September 04 1948
Chess Trophy Win Climaxes 27-Year-Fight 04 Sep 1948, Sat The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
Chess Trophy Win Climaxes 27-Year Fight
Herman Steiner, for the last 15 years chess editor of The Times, yesterday exhibited a prize that he has been fighting for 27 years.
It is the Frank J. Marshall Championship Trophy, awarded every two years to the United States chess champion, which he won at the recent tournament of the United States Chess Federation in South Fallsburgh, N.Y.
First Won in 1857
The first name on the cup is that of Paul Charles Morphy, who was champion in 1857, when champion met contender in a match game. Since 1936 the trophy, presented by the Frank J. Marshall Chess Club, has been awarded to the victors of biennial tournaments.
Steiner's victory breaks a virtual monopoly held by Samuel H. Reshevsky, who won the cup in 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942 and 1946. Arnold Denker won the champion ship in 1944. With Steiner's victory, the cup comes to the Pacific Coast for the first time.
Wins by 15-4 Score
Steiner's score was 15-4. The Times editor outranked by half a point Isaac I. Kashdan, New York, American internationalist and cochampion with Reshevsky in 1942.
Steiner began playing chess in 1921. He distinguished himself in the London International Grand Masters Tournament in 1945 and won the national open in Pittsburgh in 1946. He was a member of the U.S. chess team that won the world's title in 1931.
December 06 1948
Chess Master Speaks Kind Word for Russia 06 Dec 1948, Mon The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) Newspapers.com
TOURNAMENT MASTERS—Samuel Reshevsky, left, chess master, and Herman Steiner, Times chess editor, do a bit of high concentration at their favorite pastime. Times photo
Chess Master Speaks Kind Word for Russia
Samuel Reshevsky, who came within a pawn's breadth of winning the world's chess championship at Moscow last summer, came to Los Angeles yesterday with a rare kind word for the Russian people.
“I was amazed at the warmth and friendliness with which we were treated,” the international grand master declared. “Regardless of the politics of their leaders, the Russian people don't want to fight any more than we do.
“When I, a foreigner, won a game from their star player and idol, Mikhail Botvinnik, they applauded for 10 minutes. They followed me from the tournament hall to my hotel and I signed autographs until my hand became cramped.”
Reshevsky said the foreign contestants were treated with every consideration. They were taken to the opera, horse races and even the circus. The food was satisfactory and the hotel rooms excellent. Reshevsky was taken to the synagogue and special food in keeping with his religious beliefs was provided for him.
Chess is subsidized in Russia, Reshevsky explained. Some 800,000 players compete yearly and the top 12 are maintained in lavish comfort by the government.
Reshevsky, an accountant, is moving to Los Angeles through his friendship with chess patron Al Bisno.
