. All scored 6-1.

In September, 1973, John Grefe of Berkeley won the 22nd U.S. Chess Championship, held in El Paso. He tied with grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek.

In 1973, the California State Championship was won by David J. Strauss.

In September, 1973, Ruben Rodriguez won the Pacific Coast Open, held in Los Angeles. There were 144 players.

In 1973, the 4th Redwood City Open was won by Boral Menas.

In November, 1973, James Tarjan won the 9th American Open. Kim Commons took 2nd, followed by Ruben Rodriguez. There were 403 players.

In 1973, Walter Browne won the 3rd Los Angeles Open. Anthony Saidy took 2nd place. There were 116 players.

In 1973, the 3rd California High School Championship was won by Scott Stewart.

In 1973, the Monterey Park Chess Club Championship was won by Ming-Farn Chen.

In December, 1973, Alex Suhobeck won the Monterey Coast Classic.

In March, 1974, Walter Browne won the 4th annual Louis D. Statham Tournament in Lone Pine.

In April, 1974, Svetozar Gligoric won the Los Angeles International (Eagle Rock). Florin Gheorghiu and Julio Kaplan took 2nd-3rd, followed by Edmar Mednis.

In 1974, Larry Christiansen won the San Bernadino Open.

In 1974, Nick DeFirmian won the 1st Cal Poly Open.

In July, 1974, Larry Christiansen or Riverside tied with Peter Winston in the U.S. Junior Championship, held in Philadelphia.

In July 1974, the annual Pacific Southwest Open was held in Santa Monica. James Ulrich won the event on tiebreak with a 6-1 score, The others that scored 6-1 were William Batchelder, Julius Loftsson, Tibor Weinberger, Ray Martin, and Alan Pollard.

In 1974, the 10th Monterey International Open was won by Russo-American master Alex Suhobeck.

In 1974, Jeremy Silman won the San Francisco Championship.

In 1974, Randall Hough won the Riverside Chess Club Championship.

In 1974, the LERA Peninsula Class Championship, held in Sunnyvale, was won by Dennis Waterman.

In 1974, John Milton won the San Rafael Open.

In 1974, E4 Van R. Vandiver won the Fort Ord Championship.

In September, 1974, Lewis Castle won the Beale AFB Open.

In November, 1974, Kim Commons and Peter Biyiasas won the 10th American Open.

In 1974, George Koltanowski of San Francisco became president of the United States Chess Federation.

In 1974, Peter Prochaska was the founding chaiman of CalChess (The Northern California Chess Association) and the first General Director of the National Chess League.

From 1975 through 1977, Lina Grumette of Hollywood published New Move chess magazine.

In April 1975, James Tarjan won the Western Qualifying Tournament in Hollywood. Tibor Weinberger took 2nd place.

In April, 1975, Vladimir Liberzon won the 5th Louis D. Statham Masters-Plus Chess Tournament at Lone Pine.

In July 1975, Peter Biyiasis won the Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica. Kim Commons took 2nd place.

In August 1975, Walter Browne won the 3rd annual Paul Masson tournament near Saratoga. Peter Biyiasis took 2nd place. It was the largest outdoor chess tournament ever held, with 735 players.

On September 30, 1975, Charles Bagby died in San Francisco. He had been a member of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club since 1938. He was born in 1903.

In October 1975, Jeff Kent and Tibor Weinberger tied for 1st place at the championship tournament of The Chess Set of West Hollywood.

In November, 1975, Kim Commons and David Strauss won the 11th American Open. Strauss later became an International Master, but quit competitive chess and became involved in medical research (life expectancy studies) and was professor of statistics at the University of California.

In March, 1976, Tigran Petrosian won the 6th Lone Pine International.

In 1976, CHESS 4.5 won the Paul Masson "B" Class Championship in Saratoga with a 5-0 score.

On August 6, 1976, Gregor Piatigorsky died. He was born in 1903.

On September 27, 1976, Irving Rivise died in Los Angeles. He was a former California State champion and former vice president of the United States Chess Federation. He was born in 1918

In November, 1976, Walter Browne, Yasser Sierawan, and John Pike won the 12th American Open.

In March 1977, Yuri Balashov, Dragutin Sahovic, Oscar Panno, and Nona Gaprindashvili won the 7th Lone Pine International.

In March 1977, Jack Peters won the Southern California Invitational Championship, held in Hollywood.

In June 1977, the strongest championship tournament of the Santa Monica Bay Chess Club was held. John Peters, Roy Ervin, Allan Pollard, and Tibor Weinberger all tied for 1st place.

In July 1977, James Tarjan won the annual Pacific Southwest Open, held in Santa Monica. He scored 6-0. 2nd place went to Calvin Blocker.

In 1977, the Southern California chess championship was held in Hollywood, and won by Jack Peters.

In 1977, the California State Chess Federation was broken up into the Northern California Chess Federation and the Southern California Chess Federation.

In November 1977, the 13th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Jack Peters and Cicero Braga.

In April 1978, Bent Larsen won the 8th Lone Pine International.

