Chess Trivia I
Max Harmonist (1864-1907) was a German chess master and a royal ballet dancer. In chess, he beat Blackburne, Gunsberg, Mieses, Paulsen, and Tarrasch. Despite being a professional ballet dancer, he suffered from cerebral palsy.
Dr. Elmer E. Southard (1876-1920) was a noted neurologist of Boston. He represented his college (top board at Harvard) in the intercollegiate chess matches, and scored 24 wins out of 24 games in the four annual contests of his collegiate career. He was able to play 6 chess games blindfolded simultaneously. At Danvers State Hospital, he introduced a move he called the Danvers opening – 1.e4 e5 2.Qh5. (source: Chess Review, Jan 1933, p. 10)
On September 3, 1900, the first Western Chess Association (the first U.S. Open) was held in Excelsior, Minnesota. The winner was Louis Uedemann (1854-1912). He won it again in 1902.
On May 20, 1901, German chess master Johannes von Minckwitz (1843-1901) died by suicide in Leipzig. On May 17, 1901, he threw himself underneath an electric train in Germany and lost both arms. He died 3 days later. He had been suffering mental and psychological problems. (sources: Chicago Daily Tribune, May 20, 1901, p. 20 and British Chess Magazine, July 1901, p. 281)
On June 10, 1902, six passengers on the American liner SS Philadelphia and one passenger (Paul Ginther) on the Cunard liner SS Campania 80 miles away in the Atlantic played the first match by radio, transmitting their moves by wireless operators aboard the ships. The match was not concluded after 21 moves and several hours since the radios were needed for navigational use and the ships failed to reestablish communications. Later, the SS Philadelphia played other ships, winning its chess games, and claiming to be the first mid-ocean wireless chess champion. (sources: The New York Times, June 15, 1902 and Jan 19, 1903, Champaign County Gazette, June 21, 1902, p. 9, and The Argus, Jan 21, 1903)
In 1903, Colonel Charles Moreau (1837-1916) had the worst score ever in a chess tournament, scoring 0 out of 26 games in Monte Carlo. He was allowed to play in this international event because he was on the tournament organizing committee.
In 1904, the chess cable matches between the United States and England was halted due to the Russio-Japanese ware, which made arrangements for the cabling too difficult. The cables were filled with battle reports and diplomatic necessities, with no time to allow chess cable matches. There were no Anglo-American cable chess matches for three years.
On January 6, 1905, chess master Frank Marshall (1877-1944) married Caroline “Carrie” Krauss in New York. The next day, they sailed for Paris where Marshall was to play a chess match. At the time, the Marshall Chess Club had only one woman member. (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1971, p. 316)
In 1906, the first national chess correspondence association, the British Correspondence Chess Association (BCCA), was formed.
In June 1907, the New York State Chess Championship was played aboard the ship S.S. Alexandria, a steam paddle boat. It sailed between Charlotte, New York and Quebec. The winner was Julius Finn.
In July 1908, the first chess game by wireless telegraphy between groups of players on two ocean liners (Campania and Oceanic) was played in the Atlantic Ocean. The game was a draw.
In 1909, Eliza Foot (1851-1914) wrote a book on chess puzzles, becoming the first American woman chess author. She was President of the Women’s Chess Club in New York. She was later killed by a hit-and-run driver in New York City.
In 1911, the last cable match between the US and UK was played. UK defeated the USA team 6-4 in the 13th cable match. Britain, having won three matches in succession, took permanent possession of the silver Newnes Cup, offered in competition by Sir George Newnes (1851-1910) several years earlier.
In June 1912, a tournament in Budapest was held with 6 masters. Milan Vidmar won the most games but finished last. Frank Marshall only won one game and finished first. (source: Chess Review, Oct 1933, p. 18)
In September 1913, Jose Capablanca obtained a post in the Cuban Foreign Office. He was expected to be an ambassador-at-large for Cuba. His official title was "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary General from the Government of Cuba to the World at Large." He had no specific duties except to play chess around the world. In October 1913, he departed for St. Petersburg to take up his duties as chancellor of the Cuban embassy.
