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Marshall and Torre Enter Restricted
Chess Tourney
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, October 2, 1924
by Hermann Helms
After a long rest following the New York International
Chess Masters tournament, in which he captured the fourth
prize, greatly to the delight of American chess players
in general, Frank J. Marshall, the United States champion,
will go into action again tomorrow evening as one of the
seven participants in the Dimock Gambit tournament, the
first round of which will be played at the rooms of the
Marshall Chess Club of Manhattan.
This competition will be unlike the regulation tournament
in that the games will be restricted to one opening, which
was suggested by Edwin Dimock of New London, Conn., a member
of the club. There is very little "book play" on this line
and the contestants, therefore, will be thrown largely upon
their own resources. A valuable test of this particular
variation is expected to result, because of the caliber
of the talent engaged.
The opening moves will be the following: 1.P-K4 P-K4; 2.B-B4
Kt-KB3; 3.P-Q4.
Carlos Torre, recent winner of the New York State and Western
championships, is another of the entries and his participation
will lend additional significance to the tournament. E.
Tholfsen, club champion; Bruno Forsberg, R. Smirka, A. E.
Santasiere, and H. R. Bigelow are the other entries.
Still another first prize was won by Carlos Torre in the
last weekly rapid transit tournament at the Marshall Club,
in which 14 competed in two sections. After winning six
straight in the peliminaries, Torre finished with a score
of 7-2. He lost a game to A. E. Santasiere, who won second
prize....
On Tuesday Torre visited the Bethlehem Chess Club at Bethlehem,
PA, where he encountered 20 opponents, not one of whom was
able to win a game. Torre won 18 and drew 2. He also contested
a game against three of the members in consultation and
won this too. Although he will be engaged in the Dimock
Gambit and, later on, in the club championship tournament
at the Marshall chess Club, Torre will make periodical trips
out of town to give exhibitions of his skill at clubs desiring
to engage his services.
Monday evening Torre paid a visit to the newly organized
Philidor Chess Club of 139 West 49th Street in Manhattan
where he vanquished the best player the club could oppose
to him. The members are all Spanish-Americans....
Later in the evening Torre dropped in at the Manhattan
Chess Club and was introduced to about a dozen of the members.
Shortly after his arrival he was invited to participate
in a rapid transit session. The youthful star promptly won
two series of three games each against three strong opponents.
Before long his success became noised about and it was only
natural that he should become the center of interest for
all those present.
Incidentally, Torre had an opportunity of shaking hands
with Jose R. Capablanca, who came in while he was busily
engaged in his lightning games, in the conduct of which
the Cuban is without a peer. Capablanca smiled his encouragement
to his fellow member of the Latin race and exchanged a few
words with him in Spanish. Capablanca is scheduled to give
his first simultaneous exhibition at the Franklin Chess
Club of Philidelphia on October 11.
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Marshall Conquers Mexican in Chess
Tournament Game
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, October 9, 1924
by Hermann Helms
Apparently still maintaining the form which earned for
him fourth prize in the New York Chess Masters tournament
last spring, Frank J. Marshall, after two rounds, holds
the undisputed lead in the special tournament at the Marshall
Chess Club, endowed by Edwin Dimock of New London. The United
States Champion first defeated Bruno Forsberg in dashing
style (see Marshall-Forsberg,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924) and, on Tuesday evening,
administered a defeat to Carlos Torre (see Torre-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924), who had previously won
from A. E. Santasiere (see Torre-Santasiere,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
In his game with the young Mexican (see Torre-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924), Marshall handled the
black pieces and emerged from the opening practically on
even terms, except that he had an isolated pawn on the king's
file. On the other hand, Torre permitted his QB pawn to
be doubled. Further exchanges led to a rook and pawn ending,
in which Marshall made the most of his opponent's weakness
on the queen's side of the board. Eventually, he brought
his passed QR pawn to a threatening position. This decided
the issue in his favor, Torre resigning after 31 moves.
It was only the second game that Torre had lost since he
started out after the championships of the New York State
and Western Chess Associations, both of which he captured.
Inasmuch as the program calls for two games between each
pair of players, Torre will have an opportunity of getting
back at his famous rival before the tournament comes to
an end. It will then be his turn to conduct the black pieces.
The fact cannot be overlooked, however, that he missed a
valuable half point, in view of the satisfactory development
he obtained for white....
H. R. Bigelow has thus far played the most spectacular
chess in this tournament. He and E. Tholfsen, club champion,
agreed to a draw in their adjourned game from the first
round. Tholfsen was a rook ahead at one time, but in the
ending, which Bigelow brought about, the former, with two
rooks opposed to a queen, had to resort to a draw through
repetition of moves.
