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January 27 1952
Herman Steiner (standing) observes Jacqueline Piatigorsky's moves in one of the exhibition simuls of Samuel Reshevsky given in Los Angeles, California. (Possibly the January 27-28, 1952 exhibition as reported by Herman Steiner). Original photo by Nancy Roos. World Chess Hall of Fame collection.
June 25 1921
Evening Vanguard, Venice, California, Saturday, June 25, 1921
Chess Wizard To Arrive Monday
The 9-year-old chess wizard, Samuel Rzcschewiski, champion of two continents, has thrown his hat in the ring to all chess players of Los Angeles. He will arrive in that city Monday. That night he will play all comers at the Los Angeles Athletic club.
Twenty-Five Opponents
Twenty-five contenders, young and old, many of whom have been playing chess for years and modestly admit they know a few tricks of the game themselves, will be arrayed against the boy player, who will stand in the center of a row of tables and play all opponents at the same time.
Among those who will contest the lads championship will be Donald H. Mugridge, 16-year-old youth, who is regarded as somewhat of a prodigy by local players. Another contestant will be Miss Helen Julian of Long Beach. Stasch Mlotkowski and Dr. R. B. Griffith, who are regarded as two of the best players in the country, also will match their skill against the uncanny ability of the Polish lad.
On the set of “The Three Musketeers,” Samuel Reshevsky plays a game of chess with Douglas Fairbanks while Charlie Chaplin watches, 1921.
July 1955
Vol. 5, No. 1, California Chess Reporter, July 1955. Sammy Reshevsky during last round game.July 12 1955
Yank Chess Star Comes Home a Hero 12 Jul 1955, Tue Independent (Long Beach, California) Newspapers.com
Yank Chess Star Comes Home a Hero
New York (UP)—Samuel Reshevsky came home from Moscow a conquering hero today.
Reshevsky, 43, was the top United States chess player when he set out for Russia, and he returned the victor over World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union.
The American team lost to the Russians by a score of 25 to 7, but Reshevsky saved the day by trouncing the champ in Moscow last week.
He did not take Botvinnik's world title, however. Their match was not an official world championship.
“I feel, however, that if I had an opportunity to play Botvinnik in a world title match, I'm confident that I would win,” Reshevsky said in an airport interview.
“I think that Botvinnik is as strong a player as he has always been, but I feel that my game has improved. I felt that I outplayed him in every game in our recent match.”
Reshevsky flew immediately to his Spring Valley, N.Y., home, for “a good long rest” before resuming his chess-playing career.
August 08 1955
Six Against One 08 Aug 1955, Mon The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
SIX AGAINST ONE Samuel Reshevsky, right, Western Hemisphere chess champion, plays simultaneously against six of California's top players, in exhibition match here. Times photo
Chess Expert Sure He Can Beat Russ Champion 08 Aug 1955, Mon The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Chess Expert Sure He Can Beat Russ Champion
Western Hemisphere's Top Player Says His Challenges to Botvinnik Have Been Ignored
Samuel Reshevsky, Western Hemisphere chess champion, is convinced that, if given the chance, he can take the world championship from the Russians.
Reshevsky, in Los Angeles yesterday for an exhibition match in which he played against six of California's outstanding chess players simultaneously, said he has repeatedly challenged World Champion Mischa Botvinnik of Russia and has been repeatedly ignored.
Home From Russia
Reshevsky and Alexander Bisno appeared yesterday at the home of Herman Steiner, international chess master, former U.S. champion and chess editor of The Times, at 108 N Formosa Ave., for the one-against-six exhibition.
Bisno was captain of the American team which recently returned from contests in Russia during which the U.S. players were greeted warmly by top Red officials.
Bisno Confident
“We have challenged Botvinnik to play a series of 20 games, 10 in Russia and 10 in America,” Bisno said. “I think Reshevsky can defeat anyone in the world who will play him. So far the Russians have ignored the challenge, but we are pressing them.”
America has not held the world championship since 1857 when Paul Morphy captured the crown Bisno and Reshevsky will play in the U.S. Open Tournament scheduled at Long Beach today through Aug. 20.
