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January 11 1939
The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, January 11, 1939
Lehigh Valley Chess Tourney Opens
Herman V. Hesse of Bethlehem, defending champion of the Lehigh Valley, left, and William H. Steckel of Allentown, former state champion, are shown above pondering over a practice game before the annual tournament of the Lehigh Valley Chess Assn. opened last night in the conference room of the Call-Chronicle building. Standing, left to right, are: George Frensky, vice president of the L. V. Chess Assn.; Ed. Gillette, Clarence Ziegler, president of the Central Pennsylvania Chess Assn.; Charles Geary and Thomas Gutekunst, city champion and president of the L. V. Chess Assn.
April 21 1939
The Plain Speaker, Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Friday, April 21, 1939
Chess Wizard To Be Here
William H. Steckel of Allentown, who will be guest player at the meeting of the Hazleton Chess Club Monday night.
The committee of the Hazleton Y. M. C. A. Chess Club headed by Foster Pericola and including Harry Troll, Anthony Pane, F. Horn and H. B. Genser has completed arrangements for a simultaneous chess exhibition at the local Y. M. Monday night, April 24, at 8 o'clock to which the public is invited.
This event will afford both novices and advanced players an opportunity to try their skill against a recognized chess master in order to better their own game.
Wm. H. Steckel of Allentown, who is the only man to win the state championship twice in succession will be here to play simultaneously against all comers and at the same time will play one or two games against an unseen player and board. Mr. Steckel is noted as a keen analyst and is an exponent of formation tactics in chess.
After the simultaneous play, which will be over before 10 o'clock, the chess master will demonstrate several chess openings for the benefit of beginners and answer questions.
Chess play will he held on the main floor cf the Y. M. C. A. lobby and any one wishing to play against the champion is requested to bring his own chess set and board if possible.
April 24 1939
The York Dispatch, York, Pennsylvania, Monday, April 24, 1939
CHESS EXPERT COMING
William H. Steckel, Former State Champion, in Exhibition Here Thursday Evening
Local chess enthusiasts are in for a treat this coming Thursday, April 27, at the Y. M. C. A., when William H. Steckel, former Pennsylvania state champion. is scheduled to conduct a simultaneous exhibition for the York Y. M. C. A. Chess club. The event is to take place in the reading room from 8 to 11 o'clock.
Steckel is secretary of the Lehigh Valley chapter of the Pennsylvania State Chess association which is located in Allentown. He first learned the moves of the game in 1929 and since that time his rise has been phenomenal.
He won the Central Pennsylvania tournaments held in 1932, 1933, 1935 and again at Reading last year. He captured the state championship at the annual George Washington's Birthday memorial tournament held in Philadelphia in 1936.
He was captain of the Central Pennsylvania team that defeated the West Point cadets by a score of 7½ to 2½ at the United States Military academy last fall.
Steckel ranks among the strongest and most respected experts who have expressed their intentions of playing for the state title in the Pennsylvania State Chess association tournament to be held in York over the Labor day holidays, Sept. 2, 3 and 4, this year.
Meeting with a serious mishap in an automobile accident shortly after winning the state title in 1936 he was out of important tournaments until late in 1938 when he annexed once more the Central Pennsylvania title.
An effort is being made by the local club to obtain all available equipment so as to allow as many players as possible a chance to meet the expert in competition. To insure a place it is advised that players bring their own boards and men. There will be a small admission charge to players and spectators alike.