In November 1978, the 14th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by David Strauss and Paul Whitehead.

In 1979, Glorin Gheorghiu, Vladimir Liberzon, and Vlastimil Hort won the 9th Lone Pine International.

In 1979, LeRoy Johnson died at the age of 84. He was president of the California Chess Federation for 10 years.

In 1979, the Southern California chess championship was held in Hollywood, and won by Vince McCambridge and Julius Loftsson.

In 1979, Jeff Long won the Southern California Open Championship, held in West Covina.

In 1979, Yassar Seirawan won the US Junior Invitational championship, held in Hollywood.

In November 1979, the 15th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Perry Youngworth.

In March 1980, Roman Dzindzichashvili won the 10th Lone Pine International.

In April 1980, Viktor Korchnoi win the 11th and last Lone Pine International.

In 1980, Doug Root and Perry Youngworth won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Los Angeles.

In 1980, John Grefe won the California State Championship.

In November 1980, the 16th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Walter Browne, John Grefe, and David Strauss.

In 1981, Kamran Shirazi won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Los Angeles.

In July 1981, James Tarjan and Jack Peters tied for 1st in the annual Pacific Southwest Open in Santa Monica.

In August 1981, the 82nd U.S. Open was held in Palo Alto. Tied for 1st place were Florin Gheorghiu, Larry Christiansen, Jeremy Silman, Nick de Firmian, and John Meyer.

In 1981, John Grefe won the California State championship.

In November 1981, the 17th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Nick de Firmian and John Watson.

In 1982, the Berkeley Chess School was formed.

In 1982, Doug Roor and James Tarjan won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Anaheim.

In 1982, John Grefe won the California State championship.

In November 1982, the 18th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Jack Peters, James Tarjan, and Ian Rogers.

In 1983, Louis Statham died.

In 1983, Kamran Shirazi won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Los Angeles.

In 1983, the 84th US Open was held in Pasadena. Larry Christiansen and Viktor Korchnoi tied for 1st place.

In November 1983, the 19th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Larry Christiansen, David Strauss, and Nikolai Minev.

In 1984, Kamran Shirazi won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Los Angeles.

In November 1984, the 20th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Jack Peters and Igor Ivanov.

In 1985, Kamran Shirazi won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Pasadena.

In November 1985, the 21st American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won byYasser Seirawan, Igor Ivanov, and David Strauss.

In 1986, Larry Remlinger and Dan Durham won the Southern California Open Championship, held in San Diego.

In November 1986, the 22nd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Lev Alburt, Walter Browne, and Boris Gulko.

In 1987, Doug Root won the title of Southern California Open Champion on tiebreak, held in Commerce. Victor Frias of New York won the event, but was not a California resident.

In November 1987, the 23rd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Yasser Seirawan.

In 1988, California was split into Northern California and Southern California for representation to the United States Chess Federation.

In 1988, Kamran Shirazi won the Southern California Open Championship, held in Long Beach.

In November 1988, the 24th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Jack Peters.

In 1989, Jack Peters won the Southern California Invitational Championship, held in Commerce.

In November 1989, the 25th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Gata Kamsky, Larry Christiansen, Maxim Dlugy, Walter Browne, and Nick de Firmian.

In November 1990, the 26th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Walter Browne and Igor Ivanov.

In the 1990s, National Master Robert Snyder ran several tournaments in the area and taught chess to Will Smith and Nicholas Cage and family.

From March 2-14, 1991, the Pan Pacific Grandmaster Chess Tournament was held in San Francisco. The event was won by Eugene Torre. 2nd place went to Patrick Wolff. 3rd-6th went to Mikhail Tal, Joel Benjamin, Ian Rogers, and Larry Christiansen. 7th place went to John Fedrorowicz. 8th-10th place went to Utut Adianto, Lubomir Ftacnik, and Susan Polgar. 11th place went to John Grefe. 12th place went to Walter Browne.

In 1991, Jennie Frenklakh won the California Elementary Scholastic championship.

In August 1991, the 92nd US Open was held in Los Angeles. Michael Rohde and Vladimir Akopian tied for 1st place.

On October 1, 1991, Sam Shankland was born in Berkeley, California.

In November 1991, the 27th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Joel Benjamin.

In November 1992, the 28th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Cris Ramayrat, Jeremy Silman, David Strauss, and Anthony Siady.

On October 20, 1993, Harry Borochow died.

In November 1993, the 29th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Loek Van Wely.

In 1994, Joseph Neale was a postal worker who was dismissed from a part-time city job coach coaching chess as a community center in Riverside, California. He took his grudge to City Hall where he shot the mayor, three members of the Council, and two policemen in 1998. 11 other people sustained minor injuries from flying glass. None of the shots were fatal.

In November 1994, the 30th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Dmitry Gurevich.

In 1995, Christopher Black won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In August 1995, the 96th US Open was held in Concord. The winner was Alex Yermolinsky.

In 1995, John Grefe won the California State championship.

In November 1995, the 31st American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Igor Ivanov.

In November 1996, the 32nd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Alex Yermolinsky.