January 20 1956
Times Colonist, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Friday, January 20, 1956
World Champion In Hour of Triumph — Samuel Reshevsky, centre, ranking North American chess master, receives congratulations from Russia's Bulganin, left, and Khrushchev after defeating world champion Mikhail Botvinnik last year in a U.S.-Russian team match. (Photo by Sports Illustrated)
40-Game Chess Match Tickets Will Go On Sale Here Monday 20 Jan 1956, Fri Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) Newspapers.com
40-Game Chess Match Tickets Will Go On Sale Here Monday — Spectator tickets for a 40-board simultaneous chess exhibition match by Samuel Reshevsky in Central Junior High School auditorium Feb. 14 will go on sale Monday.
Tickets, priced at 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for students, may be obtained at the Victoria Times, 2631 Douglas, the downtown Times office and from Victoria Chess Club members.
The Times and Victoria Chess Club are co-sponsoring Reshevsky's visit. Reshevsky is the ranking North American chess master and one of the best chess players in the world. He defeated world champion Mikhail Botvinnik of Russia last year in a U.S.-Russia team match.
Dr. Simon Marinker, president of the chess club, reports that response to Reshevsky's impending visit has been highly enthusiastic. The chess club has been swamped by entries from players for positions at the 40 boards to oppose Reshevsky. Names of the 40 players chosen will be known next week.
A.G. Moody has been appointed director of the tournament by the club, and will officiate at the matches. Play will start at 8 p.m. and continue until 11.
Spectators and players are asked to be in the auditorium by 7:45.
February 01 1957
The Arizona Post, Tucson, Arizona, Friday, February 01, 1957
Chess Master Reshevsky Plays Here
Samuel Reshevsky, one of the world's greatest living chess players, will appear in Tucson Feb. 13 at the Center in a special exhibition.
Reshevsky will take on all challengers and play them simultaneously. The exhibition is open to the entire community and persons wishing to play against him may make reservations at $2.50 by calling the Center office.
Born in Poland where he learned to play chess at the age of 5, Reshevsky moved to the U. S. in 1920 and immediately began to amaze the chess world. He first won the U.S. championship in 1936 and since has won the tourney five times.
In 1952 and 1953 he won the western world championship and now is hoping to take on the Russian champions to attempt to capture the overall crown. He already has defeated one Russian star, M. Botvinnik.
January 05 1958
Daily News New York, New York Sunday, January 05, 1958
Chess Battle Royal Will End on Tuesday
Samuel Reshevsky (left) and Herbert Seidman match wits in a game at a Manhattan Chess Club.
November 23 1958
The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Sunday, November 23, 1958
Checkmated at the Chess Table
Few of the many things that went wrong can be laid to Spann, however. Most involved the old, old, diplomatic frictions of east versus west, or more specifically, U.S. versus U.S.S.R.
When he lined up his team, Spann hoped he could take the country's top six players. But the U.S. champion, Bobby Fischer, a 15-year-old Brooklyn school boy couldn't go. Truancy laws in his state wouldn't yield to the team's great need for the boy genius.
No. 1 seeded player Samuel Reshevsky of New York, (he has never played U.S. champ Fischer and because he held the championship for so many years, still is seeded first) is an Orthodox Jew and was lost for eight days—Jewish Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur and the weekly sabbath. He played only 11 of the 19 tourney rounds, and only a few of the vital finals.
Spann had written permission of the tourney director that Reshevsky would be clocked to play from 7 p.m. to midnight on Saturday and holy days, since sundown heralds and concludes the Jewish sabbath.
“But we were scheduled to play Russia on Saturday, and they would not agree. So we had to play at the regular time of 4 to 9, without Reshevsky.” The U.S. team drew Russia's to a 2-2 score. “I think we would have defeated them with Sammy.”
In the final outcome, Russia compiled the highest point total.
Other teams also refused to honor the late hours play agreement for Reshevsky. “They said they were tired of the ‘Reshevsky problem’.”
Paul Benko, seeded third behind Fischer, is a Hungarian refugee and not yet a U.S. citizen. So he also was lost.
1961
Samuel Reshevsky and Bobby Fischer at their 1961 tournament which took place in New York and California. Original photo by Herbert Dallinger.
Samuel Reshevsky, Robert J. Fischer, Jacqueline Piatigorsky, José Ferrer and Lina Grumette in 1961 Fischer-Reshevsky Series Match.
August 14 1961
Samuel Reshevsky and Bobby Fischer during their 1961 match (New York/California). The final position from the 5th game is on the board from July 27.
