AJuly 09 1946
Watching the Mayor 09 Jul 1946, Tue Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Newspapers.com
Mayor “Tosses” First Pawn to Open Chess Play
Watching the mayor: Hermann Steiner, left, ex-national champion; Wagner, president, USCF; Giers, secretary, and Director Helms.
Favorites Rule Opening Day of Chess Tourney
Veteran Champions Lead Except For Brilliant Upset by 'Teen-Ager By James K. DeLaney Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Form ruled the day in the opening round of the National Chess championship here yesterday. Save for one upset when an older head bowed to a l7-year-old New Yorker pre-tournament favorites among the 61 entries triumphed in accustomed style.
In a brilliant match with his play bearing out speculation that the title might easily fall to a junior—Walter Shipman, of New York, took the measure of A. Elo, Wisconsin, champion.
Playing deftly and making sacrifice work to consistent advantage, young Shipman scored his victory in slightly less than two hours in 27 moves. There was quick redemption for the veterans, however, when George Koltanowski, world's blindfold champion, overcame an early disadvantage to defeat another 17-year-old. Hans Berliner, of Washington, D. C.
The Koltanowski-Berliner board was constantly the center of attention for players and fans alike in the Blue Room of the Roosevelt Hotel, with the former hard put and facing adjournment.
After 35 moves, however, Mr. Koltanowski maneuvered an exchange in the middle of the board, won it when he swapped a rook for a knight and went on to win quickly. There followed in quick succession an unbroken victory parade of ranking entrants, led by the defending Open champion, Anthony Santasiere, of New York, who defeated 16-year-old William E. Grossman, of San Diego.
Others who garnered their first-round point were: Abraham Kupchik, of New York, over Thomas B. Eckenrode, of Lancaster, Pa.; Herman Steiner, of Los Angeles, winner of the last London International, over John T. Westbrook, of Brooklyn; Frank Yerhoff, Canadian champion, over Milton Finkelstein, of New York; Weaver W. Adams of Dedham, Mass., New England champion, over Morton M. Schaffer, of New York.
Indicative of the early class of play were only three drawn matches. One who had to be satisfied with half a point was Miguel Aleman, of Havana, former Cuban champion, at the hands of Ernest W. Strang, of Camden, N. J.
The second round will be played this morning under special pairings, which ignore individual prowess. Beginning with the third this afternoon, however, the next six rounds will be according to the Swiss system high vs. high, low vs. low scorers.
This week's play is largely warm-up for the finals which start next Tuesday. Eight will be in the championship division, and there will be three other sections for consolation honors. All final round play will be round-robin, with approximately eight in each group.
Elbert A. Wagner, Jr., of Chicago, president of the sponsoring United States Chess Federation, and the host organization, the Downtown “Y” Chess Club William Byland, president have brought to Pittsburgh what is probably the largest national tournament ever held.