On Aug 2, 1914, the last round of Mannheim tournament, 19th German Chess Federation Ch was played. Alekhine led by 9.5 - 1.5, followed by Vidmar and Spielmann. After the declaration of war, eleven "Russian" players (Alekhine, Bogoljubov, Bogatyrchuk, Flamberg, Koppelman, Maljutin, Rabinovich, Romanovsky, Saburov, Selezniev, Weinstein) were interned in Rastatt, Germany. On September 14, 17, and 29, 1914, four of them (Alekhine, Bogatyrchuk, Saburov, and Koppelman) were freed and allowed to return home via Switzerland. Romanovsky was freed and went back to Petrograd in 1915, and a sixth one, Flamberg was allowed to return to Warsaw in 1916.
In 1915, one of the first Hollywood silent films to depict a chess scene may have been A Fool There Was, was filmed. It was directed by Frank Powell and starred Theda Bara (1885-1955) as the Vamp, one of the first sex symbols of the early 20th century.
In 1916, Siegbert Tarrasch and Jacques Mieses played a chess match in Berlin. The prize was 1/2 pound of butter. Tarrasch won 9-4.
In 1917, Alexander Alekhine was an investigator in Moscow for Centrorosysk, a government agency that located relatives who had disappeared during the Russian Revolution and Civil War.
In 1918, Ossip Bernstein (1882-1962) was arrested and imprisoned by the Cheka (Bolshevik secret police) in Odessa, during the Russian Civil War. Bernstein’s crime was his role as a legal advisor to bankers. There was no court trial. A minor official had a firing squad line up Bernstein and a number of other prisoners against a wall to be shot. A superior official appeared and asked to see the list of prisoners’ names. Discovering Ossip Bernstein on the list, he asked Bernstein if he was the famous chess master. Not satisfied with Bernstein's affirmative reply, he made him play a game with him. If Bernstein lost or drew, he would be shot. Bernstein won in short order and was released. Soon, he escaped on a British ship and settled in France.
In June
1919, Alexander Alekhine was briefly imprisoned in
In 1920, the first All-Russian Chess Olympiad was held in Moscow. The competitors stopped halfway through the event, went on strike, and refused to play any more chess unless they were given more food rations and prize money. Their demands were finally met.
On February 1, 1921, the American state department and the American consulate in Berlin refused to give a visa to world champion Emanuel Lasker and his wife for his proposed trip to the United States and Cuba to meet Capablanca. Lasker planned on going to Cuba via New York, but the State Department refused to give Lasker a visa for any American port city because of his German background. Lasker then made arrangements to travel via Amsterdam direct to Havana. (source: The Des Moines Register, Feb 2, 1921)
In January 1922, Frank Marshall played 155 games simultaneously in Canada, winning 126, drawing 21, and losing 8 games in 7 hours. After the exhibition, he was able to recall 153 of the 155 games. (source: Chess Review, Feb 1933, p. 4)
In 1932, the first Mexican chess tournament of international character was held in Mexico City. Alexander Alekhine and Isaac Kashdan tied for 1st. The first Mexican Open was held in 1954. The first Mexican Championship was in 1973, won by Mario Campos Lopez. (source: Chess Review, Jan 1933, p. 3)
In 1932, George Koltanowski (1903-2000) played 160 boards simultaneously, winning 135, drawing 18, and losing 6.
In 1933, the Grossdeutsche Schachbund, a new German chess federation was formed. Dr. Joseph Goebbels (1897-1945), the German Minister of Propaganda, was the honorary President of the Schachbund. Jews were excluded from chess tournaments, chess clubs, and café playing rooms. (source: Chess Review, Sep 1933, p. 5)
In 1936, Germany, who was not a member of FIDE, held an unofficial Chess Olympiad in Munich. It was called the “Extra Olympiad.” 21 teams played. Hungary won all its matches and came first with 110.5 games points. Poland took 2nd with 108 points. Germany took 3rd with 106.5 points. The USA declined entry. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1971, p. 7)
In 1939, at the start of World War II, FIDE shut down completely until 1946. At its 1946 FIDE Congress, there were only 7 members present. (source: Chess Life & Review, Feb 1971, p. 64)