Much has been said of the superiority of former U.S. champion Sammy Reshevsky or young Fischer, the contemporary reigning U.S. champion. Reshevsky believed he could defeat Fischer in tournament play. Upon reaching Los Angeles, California, referee Irving Rivise (standing, black suit) broke tournament rules, without obtaining young Mr. Fischer's consent, changed the schedule for a SECOND TIME, setting start time back to an earlier hour, to accommodate his personal schedule allowing Rivise to arrive earlier at the San Francisco U.S. Open. Mr. Fischer's point was forfeited when he refused to show. News outlets published widespread distortions about events, claiming Piatigorsky's cello was an underlying cause. In a Los Angeles Times interview, organizers confirmed the change in schedule was to accommodate Mr. Rivise's scheduled trip to San Francisco and without Mr. Fischer's consent.
See: The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Monday, August 14, 1961
Chess Champ Forfeits by Failing to Appear
U.S. chess champion Bobby Fischer forfeited his 12th match game with former champion Samuel Reshevsky when he failed to appear on time Sunday.
The match, set for the Herman Steiner Chess Club, 8801 Cashio St., at 11 a.m. was declared forfeited after the supervising committee waited an hour for Fischer to show up.
A spokesman for the committee said Fischer had protested the starting time was “too early” and that he wanted the match to begin at the time originally scheduled, 1:30 p.m.
The time had been advanced, it was explained, to permit the referee and the committee to be on hand for a championship tournament scheduled to open in San Francisco today.
Fischer and Reshevsky were engaged in a 16-game match and had completed 11 up until Sunday's forfeiture. The final four games were to have been played in New York. The two contestants had been tied in the number of victories.
1922
Samuel Reshevsky, Jacob Bernstein and Edward Lasker, 1922
Samuel Reshevsky, 1922
Samuel Reshevsky, 1922
October 14, 1922
July 03 1963
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, July 03, 1963
WATCHING! opening gambit of informal chess game between Grand Masters Pal Benko, left, and Samuel Reshevsky is Mrs. Gregor Piatigorsky, a ranking U.S. player and sponsor of the international tourney. Times photo by Steve Fontanini
1963 Piatigorsky Cup Participants. Pal Benko, Svetozar Gligoric, Fridrik Olafsson, Miguel Najdorf, Tigran Petrosian, Samuel Reshevsky, Paul Keres, and Oscar Panno.
1927
Players in the First National Tournament, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
August 25 to September 05, 1927.
Top left: Lewis J. Isaacs, Charles Westcott (Referee), Marvin Palmer, Herman Steiner, Dr. A. E. West (Tournament Director), Eugene J. Roesch.
Bottom left: Samuel Factor, Stasch Mlotkowski, Samuel Reshevsky, Norman T. Whitaker (Champion), Abraham Kupchik.
September 21 1930
The Morning Call, Allentown, Pennsylvania, Sunday, September 21, 1930
Chess Prodigy Forsakes Game For College
Sammy Reshevsky, youthful chess wizard, is shown with Julius Rosenwald, Chicago philanthropist, who is financing Sammy's college education. (AP)
Chess Prodigy Forsakes Game For College 21 Sep 1930, Sun The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
Detroit (AP) A millionaire felt sorry for a little Jewish boy who could baffle the world's best chess players but knew none of the normal joys of childhood.
So he sent him to school where he learned to study, and to sports teachers where he learned to play.
Julius Rosenwald, of Chicago, was the philanthropist; Sammy Reshevsky, the child chess prodigy. Sammy, now 18, is studying accounting at the University of Detroit. In two years he will be graduated.
When seven years old, Sammy amazed chess players of Europe by defeating, or drawing with such wizards as Rubenstein, the Polish champion; Zamisch, German title holder and other foremost players of the continent.
In 1920 the eight-year-old boy was brought to the United States for contests with such masters as Edward Lasker, J. Kupchick, S. Factor and L. Stolsenberg.
In an exhibition at Chicago in 1924, Sammy attracted the attention of Rosenwald. Sammy was a tiny chess machine, but of education and normal childhoods diversions he had had none.
The philanthropist was moved. Sammy was losing the heritage of boyhood. Soon the boy dropped from sight and his education and training that was financed by Rosenwald, began.
Six months of intensive training, with a tutor, qualified the 12-year-old child for High school. He learned to play tennis, to swim, to play baseball.
His frail body filled out; his pinched, serious little face took on the glow of life's playtime.
After awhile he found abstinence was giving him a zest for the game he once played by rote. He welcomed a chance to make another exhibition this year. It was in Chicago, and again he defeated all-comers, often in groups of 14. His game was better than ever.