In the second round Bigelow again had the white side against
Santasiere. By really brilliant play the former Oxford University
champion came through with a piece to the good, only to
lose it later on through sheer carelessness or brain fag.
Thereupon Santasiere obtained the upper hand and when adjournment
was taken he was two pawns ahead. Bigelow hoped to draw
because of the presence on the board of bishops commanding
squares of opposite colors.
Santasiere won last night when play was continued.
The next round will be contested tomorrow evening. Rudolph
Smirka has not yet started in, but, by special arrangement,
will play his games over the week-ends.
William M. Russell of Brooklyn has called attention to
the interesting fact that the opening which is being tested
at the Marshall Chess Club was adopted against Marshall
himself on a most important occasion, namely at Cambridge
Springs in 1904. It was the late Carl Schlechter, to whom
Dr. Lasker yielded one of two games he lost at Cambridge
Springs, who had the temerity to essay this line of play
against the United States champion (see Schechter-Marshall,
Cambridge Springs 1904).
In the first round of the special tournament at the Marshall
Chess Club, Marshall defeated Forsberg by means of a dashing
attack which brought victory in 17 moves (see Marshall-Forsberg,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). Torre, after selecting
a variation that involved giving up a pawn, sacrificed the
exchange and thereby was enabled to exert a steady pressure
upon Santasiere's King. In time, he recovered a Knight,
after which the game was all in his favor (see Torre-Santasiere,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
White in fact had all the best of it in the first round,
for Bigelow emerged with a drawing position against Tholfsen,
notwithstanding the fact that he was a piece down throughout
the greater part of a lively struggle.
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U.S. Champion Invincible in Chess Club
Tournament
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, October 16, 1924
by Hermann Helms
So far, after four rounds, Frank J. Marshall has been invincible
in the special tournament under way in the rooms of the
Marshall Chess Club in Manhattan to test the validity of
the variation of the King's Bishop's opening suggested by
Edwin Dimock of New London, Conn., the donor of the prizes.
The United States Champion, following his victories over
Forsberg and Torre, added wins against Smirka (see Marshall-Smirka,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924) and Tholfsen (see Tholfsen-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924) to his total. All of his
games have been won in less than 30 moves. This savors very
much of the dash and spice of the Marshall of old, whose
reckless daring the European masters came to fear. To complete
his schedule in the first half, Marshall has yet to meet
Santasiere and Bigelow.
Carlos Torre, after his setback at the hands of Marshall
in the second round, has won his games from Bigelow (see
Torre-Bigelow,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924) and Tholfsen (see Tholfsen-Torre,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). These successes have
given him second place in the competition with a score of
3-1. Torre is playing true to form and it is not unlikely,
should he fail to square accounts with Marshall in the return
game, that he will in the end land second prize.
A.E. Santasiere comes next with a 50 percent score, having
won from Bigelow and Smirka and lost to Torre and Tholfsen
(see Santasiere-Tholfsen,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). He has still to meet
Marshall. Tholfsen, Bigelow, Forsberg and Smirka follow
in the order named.
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U.S. Chess Champion to Play at Brooklyn
Institute Club
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, October 23, 1924
by Hermann Helms
Making his annual visit to this boro, where for many years
he made his home and which as a matter of fact sent him
abroad to his first international tournament in London,
Frank J. Marshall of Manhattan, the United States Chess
Champion, will give an exhibition of his skill at simultaneous
play before the members of the Brooklyn Institute Chess
Club in the Art Room at the Brooklyn Academy of Music next
Saturday evening. It is expected that about 25 players will
take boards and pit their skill against that of the famous
international master. Play is scheduled to begin at 8:15
p.m.
Playing against 12 members of the University Club of Manhattan,
Marshall came close to making a clean sweep. L. G. Bissell,
however, succeeded in drawing his game. He was presented
with a copy of "Marshall's Chess Swindles."
Marshall clearly is now in his best form, for he has finished
the first half of the Dimock tournament, now in progress
at the rooms of the Marshall Chess Club, with a clean score
of 6-0. The champion has defeated in succession such capable
players as Torre, Tholfsen, Santasiere, Forsberg, Bigelow,
and Smirka. Another round, however, remains to be contested.
Nevertheless, with a point and a half advantage over Carlos
Torre, his nearest rival, Marshall is naturally a strong
favorite for first honors.