In Dec 1969, the 5th Annual Greater New York Chess Congress attracted 813 players, the largest chess tournament in U.S. history at that time. In 1971, the 4th annual School Chess Festival in Van Nuys, California drew a record 873 players. (source: Chess Life & Review, Mar 1971, p. 132, 146)
From Nov 9 to Dec 12, 1970, the 8th FIDE Interzonal Tournament was held I Palma de Mallorca. Bobby Fischer won the event scoring 18.5 out of 23 (24 players). Huebner, Larsen, and Geller all scored 15 to tie for 2nd-4th. Fischer scored 3.5 points ahead of them. Fischer’s only loss was to Bent Larsen. Fischer won 15 games and drew 7 games. Fischer was voted “Player of the Year” and received the “Chess Oscar.” This was the last Interzonal held as a one-section round robin. Tickets to the event was 22 cents. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1971, p. 8)
In 1970, Charles Walter won the South Carolina Closed Championship at the age of 16, the youngest state champion ever. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1971, p. 20)
In 1970, there were 75 countries that were members of FIDE. There were 65 grandmasters in the world. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1971, p. 25, 29)
In 1970, a Japanese chess team participated in a Chess Olympiad for the first time, at Siegen. At the time, the Japanese Chess Federation had about 500 members. (source: Chess Life & Review, Feb 1971, p. 75)
In 1970-71, Boris Spassky played 50,000 opponents. His opponents, picked from the readers of a Soviet newspaper for juveniles, played 2 games by mail, the majority of votes determining each move, the majority of votes determining each move. Spassky drew one game and won one game. (source: Chess Life & Review, Nov 1971, p. 634)
In 1970-71, a chess computer (CHESS 3.0) played 3rd board for Northwestern University “C” team at the North American Intercollegiate, held at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Players from other teams argued that since the computer had no student ID card, it could not play. However, the machine was given a free USCF membership, so it played. It won 2 games and lost 6. (source: Chess Life & Review, Mar 1971, p. 150)
The 1971 National Open was held at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks (East Reno), Nevada from March through March 12, 1971. There were $3,300 prizes guaranteed. First prize was $700. Entry fee was $25. Hotel prices were from $7.35 to $15.75. It was sponsored by the Staunton Chess Club in Sparks. The event was won by Larry Evans on tiebreak as 7 players tied for 1st place. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1971, p. 1 and May 1971, p. 238)
In March 1971, the top US players were Fischer (2771), Kavalek (2564), Lombardy (2541), Evans (2539), Benko (2539), Reshevsky (2527), and Robert Bryne (2511). (source: Chess Life & Review, Mar 1971, p. 156)
In 1971, there were 89 grandmasters. The USA had 11 GMs. The USA only had 5 of its 225 International FIDE Judges. (source: Chess Life & Review, April 1971, p. 189)
In April 1971, Larry Christiansen (1956- ), rated 2075, was the first Junior High School student to win the National High School Championship, held in New York. He was in 9th grade at the time. He went on to win 3 invitational U.S. Junior Championships in 1973, 1974, and 1975. In 1972, he won the Western High School Championship, scoring 6-0. (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1971, p. 294 and July 1971, p. 394)
In June 1971, the top US players were Fischer (2771), Kavalek (2571), Lombardy (2541), Evans (2539), Reshevsky (2527), Benko (2517), and Arthur Bisguier (2503). (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1971, p. 327)
In 1971 an international chess tournament in Sarajevo had 70% of the games ending in a draw. GM Damjanovic played 15 draws in 15 games. Another GM offered draws to nearly every opponent before each game. Three players had 13 draws each. 53 games were less than 20 moves. In the final round, each of the leaders played just 10 or 12 moves draws to assure the tie and receive some prize money. (source: Chess Life & Review, July 1971, p. 366)
In 1978, Nona Gaprindashvili (1941- ) became the first woman to be awarded the FIDE title Grandmaster. She is married but retains her maiden name. She does not take her husband’s last name, Chichikadze.