Of 1420 games with some of the country's chess masters, he lost not a one.
Sammy was satisfied his chess game was good. Now it is in the background until he finishes college. Then, he gives fair warning, Frank Marshall, American champion, and Dr. Alexander Alekhine, world champion, had best look to their laurels.
1932
Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946), Isaac Kashdan (1905-1985), J. J. Araiza (1900-1971), Samuel Reshevsky (1911-1992), Harry Borochow (June 15, 1898-October 20, 1993), and Arthur W. Dake (1910-2000) gather for World Chess Congress, Pasadena, 1932. Photo by Los Angeles Times.
Similar photograph appears with the article, “Chess Wizards Open Congress,” Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug 1932. The chess masters of the world are attending a two-week battle royal at the Hotel Maryland in Pasadena, competing in the World's Chess Congress.
Isaac's hand is poised over the table, he and Dr. Alekhine looking into the camera from where they are seated across from each other. The rest of the men stand around their table, Captain Araiza looking at the chessboard while the other men look into the camera.
Source: UCLA/Los Angeles Times.
August 18 1932
The Los Angeles Evening Post-Record, Los Angeles, California, Thursday, August 18, 1932
Sammy Reshevsky, 22-year-old Polish youth, today had adjourned his chess match with Harry Borochow, Los Angeles, after five hours' playing. Reshevsky, a “wonder player” at 9, is a student of accounting at University of Chicago.
Sammy Reshevsky 18 Aug 1932, Thu Los Angeles Evening Post-Record (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
THE world's master chess players today continued their play at the International chess tournament in Pasadena—in utter silence.
Even the six women entrants are governed by the rule of silence. But they find sitting over a chess board in silence for several hours is a pretty hard job.
During the five-hour sessions players rarely speak a word. Concentration on the game is the thing, though Dr. Alexander Alekhine, world's champion says he can play without looking at the chessmen.
Queer “chess clocks” are used to time the matches.
They have two identical faces and a gear shift that will stop one and start the other.
SHIFTS GEARS
When one player moves he stops his clock and starts his opponent's. When his opponent finishes his thinking and makes his move he shifts the clocks back again.
Each player is allowed two and a half hours elapsed time for 40 moves.
Arthur Dake Portland, Ore. was leading with a score of 2 points at the end of the third round today.
COLLEGE CHAMP LOSES
Dake had two wins and one draw to his credit after defeating Fred Reinfeld international collegiate champion, New York, in 43 moves.
Capt. Jose Araiza, Mexican champion, lost to Dr. Alexander A. Alekhine, world champion, of Paris, in 45 moves after having been near victory 10 moves from the close of the match. I. Irving Kashdan, New York, defeated A. J. Fink, San Francisco, 33 moves.
Harry Borochow, Los Angeles, and Sammy Reshevsky, Chicago, adjourned their match after five hours.
August 23 1932
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Tuesday, August 23, 1932
Games Masters Meet Once More
[A. P. photo]
For Sake of Auld Lang Syne
“Boy wonders” renew friendship begun as students at University of Detroit. Samuel Reshevsky (left) is chess prodigy and Nathaniel Rubin plays chess.
April 06 1992
The Journal News, White Plains, New York, Monday, April 06, 1992
CAPTION: INTERNATIONAL GRAND MASTER: Spring Valley's Samuel Reshevsky in 1984, after he returned from a tournament in Iceland.
World-Class chess champion Samuel Reshevsky dies at 81
By David McClendon, Staff Writer
Although many people will remember Spring Valley resident Samuel Reshevsky as a world class chess champion, some will remember him as an uncompromising Orthodox Jew who refused to play his beloved game during the Sabbath.
Reshevsky, a seven-time U.S. chess champion, died Saturday at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern. He was 81.
“He clearly sanctified the All Mighty's name by observing the Sabbath while he was champion,” said Harvey Waxman, president of Chevrah Kadisha, the county's Jewish burial society. “No matter how much he achieved, he was modest. Talking to him was like talking to a plain person on the streets.”
Born in Poland on Nov. 26, 1911, to Yaakov and Shaindel Reshevsky, Mr. Reshevsky moved with his family to Detroit when he was nine.
Mr. Reshevsky won his first U.S. chess title in 1936. He won again in 1938, 1940, 1942, 1946, 1970 and 1971, and tied for the title in 1972.
He was the winner of numerous international tournaments, including Havana in 1953 and Buenos Aires in 1968.
