AJanuary 01 1928
Philadelphia Chess League 01 Jan 1928, Sun The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
Play is progressing in the Philadelphia Chess League. The following two matches have been played.
Ridley Park vs. Mercantile Library
S. Mlotkowski, 1-0.
March 18 1928
Pennsylvania State Championship 18 Mar 1928, Sun The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
The Pennsylvania State Championship Tournament was held at the Mercantile Library last month. We give the score of the first four rounds.
… S. Mlotkowski, 1 …
April 08 1928
April 08, 1928. The Pennsylvania State Tournament has been finished, the first prize and championship being won by D. G. Weiner. Mr. Weiner also captured the championship last year.
It might be noticed that S. Mlotkowski, who was a very close second, had defeated Weiner in the eighth round, but in the final play-off Weiner won. It is a pity the State championship turned on one game. It would have been more interesting had these two strong players played a short match, say the winner of the first three games, to decide the championship.
June 03 1928
June 03, 1928. Played in the recent Mercantile Library Championship Tournament.
Stasch Mlotkowski (white) vs. Elihu S. Maguire (black)
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Carlsbad Variation
June 24 1928
Mercantile Library Championship 24 Jun 1928, Sun The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
We give the following game from the Mercantile Library championship tournament. The play will be found most entertaining, first, because a player of Mlotkowski's ability should have fallen into a trap so early in the game, and secondly, because of his ability for converting a dead lost game into a draw.
(a) This defense is known as the Wing Gambit. Personally, we believe the attack inferior to the regular lines for White against this defense.
(b) This move is unusual, but certainly transfers the attack to the Black forces. The regular continuations are PxP, which move is questionable as yielding White a fair attack for the Pawn sacrificed or P-K3.
(c) White should now have continued B-N2. The text move was an oversight.
(d) Chu now correctly points out that B-B3 should win for Black.
Stasch Mlotkowski (white) vs. H. Honlin Chu (black)
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation
July 12 1928
July 12, 1928. Bradley Beach Looms as Mecca For Chess Players of World; National Meet in September. Unless sail signs fail, Bradley Beach, the select resort for vacationists on the New Jersey coast, may take its place in chess history alongside of Cambridge Springs, Pa., Atlantic City and Lake Hoptcong. If all goes well, the second congress of the National Chess Federation will be held there in September, right after Labor Day. […] First to be considered, of course, is the national tournament for the Federation championship, which will be limited to ten invited players. The list given out by Dr. Lederer, the tournament director, includes the names of Edward Lasker, A. Kupchik, O. Tenner, I. Kashdan, I. Horowitz, F. Tholfsen, all of New York City; S. D. Factor and L. J. Isaacs of Chicago; R. D. Banks of Detroit, and S. Mlotkowski of Trenton, N. J. The reserves are O. Frink Jr., M. A. Schapiro and A. S. Pinkus of New York; R. T. Black of Schenectady, and I. S. Turover of Washington, D. C.
August 16 1928
August 16, 1928. Entries for Bradley Beach. Edward Lasker, former New York State and Western champion, announced yesterday his acceptance of the invitation to participate in the forthcoming annual championship tournament of the National Chess Federation, to be held at the Hotel La Reine, Bradley Beach, N. J. on September 5 to 18. According to Dr. N. L. Lederer, tournament director, other acceptances have been received from S. Mlotkowski of Trenton, N. J. …
September 06 1928
September 06, 1928. (1, 2) Chess Tournament Opens With Upset. … An eventful Ruy Lopez, played by Turover against Mlotkowski, resulted in a draw after 51 moves. Turover, after winning a pawn, made an unsound sacrifice of a bishop, but, having all told three pawns in return for the piece, he was able to avert defeat.
September 07 1928
September 07, 1928. Tied For Lead. Bradley Beach, Sept. 7—Edward Lasker of New York and Samuel D. Factor of Chicago are tied for first place in the annual championship tournament of the National Chess Federation at the Hotel La Reine. Lasker won yesterday over S. Mlotkowski of Camden, N. J.. the other winners being A. Kupchik, champion of the Manhattan Chess Club and L. J. Isaacs, Chicago. I. Horowitz, New York City, the youngest entrant, lost to Factor in twenty-six moves.
September 09 1928
September 09, 1928. Bradley Beach, N. J. Horowitz, therefore, is practically on even terms with S. D. Factor of Chicago and Edward Lasker of Manhattan, who are leading. Factor lost his first game today to Mlotkowski of Camden, N. J., while Lasker defeated Oscar Tenner.
