July 09 1946
Local Man Downed In Chess Tourney 09 Jul 1946, Tue Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
LOCAL MAN DOWNED IN CHESS TOURNEY
Pittsburgh—(AP)—Pre-tourney favorites coasted along to easy victories in first-round games of the United States Chess Federation's National Open Tournament here Monday, with 58 persons playing, the biggest entry list ever seen in the event.
Pennsylvanians playing included Durwood B. Hatch of Altoona, who lost to Harry Fajans of New York City; Leroy Guthridge of York, who bowed to Judge B. C. Jenkines of Gary, Ind., and Thomas B. Eckenrode, of Lancaster, who had the misfortune to face grandmaster Abraham Kupchik of New York as his first opponent.
Among those who won their games handily were Anthony Santasiere of New York City, defending champion; Herman Steiner of Los Angeles; and Herbert Seidman and Abraham Kupchik, both of New York. All four of these were members of the U. S. team which played Russia by radio last fall.
Also coasting along to victories were such notables as Weaver W. Adams of Dedham, Mass., New England champion; and Frank Yerhoff, Canadian champion.
George Koltanowski, world blindfold champion of New York, had a tough time with Hans Berliner, 17-year-old Washington expert, but finagled a piece on the 29th move and accepted a resignation on the 34th. Miguel Aleman, Cuban champion, was held to a draw by Ernest W. Strang of Camden, N. J.
Pittsburgh's mayor David L. Lawrence moved the first pawn to start the tourney, which will consist of eight preliminary and seven final rounds, the last to be played July 20.