In 1997, Steve Jacobi won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 1997, Izumikawa won the Northern California Chess Championship.

In November 1997, the 33rd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Alex Goldin, Igor Ivanov, and Walter Browne.

In 1998, Albert Rich won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In November 1998, the 34th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Cyrus Lakdawala and Pavel Blatny.

In 1999, Alexander Levitan won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In November 1999, the 35th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Eduard Gufeld.

In 2000, Kavyashree Mallanna won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2000, the Southern California Chess Championship was held in Hollywood, and won by Cyrus Lakdawala and Jack Peters.

In November 2000, the 36th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Andranik Matikozyan.

In 2000, Alexander Levitan won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2001, Levon Altounin won the Southern California championship.

In November 2001, the 37th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Melikset Khachiyan.

In 2002, Frisco Del Rosario won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2002, Ricardo DeGuzman won the CalChess State Championship.

In November 2002, the 38th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Pavel Blatny and Yuri Shulman.

In January 2003, the Los Angeles Chess Club was officially established by Senior Master Mick Bighamian in the West Los Angeles area on Santa Monica Blvd.

In June 2003, Adrian Keatinge-Clay won the 30th Arthur Stamer Memorial.

In August 2003, Lev Pisarsky won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In August 2003, Alan Bishop and Matthew Robertson tied for 1st at the San Luis Obispo County Championsip.

In September 2003, Dmitry Zilberstein won the CalChess (Northern California) State Championship in San Francisco. He won on tiebreaks over Timothy Taylor andTigran Ishkhanov

In 2003, the 104th US Open was held in Los Angeles. The winner was Alexander Shabalov.

In November 2003, the 39th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Suat Atalik, Varuzhan Akobian, and Pavel Blatny.

In November 2003, the 37th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Melikset Khachiyan.

In 2004, Albert Rich won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In Septembert 2004, Vladimir Mezentsev won the CalChess State Championship. 2nd place went to Ricardo DeGuzman. 3rd place went to John Donaldson.

In November 2004, the 40th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Melikset Khachiyan.

In 2005, GM Walter Browne of Berkeley won the U.S. Senior Open.

In 2005, Albert Rich won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In September 2005, Alex Yermolinsky won the CalChess State Championship, held in San Francisco.

In November 2005, the 41st American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Vladimir Mezentsev.

In November 2005, Cusi and De Guzman tied for 1st in the 35th Carroll Capps Memorial.

In December 2005, Leah Koltanowski died in San Francisco at the age of 99. She was the wife of George Koltanowski.

In 2006, Mike Splane won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2006, Josh Friedel won the CalChess State Championship.

On September 22, 2006, Hans Poschmann died at the age of 73.

In November 2006, the 42nd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by David Pruess and Melikset Khachiyan.

In 2007, Mike Splane won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2007, Josh Friedel won the CalChess State Championship.

In November 2007, the 43rd American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Alex Yermolinsky.

In 2008, Sam Shankland won the CalChess State Championship.

In 2008, Mike Splane won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

On October 29, 2008, Bill Addison died.

In November 2008, the 44th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Melikset Khachiyan.

In 2009, Frisco Del Rosario won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell.

In 2009, Sam Shankland won the CalChess State Championship.

On October 1, 2009, Jerry Hanken died from complications of diabetes.

In November 2009, the 45th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Melikset Khachiyan on tiebreak over Andranik Matikozyan, and Julian Landaw.

In July 2010, Ricardo DeGuzman won the Sacramento Championship.

In July 2010, Mike Splane won the Kolty Chess Club championship in Campbell

In August 2010, the 111th US Open (Jerry Hanken Memorial) was held in Irvine. The winner was Alejandro Ramirez. 2nd-5th were V. Akobian, A. Shabalov, Julio Sadorra, and D. Naroditsky.

In September 2010, Jesse Kraai won the CalChess (Northern California) State Championship in San Francisco. 2nd-3rd went to Steven Zierk and Saku Uesugi.

In October 2010, Jesse Kraai won the Bay Area Chess California Class Championhip in Burlingame.

In November 2010, the 46th American Open, held in Santa Monica, was won by Josh Friedel, Melikset Khachiyan, and Enrico Sevillano.

In 2010, Samuel Sevian of Santa Clara became the youngest chess master in the U.S. at the age of 9. He was born on December 26, 2000. He became an expert at the age of 8 years and 64 days. He was rated 2201 at the age of 9 years, 11 months and 15 days.

In 2011 and 2012, Sam Shankland was California Chess Champion.

In 2013, San Francisco police shut down sidewalk chess.  Chess had been played on the streets of San Francisco on Market street for over 30 years.  In August 2013, the San Francisco Police Department began to confiscate chess playing equipment, chairs and tables  where dozens of people mostly homeless, would gather every day to play chess.

In 2016, the first Women's California Chess Championship was held in Berkeley.  The winner was National Master Uyanga Byambaa.

In 2018, Woman International Master Ruth Haring died.  She lived in Chico, California.

In 2020, the America Open and other major Californai chess tournaments were cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.