September 11 1928
September 11, 1928. Fail To Break Tie in Chess Matches. A Kupchik, champion of the Manhattan Chess club, is fourth in the race. Yesterday he defeated Oscar Tenner of New York. The other winner was S. Mlotkowski of Camden, N. J., who conquered Lewis J. Isaacs of Chicago. … With a pawn down and the weight of the position against him as well, Tenner did not last long after resumption of play and Kupchik scored in forty-four moves. Soon afterward Mlotkowski placed his game with Isaacs to his credit in thirty-nine moves. … The pairings for the sixth and semi-final round today are Kupchik vs. Lasker, Turover vs. Tenner, Mlotkowski vs. Horowitz and Isaacs vs. Factor
September 12 1928
September 12, 1928. Manhattan Chess King Takes Lead in Meet. The match between Isaac Horowitz of New York and Sidney Mlotkowski of Camden, N. J., adjourned after sixty-one moves.
September 13 1928
Chess Championship Is Won By Kupchik 13 Sep 1928, Thu Buffalo Evening News (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com
CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP IS WON BY KUPCHIK
Mlotkowski Is Second in Tourney at New York.
BRADLEY BEACH, N. J. Sept 13 (U.P)—Abraham Kupchik, New York, won the national chess championship yesterday by defeating S. Mlotkowski, Camden, N. J. In the final round of National Chess federation tournament at the Hotel La Reine.
Edward Lasker of New York divided the second and third prizes with Israel Horowitz, also of New York. The former defeated Samuel D. Factor, Chicago and the latter drew with Oscar Tenner of New York.
September 13, 1928. Boro Chess Players Win Prizes at Bradley Beach; A. Kupchik New Champion. With a first prize and part of the second and third, Brooklyn players fairly monopolized the honors of the second annual congress of the National Federation of the United States which came to a conclusion at the Hotel Lariene last night. … There were three king's gambits—two offered by Oscar Tenner and one by S. Mlotkowski. … The King's gambit has made its reappearance in the tournament arena, thanks to the courage of Oscar Tenner and S. Mlotkowski. The former, however, came to grief when he tried it on Edward Lasker, who turned the tables on Tenner in approved fashion.
Kupchik Wins Championship 13 Sep 1928, Thu The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) Newspapers.com
BRADLEY BEACH (N. J.), Sept. 12.—(AP)—Abraham Kupchik of New York tonight became chess champion of America by one-half a game margin. He won five games and lost two, the decisive victory being his defeat of Stasch Mlotkowski of Camden, who finished sixth in the general scoring. Kupchik was awarded prize money of $500 and a gold medal of the National Chess Federation.
One of the longest games of the tourney was the one played by Mlotkowski prior to his defeat by the champion. The game lasted 12 hours, comprised 91 moves and ended in a draw.
September 18 1928
September 18, 1928. What Nimzowitsch of Copenhagen was to the New York tournament of 1927, Stasch Mlotkowski of Camden was to the national competition at Bradley Beach. Of all the participants he was the most conspicuous. Here perhaps the similarity ends. Nimzowitsch hated smoke and when, to please him, Dr. Vidmar laid aside his cigar, the Russian complained that his opponent plainly longed for it. That excited his highly sensitive artistic temperament.
Mlotkowski's Fine Memory. While Nimzowitsch caused the tournament director many an anxious moment, such a charge could not be laid at the floor of Mlotkowski. He gave no trouble whatsoever. And yet he is a unique character. Of Polish ancestry, Pennsylvania claims him as a native son. Tall and wiry, with finely chiseled features and intelligent eyes of a greenish gray, he reminds one not a little of the late Harry Pillsbury. The famous New Englander had a remarkable memory.
Mlotkowski does not forget easily. He has facts and figures at his finger's ends and there is nothing in the line of chess analysis that he cannot locate at a moment's notice.
The man from Camden is a bit hard of hearing, and this fact encouraged him to keep to himself much of the time. He is easily approachable and a good mixer in chess company. At other times he seems to live in a world apart.
Is Incessant Smoker. The opposite of Nimzowitsch, he is an incessant smoker. Cigarettes are his constant companions and they seem to give him solace. Not one of his fellow players was quite so high strung as this somewhat gaunt figure of a Jerseyman.
