March 27 1936
The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Friday, March 27, 1936
Steckel Will Have 75 Chess Opponents Tonight
William H. Steckel of Allentown, newly crowned state chess champion, will give a gigantic simultaneous chess exhibition tonight at the Rialto Game rooms, 951 Hamilton street, headquarters of the Lehigh Valley Chess association which is sponsoring the affair.
It is expected that over 75 boards will play against him. This event is being held as a form of tribute to the first Allentown player ever to win this event since it was started over 40 years ago.
Only one other Lehigh Valley player was ever able to win this blue ribbon chess event, Hermann V. Hesse of Bethlehem, also a member or the Lehigh Valley Chess association, won it in 1934.
In winning his title this year, Steckel met Hesse in the finals and after two bitterly fought games which ended in draws managed to defeat his opponent in their third encounter. It is clearly an indication of the growing strength of local chess players.
All local players who plan to play against the new state champion are requested to be on hand with their boards and sets promptly at 7:30 tonight so that Steckel may have an early start to be able to play all the boards that will face him.
A short business meeting of the association will be held prior to the exhibition.
Both Hesse and Steckel, the two strongest local players, plan to enter the United States championship tourney starting in New York City, Monday, March 30th.
March 30 1936
The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Monday, March 30, 1936
Steckel in U.S. Chess Championship Tourney
William H. Steckel of this city, recently crowned Pennsylvania State Chess champion, leaves today for New York where he is entered in the United States championship tourney.
For the next two weeks chess champions from every corner of the country and from Puerto Rico will play in district groups at the various chess clubs in New York to select the district champions and runners up.
On April 25 the winners, runners up and nine seeded experts will meet for the finals in the Hotel Astor.
Steckel will be with the group that will begin play tonight at the Empire City Chess club, 9 West 170th street. Matches will be played every night and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Steckel and Barney Winkleman, of Philadelphia, are the only two Pennsylvania men entered in the tourney.