Miguel Najdorf of Argentina was a general agent for the Jackson National Life Insurance Company, which was headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. (source: Chess Life & Review, Sep 1971, p. 491)
In 1971 the 72nd US Open was held at the Seaside Park in Ventura, California from August 8 to August 20, 1971. There were $6,000 guaranteed prize fund. First place was $1,500. Entry fee was $30. Campers or trailers was $2.50 per day for hookup for water and electricity. Hotel costs were from $ to $13.00. Walter Browne and Larry Evans tied for 1st. (source: Chess Life & Review, May 1971, p. 231)
In Oct 1971, the top US players were Fischer (2801), Kavalek (2571), Lombardy (2541), Evans (2536), Reshevsky (2527), Benko (2517), and Robert Byrne (2507). (source: Chess Life & Review, Oct 1971, p. 579)
In 1971, at the Canadian National Exhibition Open in Toronto, one of Walter Browne’s opponents tried to fluster him in a time-pressure scramble by banging a queen down on the side of the board (a pawn was close to promotion). Browne picked up the queen and flung it across the room. (source: Chess Life & Review, Dec 1971, p. 698)
In 1971, Werner Hug of Switzerland won the 11th World Junior Championship, held in Athens. He was the first player from Switzerland to hold a world title. (source: Chess Life & Review, Dec 1971, p. 710)
From Nov 25-28, 1971, the 7th annual American Open was held with a $3,500 prize fund. It was held at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. First place was $1,000. Entry fee was $20. Hotel rooms were from $14 to $16. The winner was Carl Pilnick on tiebreak with 5 players scoring 7-1. (source: Chess Life & Review, Sep 1971, p. 488 and Mar 1972, p. 136)
The 1972 National Open was held Mar 5-10 in Sparks, Nevada. Entry fee was $30. The prized fund was $3,400. Hotel rooms were from $7.35 to $12.60. Walter Browne and Louis Levy tied for 1st. (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1972, p. 3)
In 1971, Harlow Daly (1883-1979), age 87, played in the New England Open. He had competed in this event every year since he won the New England title in 1908. His chess career lasted 75 years. (source: Chess Life & Review, Mar 1972, p. 138)
In Jan 1972, the top US players were Fischer (2825), Kavalek (2573), Evans (2548), Reshevsky (2544), Lombardy (2538), Benko (2513), and Robert Byrne (2493). (source: Chess Life & Review, Jan 1972, p. 37)
In Dec 1971, the 7th Annual Greater New York Chess Congress drew a record 941 players. The event was held at the Hotel McAlpin in Manhattan. (source: Chess Life & Review, Apr 1972, p. 230)
In Aug 13-25, 1972, the 73rd US Open was held at the Hotel Shelbourne in Atlantic City, NJ. The prize fund was $6,500, with 1st place being $1,500. Entry fee was $30. The event was won by Walter Browne (2558). (source: Chess Life & Review, May 1972, p. 273 and Nov 1972, p. 674)
In 1971, Rachel Crotto (1958- ), age 12, became the youngest ever to play in the U.S. Women’s Championship. In 1972, at age 13, she became the youngest to play in the U.S. Women’s Closed Championship. She won the U.S. Women’s Championship in 1978 and 1979. (source: Chess Life & Review, May 1972, p. 282)
In 1972, Larry Evans had to miss his final chess game at Lone Pine because his wife, Ingrid, was in a car wreck. She was driving from their home in Reno to Lone Pine before the final round, which happened to fall on her birthday. She met with a car accident suffering a few bruises, but the car was totaled. Louis Statham, the organizer of the Lone Pine tournament, arranged for a driver to take Evans to her. (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1972, p. 334)
In June 1972, the top US players were Fischer (2824), Reshevsky (2566), Evans (2552), Kavalek (2550), Lombardy (2538), Robert Byrne (2534), and Benko (2517). (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1972, p. 374)
The 1972 U.S. Chess Championship included 14 participants instead of the previous 12. It also ended in a tripe tie for 1st, which had not happened before. (source: Chess Life & Review, Aug 1972, p. 480)
The 8th Annual American Open was held Nov 23-26, 1972 at the Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. It had a prize fund of $3,500 and $1,000 for 1st place. Entry fee was $20. Hotel rooms were from $14 to $16. (source: Chess Life & Review, Sep 1972, p. 534)
In Sep 1972, the top US players were Fischer (2824), Reshevsky (2566), Kavalek (2550), Kane (2540), Lombardy (2538), Robert Byrne (2524), Evans (2520), and Benko (2505). (source: Chess Life & Review, June 1972, p. 374)
In 1952, there were 1,127 USCF members. In 1959, there were 3,820 members. In 1969, there were 13,000 members in the USCF. By late 1972, there were 34,000 members. (source: Chess Life & Review, Nov 1972, p. 671)
Sir George Alan Thomas (1881-1972) won the British chess championship twice in 1923 and 1934. He won the All-England badminton championship 21 times. In 1911, he reached the quarterfinals of the singles and the semifinals of the men’s tennis doubles at Wimbledon. He was also a strong hockey player. His mother was the winner of the first Ladies Championship, held in connection with the Hastings Tournament in 1895. (source: Chess Life & Review, Nov 1972, p. 716)
In Dec 1972, the top US
players were Fischer (2810), Reshevsky (2581), Kavalek (2571), Robert Byrne
(2558), Evans (2540), Lombardy (2537),
and Benko (2522). (source: Chess Life & Review, Dec 1972, p.
776)
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