As a smoker he is quite in a class by himself. There is none other with whom he may be classified. Inhaling deeply with a long sigh, Mlotkowski then proceeds to exhale the smoke in a series of about a dozen short puffs, accompanied by a guttural sound that has to be heard to be properly appreciated.
It is as though a miniature steam engine were working overtime. What Nimzowitsch would say to such goings-on can well be imagined. If his objection were not sustained, he surely would take the first steamer back to Europe.
Beyond the raising of an eyebrow and an occasional quiet smile, this patent method of wooing Goddess Nicotine did not seriously threaten the harmony of the national chess congress.
Fidgety At Board At the board Mlotkowski is fidgety. He crosses his legs and at times folds his arms. Anon he leans back, surveying the board from afar and casting a furtive glance at the adversary seated opposite. His left hand grips the pencil, when not used for noting moves.
He affects the squint so common to persistent smokers. He was the first to head off Factor of Chicago. When he had dispatched him in a short game, he lay down upon a sofa. It was not long before sonorous snores rent the quiet of the playing room.
No one disturbed him, and not a player registered a complain. Stasch Mlotkowski has a saving sense of humor, and in his quiet way makes many friends. And in this brief existence how can one's efforts be expended to a better purpose?
September 20 1928
Not Up to Expectations. 20 Sep 1928, Thu The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York) Newspapers.com
Not Up to Expectations.
Oscar Tenner, equipped perhaps as well as any of the contestants in a general working knowledge of the game, was the enigma of the Bradley Beach tournament. It was confidently expected that he would do, much better. He had to be content with one win against Mlotkowski, but in the last round he gave Horowitz not a little worriment and drew with him a game that had a bearing on the distribution of the prizes. Mlotkowski annexed a well-earned point at the expense of Isaacs of Chicago.
Oscar Tenner vs Stasch Mlotkowski
2nd NCF Congress (1928), Bradley Beach, NJ USA, rd 3, Sep-07
Vienna Game: Stanley Variation (C26) 1-0
Stasch Mlotkowski vs Lewis J Isaacs
2nd NCF Congress (1928), Bradley Beach, NJ USA, rd 5, Sep-10
King's Gambit: General (C30) 1-0
Chicago Stopped Short
Samuel O. Factor of Chicago started out bravely enough by winning his games in the first three rounds at Bradley Beach. His early successes included a victory no less over Kupchik, the ultimate winner of the tournament. Then, however, he came a cropper in the fourth round, and it was S. Mlotkowski of Camden who was responsible for checking him.
Samuel Factor vs Stasch Mlotkowski
2nd NCF Congress (1928), Bradley Beach, NJ USA, rd 4, Sep-08
Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation (D37) 0-1
November 09 1928
Cable Chess Match To Be Played Here 09 Nov 1928, Fri Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.com
CABLE CHESS MATCH TO BE PLAYED HERE
Washington and London Teams Meet by Telegraph Link Tomorrow.
In commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the World War armistice, an international cable chess match will be played between the six best players of Washington and London, beginning tomorrow morning at 8:45 o'clock.
The match will be formally opened from Room 231 National Press Building by exchange of greetings between prominent Englishmen and Secretary of State Kellogg, Frank B. Noyes, president of the Associated Press; Robert N. Harper and others.
The local team will be composed of A. W. Fox, I. S. Turover, N. S. Perkins, S. Mlotkowski and the United States tournament champion, N. T. Whitaker. Mr. Whitaker is expected to play the British champion, F. D. Yates. Play will continue all day until 7 p.m. when unfinished games will be adjusted by the Amsterdam Chess Club.
This is the third match for the Insull Trophy. London defeated Chicago, 4-2, in 1926, and in 1927 won from New York by the same score.
November 10 1928
In the latter part of November two more rounds were played in the Philadelphia Chess League, the results being as follows: Played Nov. 20 at Mercantile Library — S. Mlotkowski.
Chess Experts Hold Cable Match 10 Nov 1928, Sat Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.com
CHESS EXPERTS HOLD CABLE MATCH
Capital Team Plays With Londoners at Rate of 20 Moves an Hour.
An international chess match between Washington and London started this morning and will continue until 7 p.m.
Twenty moves an hour by each of the six players on each team are being transmitted by cable. The Washington team is playing in the National Press Building.