During his reign, Mr. Reshevsky refused to play in Saturday tournaments because of his religious convictions. His beliefs compelled match sponsors to reschedule tournaments around his Orthodox beliefs, friends said.
“He was in jeopardy of losing money all the time,” Waxman said. “But he observed the Sabbath and demanded to stay in kosher hotels.”
Mr. Reshevsky was the only person to beat former world chess champion Bobby Fischer, doing so in 1961. Besides being a U.S. champion, Mr. Reshevsky held the title of International Grand Master of Chess.
He was an investment analyst for almost two decades, a television broadcaster and performer, and a writer on chess for the New York Herald Tribune, the New York Times, and Chess Review.
A prolific author, Mr. Reshevsky wrote seven books on chess including “How Chess Games Are Won,” “Learn Chess Fast” and “Great Chess Upsets.”
Mr. Reshevsky is survived by his wife, Norma; two daughters Sylvia and Malki; and a son, Joel, all of Spring Valley.
A service was held yesterday at Kehilath Israel Synagogue on Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley. Burial was at the Old Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.
August 26 1934
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles,California, Sunday, August 26, 1934
Steiner Wins Chess Match
SYRACUSE (N.Y.) Aug. 25. (AP)—Samuel Reshevsky of New York having won first place, play was continued in the international tournament of the New York State Chess Association today to determine the next four winners.
Isaac Kashdan of New York, paired with Reshevsky, was striving to hold second place.
Afternoon winners were Reuben Fine, New York; Arthur W. Dake, Portland, Or.; Herman Steiner, Los Angeles, and Dr. Adolf Seitz of Augsburg.
I. A. Horowitz, New York, lost to Dake, in thirteen moves.
R. E. Martin of Toronto, lost to Steiner, in forty-two moves.
1935
Samuel Reshevsky, The Rapid-Play Chess Master, Takes on All Comers In London: Reshevsky, the chess master who is acknowledged to be one of the finest quick-players in the world, gave Londoners a chance to try their skill against him at The Gambit in Budge Row City. Reshevsky played all comers in turn on the five-minutes time-limit principle. He is staying in England for about six weeks. Samuel Reshevsky, playing on the five-minutes time-limit principle watched by other enthusiasts. United Kingdom, 1935.
May 16 1936
U.S. Chess Championship, Final Round, Hotel Astor, New York, May 16, 1936. Players and officials at the biennial U.S. Championship Tournament. At left center, Marshall hands the Frank J. Marshall Trophy, emblem of the title, to Samuel Reshevsky, winner of the tournament and the new champion. Seated, left to right, are tournament officials Hermann Helms, L. Walter Stephens, Harold M. Phillips, Fritz Brieger and Theodore S. Barron. Standing behind officials, left to right, are Sidney Bernstein, Samuel D. Factor, Milton Hanauer, F. J. Marshall, G. N. Treysman, Samuel Reshevsky, I. A. Horowitz (rear), Alexander Kevitz, Isaac Kashdan, Arthur W. Dake (rear), Abraham Kupchik. Standing at the top of picture, l. to r., are Reuben Fine, Arnold S. Denker, Albert C. Simonson and Herman Steiner. Reshevsky won the subsequent tournaments in 1938, 1940 and 1942.
August 05 1945
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, August 05, 1945
1945. The Champs—Two giants of the chess world, Samuel Reshevsky, left, and Reuben Fine, will match wits here Tuesday evening in the Pan-American Chess Congress.
Chess Masters Enter Final Week of Tourney
With United States leading in the $3600 masters tournament, the Pan-American Chess Congress, conducted by the California Chess Association and sponsored by The Times, will go into its final week today. Seven rounds have been played and six more will be run off.
The final matches, will played Saturday and on Sunday the champion of the Western Hemisphere will be crowned at a banquet at which prizes will be awarded winners in all the groups participating in tournaments at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
The 13 masters' pot of $3600 will be divided into eight prizes as follows: first, $1000; second, $750; third, $500; fourth, $400; fifth, $350; sixth, $250; seventh, $200; and eighth, $150. In addition brilliancy prizes totaling nearly $150 have been offered by individuals interested in spurring the masters to their best efforts.
Will the winner of the masters tournament be either Reuben Fine or Samuel Reshevsky? With both tied for the lead with scores of 5-0, informed circles expect one of them to be the champion and interest is high in their match scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. Fine will have white but Reshevsky says color means nothing when two masters of approximately equal strength play. White has choice of opening but that's all. These two wizards have not met for several years and a masterpiece of the royal game is looked for by chess lovers throughout the world. The wire services are carrying daily results of the games.