Torre has also completed his schedule. In addition to his
loss to Marshall, he drew a game with Bruno Forsberg Tuesday
evening. The clever young Mexican is slated for a high place
at the conclusion of the tournament, even if he can hardly
hope to outrank Marshall. Tholfsen, club champion, Forsberg
and Santasiere are next in line with scores of 2-3 each.
Forceful tactics on the part of Marshall brought the U.S.
champion, playing first White and then Black, quick and
decisive victory over Smirka and Tholfsen, respectively,
in the Dimock Tournament at the Marshall Chess Club. Likewise
Torre lowered the colors of Bigelow in 28 moves. Santasiere
and Tholfsen were well matched, but the former's slip on
the 23rd move cost him a piece and the game (see Santasiere-Tholfsen,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
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International Tourney Cost Met Mostly
by Contributions
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, October 30, 1924
by Hermann Helms
Only about a fourth of the cost of the New
York International Chess Masters tournament came back
through the sale of tickets, the very considerable balance
being raised through contributions from those who desired
to get the best of the world's masters together and, incidentally,
advance the interests of the game throughout this country.
[Helms here provides a very detailed descrription of the
receipts and expenditures from New
York 1924.]
Both A. E. Santasiere and H. R. Bigelow - and especially
the former - showed stout resistance in their games with
Frank J. Marshall in the special tournament at the Marshall
Chess Club (see Marshall-Bigelow,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). Santasiere came closer
than any of the others to drawing with the United States
champion, but weakened just enough toward the close to enable
the international master to come through with flying colors
(see Santasiere-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
Although Marshall and Torre have played no more games the
first half of the Dimock tournament at the Marshall Chess
Club has been completed and a start made on the second half.
The following results have been recorded since the last
report: Smirka 1, Bigelow 0; Smirka 1, Tholfsen 0; Forsberg
1/2, Santasiere 1/2; Tholfsen 1, Bigelow 0.
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Torre in Close Game Beats Champion
Marshall at Chess
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, November 6, 1924
by Hermann Helms
Squaring accounts for the only defeat sustained by him
thus far in the Dimock tournament at the Marshall Chess
Club, Carlos Torre won his return game with Frank J. Marshall
after a carefully conducted encounter lasting 34 moves (see
Marshall-Torre,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). The United States champion,
however, had the white side of the special variation of
the King's Bishop opening that is being tested. He had the
black pieces when he won the first game against the Mexican.
Thus the defense has scored each time in the two meetings
between the leaders.
Marshall on the other hand had won all of his other games,
regardless of whether he was white or black. He still leads
with a total of 7-1 as against Torre's 6-2. Torre drew two
of his games with Forsberg and Santasiere, respectively.
In the game which Torre won he had a pawn plus in the opening,
which Marshall regained at his 15th turn. The latter then
brought about an exchange of queens, which Torre did not
seek to evade. Marshall on the other hand chose to assume
the offensive on the 22d move in preference to further exchanges
leading to a rook and pawn ending wherein he might have
had excellent drawing chances.
Torre's bishop turned out to be more useful than Marshall's
knight and, in addition, the former established a passed
pawn on the QR file. In the end, by clever maneuvering,
Torre trapped the white knight.
A. E. Santasiere, former champion of the Marshall Club,
was on his mettle when he encountered Carlos Torre in the
Dimock tournament at that club, the result being a draw
after 43 moves (see Santasiere-Torre,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). Torre emerged with a
pawn plus from the opening, but allowed his pawns to be
broken up at the tenth move. Thereafter, Santasiere gained
a little ground, but when the ending was reached, Torre
had slightly the better of it. Skillful handling of the
final stages enabled Santasiere, although a pawn down, to
emerge on even terms with his young rival.
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Tholfsen of Brooklyn Beats Torre in
Chess Tournament
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, November 13, 1924
by Hermann Helms
What heretofore United States Champion Marshall alone had
been able to do was accomplished last night by E. Tholfsen
of Brooklyn, champion of the Marshall Chess Club, when he
won his return game with Carlos Torre in the Dimock Gambit
tournament at that club (see Torre-Tholfsen,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). Tholfsen had charge of
the black pieces, which was the case with Marshall when
he defeated Torre; also with Torre when he won from Marshall.
Throughout the opening, it was nip and tuck between the
two clever young experts, but at the 19th move the tide
began to turn against the state champion. Tholfsen, once
he had the upper hand, maintained his grip tenaciously until
he scored after 32 moves.
Marshall is somewhat behind in his schedule and his total
remains at 6-1, which is best in all respects. Torre follows
with 8-3 having but one more game to play. His second encounter
with Smirka, like the first, also went to his credit (see
Torre-Smirka).