The players are matched as follows, the Washington player first: S. Mlotkowski vs. A. Y. Yates, N. T. Whitaker vs. R. R. Mitchell, I. S. Turover vs. V. Buerger, N. S. Perkins vs. W. Winter, J. W. Byler vs. E. G. Seargant, F. B. Walker vs. M. C. Goldstein.
Edward Lasker, noted chess expert of Chicago, is acting as umpire for the London team, making the moves on the boards here as they are cabled across.
Before the play started, messages of greeting were sent to London from Sir Esme Howard, the British Ambassador; Frank B. Noyes, president of the Associated Press; Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, Robert N. Harper, Henry L. Swinehart, Jacob Frech and E. L. Torch.
November 11 1928
Washington Leads In Cabled Chess 11 Nov 1928, Sun Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) Newspapers.com
WASHINGTON LEADS IN CABLED CHESS
Decision of International Match Up to Amsterdam Master.
The international cable chess match between teams representing Washington and London was terminated last night with the Washington team holding a slight advantage, according to the verdict of Umpire Edward Lasker of Chicago.
The six players on each team were paired off and permitted 20 plays an hour. The moves were transmitted from London by cable to a room in the National Press Building, where the Washington team was gathered. Three of the matches ended in draws and the three others were unfinished, two of them slightly in favor of Washington and the other leaning toward the English.
The players who drew were as follows. Washington men first: S. Mlotkowski vs. A. Y. Yates, N. S. Perkins vs. W. Winter and I. S. Turover vs. V. Buerger. The players in the unfinished marches were N. T. Whitaker vs. R. Mitchell, with Whitaker holding a slight advantage; J. W. Byler vs. E. G. Seargant, with Seargant of London in the lead, and F. B. Walker vs. M. C. Goldstein, the former holding an advantage.
Unless the judge decides to award the match to Washington on the strength of the two games in which it holds the advantage, the match must go to Amsterdam for final adjudication. Judge Euwe, Amsterdam chess master, will decide the match.
Before the play started yesterday morning messages of greeting were sent to London from Sir Esme Howard, British Ambassador; Frank B. Noyes, president of the Associated Press; Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, Robert N. Harper, Henry L. Swinehart, Jacob Frech and E. L. Torch.
November 28 1928
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Wednesday, November 28, 1928
Mlotkowski vs. Yates
Heading the Washington team in the recent cable match with London, Stasch Mlotkowski of Camden, N. J., put up a stiff battle against F. D. Yates, the British champion, coming away with a draw. Only 24 moves had been recorded. Play necessarily was retarded by the fact that messages were exchanged in code. Mlotkowski, with the move, retained a slight edge on the position all the way through.
The score, with notes by Mlotkowski:
Stasch Mlotkowski (white) vs. Fred Dewhirst Yates (black)
French Defense: Tarrasch Variation, Open System
(a)8. P-B3 B-K2(a) Q-R4 would have forced off the Bishop, but after 9. BxNch PxB; 10. N-N5 Castles; 11. NxB R-K; 12. Castles, RxN; 13. Q-B3, Black's shattered Pawn position on his castled side would prove embarrassing.
(b)11. Castles(b) P-B4, followed by B-B2 and QN-B3, would have given White an ideal position.
(c)12. QN-B3(c) Now White fears to play P-B4 on account of NxQP; 13. PxN, QxPch; 14. Q-B2, QxQch; 15. KxQ B-B4ch. White would then have had an exceedingly awkward position.
(d)13. NxQBP Q-R3(d) Much better than NxQBP as, after 14. PxN, Black could not play PxN without losing a piece for two Pawns by 15. P-Q5; and, after 14. Q-R3, 15. B-B2 leaves White the better position.
(e)15. R-K NxQBP(e) NxKBP would be inferior on account of N(B4)-K5.
(f)16. PxN PxN(f) If Q takes, White, by exchanging and playing N-K5, would win a Pawn.
(g)20. Q-N3 Q-R6(g) Again correct. RxR; 21. RxR, QxP would lead to speedy mate by 22. B-B6, P-N3; 23. Q-B4. But QxP at once would result in a rather intricate position. The following seems to represent the best play on both sides, after 20. … QxP; 21. B-R6, P-N3; 22. Q-N5 R-K3; 23. P-KR3 Q-N7; 24. RxR QxRch; 25. K-R2 Q-KB8; 26. P-B3, BxP; 27. R-B6 QxPch; 28. QxQ BxQ; 29. KxB, and White should win the ending.