Herman Steiner, Times chess editor, and Weaver W. Adams yesterday agreed to call their adjourned game of Friday night a draw.
In last night's matches, Maj. Jose Joaquin Araiza, Mexico, met Isaac Kashdan (or Irving Rivise?), U.S.; Fine met Steiner; Hector D. Rossetto, Argentina, met Adams; I. A. Horowitz, U.S., played Dr. Walter O. Cruz, Brazil; Dr. Jose Alfredo Brodermann, Cuba, met Joaquin Camarena, Mexico, and Pfc. Herbert Seidman, U.S., met Herman Pilnik, Argentina. Reshevsky drew a bye.
Borochow in Lead
Harry Borochow, former California State champion, is leading the Masters Reserves tournament with a score of 5½-1½. Next to him are George E. Croy and Charles Jarrell, tied at 4½-1½.
In today's pairings Fine will meet Kashdan, while Reshevsky will clash with Araiza.
Other matches today will be as follows, all games to begin at 2 p.m.: Camarena vs. Seidman; Cruz vs. Brodermann; Adams vs. Horowitz; Steiner vs. Rossetto, and Pilnik draws a bye.
Tomorrow is an open day in which postponed games will be played off at 2 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. Beginning Tuesday master games will be played at 7 p.m. daily with adjourned games being played off at 2 p.m.
The Pan-American visitors while in the city have been extended the courtesies of the Hollywood Athletic Club as well as those of several other Southland clubs.
Prizes in the reserves, women's and other tournaments will be cups, plaques, medals and scrolls.
Chess Galore to See
Aside from the closing day's banquet at 8 p.m. next Sunday, the feature of the day will be a game with living pieces to be played in the club gymnasium. It is hoped to have some outstanding Hollywood celebrities for king and queen and the pawns will be filmland cuties. One of the national magazines is expected to photograph this unique game and newsreels may be taken of it.
With approximately 80 persons playing in the various tournaments making up the Pan-American Congress, some 40 boards are in operation at nearly all times and there is chess galore for the spectators to watch. The master games are reproduced on huge charts on the wall. Many spectators take pocket sets with them on which they follow the moves of the masters.
But with all the diversified attractions in the club's huge gymnasium, chief interest centers on the games of Fine and Reshevsky with a goodly and loyal faction centering its attention on Los Angeles' own popular Herman Steiner.
August 07 1945
Reshevsky To Oppose Fine at Chess Tonight 07 Aug 1945, Tue The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Reshevsky to Oppose Fine at Chess Tonight
With both Samuel Reshevsky and Reuben Fine still toppling over all opposition like a queen rampant in a field of scattered pawns, these two chess grand masters will crash head on into each other tonight in the Pan-American Chess Congress.
Fine, after winning his adjourned game from Irving Kashdan in 63 moves Sunday night when he was on the verge of queening a pawn, had no game scheduled yesterday at the Hollywood Athletic Club where this Times-sponsored tournament is nightly drawing crowds of chess lovers.
Reshevsky also won Sunday, defeating Maj. Jose Joaquin Araiza of Mexico in 40 moves.
Last night he met Dr. Walter O. Cruz in a game postponed from the third round because of the Brazilian's late arrival. Reshevsky won in 33 moves.
Herman Pilnik, Argentina, last night defeated Araiza in 43 moves and Kashdan took Weaver W. Adams in 36 moves.
Game Adjourned
The game between Cruz and Dr. Jose Alfredo Brodermann, Cuba, was adjourned until yesterday afternoon when Brodermann won on his 60th move.
Kashdan and Araiza, playing off a game adjourned from Saturday, battled for another four hours yesterday and, at 6 p.m. adjourned the game for a second time. With 80 moves already made, this marathon may prove to be the longest game of the tournament. Kashdan also played the shortest, winning from Camarena on opening night in 15 moves.
Tonight's Fine-Reshevsky match, as well as all the other games, some 40 boards in all, will begin at 7. Tickets may be purchased at the door and no reservations are necessary.
Other matches tonight will be: Rossetto vs. Kashdan; Horowitz vs. Steiner; Brodermann vs. Adams; Seidman vs. Cruz, and Pilnik vs. Camarena. The first named plays white in all cases. Araiza drew a bye. This will be the ninth round with four more to go after tonight.
