February 03 1953
The Times-Mail, Bedford, Indiana, Tuesday, February 03, 1953
American Woman Tells of 5 Weeks Behind Iron Curtain
An American woman who recently returned from a five-week visit to Moscow and who had an opportunity to observe Russian mores from an American point of view, tells her experiences behind the Iron Curtain in the current issue of People Today Magazine.
Mrs. Mary Bain, as a top-ranking American chess player, was invited to attend the International Women's Chess Tourney in Moscow late in 1952. She spent five weeks playing chess on the stage of the Red Army Officers Club in Moscow before 500 avid spectators, each of whom paid four rubles ($1) to get in.
Chess A Religion
“Chess is a religion in Russia,” explains Mrs. Bain. “The authorities have a reverential attitude towards the game. When the Soviet government invited women champions to come to Moscow, I was delighted at the opportunity to penetrate the Iron Curtain. I did it at Leningrad where my baggage was thoroughly searched, my books and papers taken for a 2-hour checkup.”
“Although playing in public under a battery of bright lights was disconcerting, Moscow itself was interesting. Russian hospitality was done up brown for the benefit of visitors. My stay opened with an elaborate banquet: mountains of caviar, fish and fowl, vintage wines, the ever-present vodka. The Chairman of the Committee of Hosts emphasized that the aim of the tournament was to promote world peace; he sounded as though Stalin would stop Korean hostilities when our chess play ended.”
Not Up To Par
“We foreign players were so thoroughly soaked in operas, ballets, excursions, museums and huge heavy meals that our chess was not always up to par. The Russian players were not party to the extraordinary hospitality ordered for the visitors. As a result, four of the five places were taken by Russian players.”
“My last impression of Russia, concludes Mary Bain, was one of mortification. When I entered, I'd had to list all my jewelry. On my way out, the inspector examined my luggage, read every scrap of paper I had, then demanded the list of jewelry. Luckily I found it after frantic searching, just as we got to Finland's border. Had I not, he would have confiscated my trinkets. Once out of Russia, I was never asked for another list.”
December 17 1953
Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah, Thursday, December 17, 1953
QUEENS— The United States national women's championship tournament is now in progress in New York City. The final round is scheduled to be played on Dec. 19. Matches are being played at the Marshall and the Manhattan Chess Clubs. Mrs. Mary Bain, who appeared in a simultaneous exhibition in Salt Lake City, is defending her title.