A. E. Santasiere holds third place.
At the University Club of Manhattan yesterday, Marshall
played against 14 opponents siultaneously, winning all of
the games, with the exception of one. Alexander P. Rogers,
in an excellently conducted game, succeeded in scoring against
the United States champion. Soon after the New Year, Marshall
will leave on an extended tour. The Toronto chess Club has
booked him for January 10.
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Marshall, Well in the Lead, Sure to
Win Chess Tourney
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, November 20, 1924
by Hermann Helms
With a clear lead of two points and two more games to play,
the position of Frank J. Marshall at the head of the field
in the Dimock gambit tournament at the Marshall Chess Club
is practically assured. It would be necessary for him to
lose both of his remaining games for Carlos Torre to be
able to tie him. The opponents Marshall has yet to meet
are Santasiere and Bigelow, while Torre must reckon with
Forsberg. In another week it is expected the issue will
have been decided.
During the week Marshall added three points to his total
by winning in succession from Forsberg, Smirka, and Tholfsen.
Santasiere is the only one in a position to challenge Torre
for second place and, to accomplish that, he must win three
games in succession, including one from Marshall. Fourth
place is still open to four of the competitors.
In his second game with Forsberg in the Dimock tournament,
Marshall was held pretty closely all the way through by
the Flatbush expert, but in the ending, which was most instructive,
the United States Champion clearly demonstrated his supremancy
(see Forsberg-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
A well-timed counter-attack in his game with Carlos Torre
enabled E. Tholfsen of Brooklyn to turn the tables upon
his formidable young adversary in the Dimock tournament
thereby emerging unexpecely from a somewhat cramped and
under-developed position (see Torre-Tholfsen).
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Alexander Alekhine Enters Tournament
at Baden-Baden
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Wednesday, November 26, 1924
by Hermann Helms
[Note: the column was published on Wednesday because the Eagle
did not publish on the Thanksgiving holiday.]
Owing to the illness of Bruno Forsberg that player has
been obliged to allow his three remaining games to be forfeited.
Thus one point additional has been credited to each of the
scores of Carlos Torre, A. E. Santasiere, and E. Tholfsen.
Torre's schedule was wound up thereby and the young Mexican
assured of second place at least. There remains just a remote
possibility of his being able to tie for first place. Chief
honors, however, are generally conceded to United States
Champion Marshall, even though he has still to play two
games.
Convincing Lead at Chess
Wins Prize for Marshall
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, December 4, 1924
by Hermann Helms
With a victory over Bigelow in the 12th round (see Bigelow-Marshall,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924), Frank J. Marshall completed
his schedule in the Dimock gambit tournament at the Marshall
Chess Club with a score of 10½-1½,
which entitled him to the first prize. Indicating that he
is still at the top of his form, the United States champion
opened up a gap of 1½
points between himself and Carlos Torre, the second prize
winner. Marshall's only defeat was at the hands of Torre
in their second encounter. His drawn game was with A. E.
Santasiere in the 11th round (see Marshall-Santasiere,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924).
Torre's score of 9-3 included defeats by Marshall and
Tholfsen and a drawn game each with Santasiere and Forsberg.
A. E. Santasiere, with 6½-4½,
is the winner of the third prize regardless of the outcome
of his remaining game with R. Smirka. When this is finished,
the schedule will be complete. E. Tholfsen of Brooklyn,
club champion, is the winner of fourth prize, with a score
of 5½-6½.
Chess Players in Big League Gather for Meeting
Tonight
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Thursday, December 11, 1924
by Hermann Helms
Although the four prizes in the Dimock gambit tournament
at the Marshall Chess Club had already been decided, there
remained one game to be played off. By winning this from
Smirka, A. E. Santasiere increased his total to 7½-4½,
or only 1½
points behind that of Torre (see Smirka-Santasiere,
Dimock Theme Tournament 1924). According to Santasiere
he consumed only 10 minutes in his last game with Smirka.
The tournament committee of the club now plans another
novel competition for the purpose of testing the Vienna
opening. The following moves will be compulsory: 1.P-K4,
P-K4; 2.Kt-QB3, Kt-KB3; 3.P-B4. Marshall, Torre, Norwood,
Santasiere, and Smirka are among those who will play.
The final standing in the tournament just completed is
appended:
|
Player
|
Total
|
| Marshall |
10½
|
| Torre |
9
|
| Santasiere |
07½
|
| Tholfsen |
05½
|
| Smirka |
4
|
| Bigelow |
3
|
| Forsberg |
02½
|
Marshall
vs. Torre>>>
|