Janss Wins
The U.S.S Maritime Service made a clean sweep over the Army when Ed Janss Jr. won each encounter in his five-game match with Sgt. Dan Meyers.
In the masters reserves tournament Harry Borochow, former State champion, leads the field of 18 players with a score of 8½-2½. Closely bunched behind him are Paul Quillen, 7-5; E. F. Shrader, 6½-4½; Adolf Weiss, 6½-4½; George E. Croy, 6-2, and S. Wolff, 6-4.
The women also had an open schedule yesterday. In Sunday's games Mrs. Blanche Berkov upset Mrs. Matilda Harmat; Mrs. Hilda Look defeated Mrs. Florence Rogers and Miss N. May Karff of New York, and Mrs. Nanny Roos, official photographer of the chess congress, fought to a draw.
Last night Miss Karff won an adjourned game from Mrs. Harmat.
August 08 1945
The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, August 08, 1945
STARS IN THROES OF BATTLE—Spectators watch match of Samuel Reshevsky (left) and Reuben Fine for championship of Pan-American chess tourney. It ended in draw.
Feature Chess Tourney Match Results in Draw 08 Aug 1945, Wed The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Feature Chess Tourney Match Results in Draw
The long-awaited battle of the chess giants, Samuel Reshevsky and Reuben Fine, ended in a draw last night as the play in the masters tournament of the Pan-American Chess Congress went into the ninth round at the Hollywood Athletic Club.
The draw leaves Reshevsky and Fine tied for leadership in the tournament.
Other Results
In other games last night Isaac Kashdan defeated Hector D. Rossetto in 53 moves, I. A. Horowitz bested Herman Steiner in 42 moves. Weaver W. Adams won from Dr. J. A. Brodermann in 30 plays. Pfc. Herbert Seidman and Dr. Walter Cruz drew while Herman Pilnick won from Joaquin Camarena in 31 moves.
In the women's tournament, Mrs. Lynn Henderson won from Mrs. Florence Rogers, Mrs. Matilda Harmat and Mrs. Alma Wolff drew, Miss N. May Karff bested Mrs. Hilda Look and in an earlier game Miss Karff also defeated Mrs. Blanche Berkov.
Masters Reserve
Leading the masters reserve tournament was Harry Borochow, former State champion, with a score of 8½ to 2½. Robert Solana is next with 8½ to 3½.
The longest game of the tournament, between Maj. Jose Joaquin Araiza and Isaac Kashdan, ended in a draw after 101 moves yesterday afternoon after nine and a half hours of actual play. The marathon, begun in the seventh round Saturday night, was adjourned after four hours. Resumed Monday afternoon, the game was adjourned after four hours of wood pushing and yesterday, unable to reach a decision, the masters agreed to a draw.
In startling contrast to the Araiza-Kashdan marathon was Monday night's most sensational game when Robert Solana, Cuban, one of the leaders in the field of 18 reserve masters, dropped an atomic bomb on his Mexican opponent, Antonio Higuera. Solana checkmated his unlucky foe in just three moves.
How It Was Done
It was almost the classical Scholar's Mate. Just one of those things that shouldn't happen even to beginners but it actually took place and here's the score to prove it:
BIRDS OPENING
12th round Masters Reserves
Higuera, Mexico &nbasp; Solana, Cuba
1. P-KB4 P-K4
2. P-KN3 PxP
3. PxP Q-R5mate!
Previously there had been a 10-move mate in the masters reserves tourney when Jay Chernis blitzed F. Hufnagel. But now Solana holds the brevity record and Higuera is still wondering what hit him.
