AAugust 16 1914
The Commercial Appeal, Sunday, August 16, 1914
LEFT TO RIGHT STANDING–
E. F. Schrader, Syracuse, New York.;
B. B. Jefferson,, Memphis, Tennessee;
J. W. Fry, Charleston, West Virginia;
Nestor Hernandez, Tampa, Florida;
Dr. A. E. Crew, Marion, Iowa;
Herman Hahlbohm, Chicago, Illinois;
Victor Alderson, Warren, Ohio;
Prof. James McClure, Nashville, Tennessee;
J. S. Morrison, Toronto, Canada; and
R. S. Scriviner, Memphis, Tennessee.
SITTING–
J. Daniels, Kansas City, Missouri;
W. G. Hine, Savannah, Missouri;
L. L. Labatt, New Orleans, Louisiana;
J. T. Becker, Winchester, Kentucky;
W. L. Moorman, Lynchburg, Virginia;
H. F. Lee, Chicago, Illinois, Referee,
F. B. Hill, Cleveland, Mississippi;
G. H. Wolbrecht, St. Louis, and
W. N. Woodbury, Roanoke, Virginia
Expert Chess Players From All Over America Meet Here to Compete for Western Championship Trophy
Twelve rounds have been completed in the championship tourney of the Western Chess Association in progress at the Business Men's Club. Nineteen players, most of them champions, entered the tourney on Monday morning and for six days have been engaged in “strenuous head-to-head” struggles across the board.
Never before in the history of the Western Chess Association has such a strong set of players assembled to compete for the honored title.
We have experts from 13 states and Canada.
Judge J. J. Labatt, long recognized for his prowess in southern chess, is representing the Chess, Checkers and Whist club of New Orleans.
J. Daniels of Kansas City, among his chess honors can boast of having served for some years as the “chess spirit” of the automation located at the Eden Museum in New York City.
Herman Hahlbohm of Chicago, representing the Kenwood Chess Club, may be regarded as one of the rising stars in the chess firmament. He won the championship of Chicago last season, defeating a large field of strong players. By strong and brilliant play Hahlbohm has held the lead in this tourney and stands an excellent chance to win top place.
B. B. Jefferson, the local expert and present champion of the association, holds a place at the top of the list with Hohlbohm and Wolbrecht.
If Jefferson wins the cup again this year it will become his permanent possession. It is a rule of the association that in case the cup is won two years in succession by the same player it then becomes his property.
Something of the Players
Wilbur Moorman of Lynchburg, Va.; is a chess enthusiast, a strong, brilliant player of the old school.
Dr. Crew of Marion, Iowa, is champion of the Iowa Chess Association.
Judge W. G. Hine of Savannah, Mo., can always be depended on for good strong play.
Robert S. Scrivener has made an enviable record in local chess and is a fit opponent for any of the experts.
Canada has sent Morrison, whose game has already attracted widespread interest.
E. E. Schrader is representing Syracuse, N. Y. Schrader is an ex-champion of the Western Chess Association.
George H. Wolbrecht of St. Louis is also and ex-champion of the W. C. A., so both Schrader and Woldbrecht have well earned the high place which they hold in the chess world.
J. W. Fry, the noted expert on the Evans gambit, is the only player in the tourney who has ventured that historic opening. He was rewarded by a victory in each case.
J. T. Beckner of Winchester, Ky. has been unable, on account of ill health, to exhibit the great strength and flashing brilliancy which usually characterize his game. At the beginning of the tourney he was expected to be a contender for the highest honor.
Ed Hill, champion of the Mississippi Chess Association, has thus far been erratic in his play, and has not always displayed the high-class chess he is capable of producing.
Nestor Hernandez, the gentle young Cuban, at times shows flashes of the genius that has made Capablanca famous.
Hernandez is representing the Tampa, Fla. Chess Club.
Victor Alderson of Warren, Ohio is a well known player of correspondence chess. He essayed over the board chess experts for the first time on this occasion.
Standing of the Players.
Seven more rounds will have to be finished to determine the champion. Harry F. Lee, the able referee and chess editor of the Chicago Tribune, has stuck to his “text” this week. Mr. Lee has conducted the tourney in splendid style. He is systematic and thorough in his work and has kept the “knights” under strict military discipline.
The standing of the players after eleven rounds is as follows:
Won Lost
Hahlbohm 9 2
Jefferson 8 2
Wolbrecht 8 2
Moorman 8 3
Hine 7½ 3½
McClure 6½ 3½
Schrader 6½ 3½
Woodbury 6½ 3½
Morrison 5½ 4½
Hernandez 5½ 4½
Hill 5½ 5½
Labatt 5 5
Scrivener 4 4
Beckner 5 6
Alderson 1½ 8½
Crew 1 8
Jamison 0 11
