A1951
1951, Mary Bain and Jacqueline Piatigorsky enjoying a game of chess at the Marshall Chess Club following the U.S. Women's Chess Championship in New York City.
November 11 1951
Evening star, Washington, District of Columbia, Sunday, November 11, 1951
Chess Notes by Donald H. Mugridge
Bain 8½-½ Gresser 7½-1½ Karff 6-3 Slater 4½-4½ Grumette 3½-5½ Kellner 3½-5½ Roos 3½-5½ Owens 3-6 Piatigorsky 3-6 Raettig 2-7
The above table showing the results of the women's national chess championship tournament, held in New York City from October 20 to November 4, is given by the kindness of Miss Edith L. Weart. The participants were Mrs. Mary Bain, Mrs. Gisela Gresser, Miss N. May Karff and Mrs. Kathryn Slater, all of New York City; Mrs. Lena Grumette of Brooklyn, Miss Adele Raettig of Hoboken, N. J.; Mrs. Willa White Owens, late of Richmond, Va., and now of Avon Lake, Ohio; Miss Lucille Kellner of Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. Gregor Piatigorsky (wife of the well-known cellist) and Miss Nancy Roos of Los Angeles, Calif. The title, a trophy donated by Miss Weart, and first prize of $150 all went to Mrs. Mary Bain, who won eight straight games and then drew in the last round with the runner-up.
Mrs. Gresser tried very hard to defeat Mrs. Bain, and conceded the draw only on move 107 and after the 50-move rule had been invoked. Mrs. Bain, who is a chess enthusiast of the first water, enjoys the advantage of having been a pupil of the great Hungarian master, the late Geza Maroczy. Between them, Mrs. Bain and Mrs. Gresser outclassed the field, but the latter's chances were spoiled by Mrs. Ross Owens, whom many Washington chess players will remember as Mrs. White of the Richmond Chess Club. The tournament was directed by Mrs. Caroline Marshall, widow of Frank J. Marshall and manager of the Marshall Chess Club.
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, November 11, 1951
Mary Bain Wins U.S. Women's Championship
Mary Bain of Miami, Florida won the women's championship of the U.S. without the loss of a game. Second place went to Mrs. Gisella K. Gresser of New York City, who last year was co-champion with Miss M. May Karff of Boston. Miss Karff came in third. Mrs. Catherine Slater of New York City was fourth. Los Angeles was represented by Mrs. G. Piatigorsky and Mrs. Nancy Roos. Mrs. Roos tied with Miss Kelner of Detroit and Mrs. Grumette of Brooklyn for fifth place while Mrs. Piatigorsky, with a half point less, tied with Mrs. Owens for eighth place. Miss Adele Raettig of Hoboken, N.J., finished last.
The tournament was held at the Marshall Chess Club in New York with Mrs. Caroline Marshall as director. The tournament was one of the strongest ever held. Mrs. Bain's victory was well deserved.
The Los Angeles representatives with a little more experience, particularly Mrs. Piatigorsky, for whom this was a first major tournament, would have scored higher. Both played enterprizing chess.
The standings:
Won Lost Mrs. Mary Bain, Miama . . . . . . . . . . 8½ ½ Mrs. Gisela K. Gresser, N.Y. City . . . . 7½ 1½ Miss Mona May Karff, Boston . . . . . . . 6 3 Mrs. Kathryn Slater . . . . . . . . . . . 4½ 4½ Mrs. Lena Grumette, Brooklyn . . . . . . 3½ 5½ Miss Lucille Kellner, Detroit . . . . . . 3½ 5½ Mrs. Nancy Roos, Los Angeles . . . . . . 3½ 5½ Mrs. Willa White Owens, Avon Lake, Ohio . 3 6 Mrs. G. Piatigorsky, Los Angeles . . . . 3 6 Miss A. Raettig, Hoboken, N.J. . . . . . 2 7
Mrs. Gresser drew with Mrs. Bain in the eighth round (107 moves). She lost to Mrs. Owens in the fourth round. Miss Karff lost to Mrs. Gresser in the fifth round, to Mrs. Bain in the seventh round and to Mrs. Slater in the eighth round.
Miss Edith Lucia Weart of Jackson Heights, N.Y. was donor of the challenge trophy, to be held for two years by Mrs. Bain. The referee was Hans Kmoch.