STANDINGS OF THE MASTERS
W. L. D. Score Reuben Fine . . . . . 7 0 1 7½-½ Samuel Reshevsky . . 7 0 1 7½-½ I. A. Horowitz . . . 5 1 2 6 - 2 Hector D. Rossetto. . 4 3 1 4½ - 3½ Herman Pilnick . . . 4 1 1 4½ - 1½ Isaac Kashdan . . . . 4 2 1 4½ - 2½ Maj. J. J. Araiza . . 2 3 2 3 - 4 Weaver W. Adams . . . 3 4 1 3½ - 4½ Pfc. H. Seidman . . . 2 4 2 3 - 5 Dr. J. A. Brodermann. 1 5 1 1½ - 5½ Herman Steiner . . . 1 5 1 1½ - 5½ Dr. Walter D. Cruz . 0 4 4 2 - 6 Joaquin Camarena . . 0 8 1 ½ - 8½ HOW WOMEN STAND
Standings of the women after the seventh round:
W. L. D. Score Mrs. Nanny Roos . . . 5 0 1 5½ - ½ Mrs. Blanche Berkov . 4 2 0 4 - 2 Mrs. Mary Bain . . . 3 0 1 3½ - ½ Miss N. May Karff . . 5 0 1 5½ - ½ Mrs. Hilda Look . . . 3 3 0 3 - 3 Mrs. Matilda Harmat . 1 3 2 2 - 4 Mrs. Alma Wolff . . . 1 3 1 1 - 3½ Mrs. Lyn Henderson . 1 5 0 1 - 5 Mrs. Florence Rogers. 0 7 0 0 - 7
1946
From front to back: Samuel Reshevsky, Alexander Kevitz, Isaac Kashdan, Weaver W. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Dake, and Albert Pinkus.
March 01 1948
FIDE World Championship Tournament (1948) in The Hague, March 01, 1948. Max Euwe (center), Paul Keres, Samuel Reshevsky.
World Chess Championship in The Hague, March 01, 1948. Mikhail Botvinnik, Max Euwe, Vasily Smyslov, Paul Keres, and Samuel Reshevsky.
March 02 1948
The 1948 FIDE World Championship participants in the town hall, Javastraat in The Hague. Max Euwe, Vasily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Mikhail Botvinnik and Samuel Reshevsky, March 02, 1948.
February 02 1960
The Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, Tuesday, February 02, 1960
U.S. Could Beat Soviet--At Chess-Says Expert
By Dan Wyant of the Register-Guard
Samuel Reshevsky, an international grand master of chess, said in Eugene Monday there's no reason why the United States can't beat Russia at its favorite game—chess.
“It's true they've beaten us every time we've played at tournaments,” said the small, intense chess expert, “but there's a good reason why. Chess players are supported by the government in Russia … they have the time for training and practice that is just not available to players in America.”
Reshevsky's solution: Let the government provide financial backing to a chess team here as it has financed other cultural endeavors in the cold war.
GOOD PLAYER HERE
“We have just as good players in this country as in Russia,” Reshevsky declared. “Lots of good players.” Five times the U.S. chess champion, Reshevsky has often been mentioned as the one American player capable of beating the present world champion, Michael Botvinnik, of the U.S.S.R., Reshevsky played Botwinnik to draw three times and beat him once in tournament play four years ago, he recalled. But he has never played him for the world championship.
To play in the qualifying tournaments requires several months time abroad, he said, and that is more than can spare from his insurance business.
Reshevsky said costs of backing a U.S.-sponsored chess team would be small compared to many of the country's expenditures in cultural endeavors.
COST WAS $10,000
The team on which he played when he met Botwinnik four years ago was privately sponsored, he said, at a cost of about $10,000.
Reshevsky is in Eugene for two days of lectures and chess demonstrations. Tuesday night he will meet some 40 Eugene chess devotees in simultaneous play, at 6:30 p.m. in ballroom of Erb Memorial Union. The public is welcome to watch.
Reshevsky has been making annual appearances in Eugene in recent years. He said Monday he spends about a month each year on tour.
NO BOARD AVAILABLE
An attempt by Register-Guard photographer Phil Wolcott to take a photo of Reshevsky at a chess board in his hotel room posed a minor problem.
Reshevsky doesn't carry a chessboard with him.
“Mine's right here,” he indicated, pointing to his head.
Wolcott borrowed a chessboard while Reshevsky discussed his ability to conduct a whole chess while blindfolded.
“It's an aptitude you must be born with,” he decided. “I don't think you can develop it. . . it's a form of photographic memory.”
INTELLECT FOR CHESS
Reshevsky demonstrated such ability early in life, combined with a fantastic intellect for chess. He started playing chess the age of four. When nine, he took on 21 West Point generals in a simultaneous match.
Reshevsky said there have been no real changes of style in all the years he has been playing.
“There are only two styles,” he declared, “a game of attack or a positional type of game.”
In the latter style, a chess player avoids sacrifices, builds up his position piece by piece, solidly and substantially to exert pressure on his opponents' pieces.
Reshevsky favors the positional type of play.
'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains: Tweets by swilkinsonbc |
 “What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy. |
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace. Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws -- https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks. |
This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.
March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.
