AMay 29 1950
The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, California, Monday, May 29, 1950
North Takes Chess Honors
The 45-man Northern California chess team defeated a Southern California team of the same number by a score of 24 to 21 in the 17th annual North-South California State Chess tourney yesterday in the San Luis Obispo city recreation building.
Highlights of the tourney which brought together some of the nation's leading chess experts included the brilliant playing of Herman Steiner of Los Angeles present U. S. national champion and that of Sam Bean, blind and deaf player from San Francisco both of whom won their respective matches.
Uses Braille Board
Bean known in the bay area as the “blind poet” drew a large ring of spectators to watch his skilled playing on a special Braille-type chess board using special chess pieces which he could differentiate by feel from those of his opponent.
Both Guthrie McClain northern team captain and Leroy Johnson southern captain described the meet as a “very bitterly contested one,” though the contest was entirely one of wits and was significantly quiet in contrast to an athletic event.
San Luis Obispo had one representative in the team championship play which brought together players from virtually every section of California.
He was Arthur J. Stobbey, California Polytechnic college library staff member who was formerly a member of the University of California chess team at Berkeley.
Stobbey, who played with the northern team played to a draw in yesterday's meet one of few draws in the tournament.
Ten-year pins for that many years' participation in the annual affair were presented by Luke Trahin San Luis Obispo chamber of commerce manager to Herman Steiner of Los Angeles and to Robert Willson San Francisco.
Two 11-Year Men
Playing in the weekend chess matches were two veterans of all 17 annual north-south chess competitions. They will be William P. Barlow and Fred N. Christensen both members of the northern team Barlow recalled having played in San Luis Obispo for 12 years prior to the meet's shift to Atascadero for several years prior to this year.
Only one woman chess player — Mrs. Nancy Russ of Los Angeles — ventured into yesterday's tournament play considered strictly a man's realm. The fact that she lost her match was a source of satisfaction to some of the old time players.
Roy C. Teel of San Luis Obispo was official scorekeeper for the event which was held in the city recreation center auditorium.
