The April 4, 1927 issue of the Chicago Tribune carried the brief notice that:
"Aaron [sic] Niemzowitsch[sic] of Copenhagen, Denmark will play simultaneously against thirty-five chess players in the club rooms of the Chicago Chess and Checker club, 35 South Dearborn street, at 8 o'clock tonight."
This notice, is all the coverage Nimzowitsch would have during his visit to Chicago, the Tribune no longer had a chess column, and I have so far found no coverage of Nimzowitsch's visit in the pages of the Chicago Daily News.
Nimzowitsch had come the United States to compete in the international chess master's tournament that was to take place in New York City at the Jade Ballroom of the Hotel Manhattan Square.
(New York Times: February 17, 1927)
Nimzowitsch would finish in third place in the chess master's tournament (10 1/2 points), behind Capablanca (14 points) and Alekhine (11 1/2 points), but ahead of Vidmar (10 points), Spielmann (8 points) and Marshall (6 points).
After the tournament, Nimzowitsch made a mini tour of the American mid-west, stopping besides Chicago, in St. Louis and Cincinnati. After tour the New York Times reported that Nimzowitsch had played ninety-five games, winning seventy-nine, drawing eleven, and losing but five games.
(Chicago Tribune:April 4, 1927)
It is thanks to the efforts Olimpiu G.Urcan, that we have the score of two games that Nimzowitsch played on his Chicago visit, both are consultation games against some of Chicago's finest players of the time. The ChessCafe article where these games appeared can be found here .These games were found in the April 5, 1928, edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, that these were published almost a year after they were played and in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle gives hope that other games may be found.
In the Brooklyn Daily Eagle HermanHelms noted that Nimzowitsch had "encountered exceptionally strong opposition" in Chicago. In a twenty-three-board simultaneous there Nimzowitsch scored +16 –3 =4. The discrepancy between the Tribune report of 35 players taking part before the event and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle report 23 boards may be due in some part to the number consultation games played .
On April 21st, Nimzowitsch returned to Copenhagen aboard the steamship Hellig Olav of the Scandinavian- American Line, the New York Times noted that hoped to return in the fall to begin a exhibition tour, but sadly for American chess Nimzowitsch did not return.
DN-0081138, Chicago Daily News negatives collection
Chicago History Museum.
I recently purchased a copy of The Unknown Capablanca by David Hooper and Dale Brandreth, and noticed that Capablanca's first simultaneous exhibition in Chicago took place in 1909, and although Unknown Capablanca has over 200 games; most of which had not been published outside of their original publication, none were from his first exhibition in Chicago.
The Jose Raul Capablanca who made his first Chicago appearance on November 24, 1909 was no longer the child prodigy of earlier times, but a graduate of Columbia University, who had won, his first major match, against Frank J. Marshall, quite convincingly with 8 wins, 1 lost game and 14 draws.
Herman Helms, editor of the American Chess Bulletin, agreed to organize the American tours for Capablanca, in the hopes promoting the sales of his magazine, lamentably the American Chess Bulletin would gain just four new subscribers for it's trouble.(Hooper and Brandreth; p.141)
By the time Capablancareached Chicago , the young Cuban master had played hundreds of games during his tour. Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Daily News provided some coverage of Cubans arrival and stay in the "windy city".
"Jose R. Capablanca, the young Cuban chess expert, who stepped into the front rank of the world's chess masters by his overwhelming defeat of Marshall, will give an exhibition of simultaneous chess tonight at the rooms of the Chicago Chess and Checker club in the Schiller building."
(Chicago Daily Tribune; November 24, 1909)
Both the Tribune and Daily News noted the quick pace of play by Capablanca during simultaneous exhibitions; the Daily News reporting;
" He is a rapid player and frequently finishes these simultaneous affairs in half the time taken here. The unusual time taken by the Chicago exhibition is explained by the strength of field against him."
Capablanca's easy demeanor and winning personality made him a favorite of the Chicago chess world.
"Capablanca made a good
impression upon the Chicago chess world by his skill as a player and by
his personality. In appearance he is youthful and slender. He looks and
acts like a nice, quite college student, which, indeed he is, having
recently graduated from Columbia university."
(Chicago Daily News; November 27, 1909)
Thirty-one local experts faced Capablanca, the young Cuban expert won twenty-five games, lost four games, with two games ending in a draw. The winners against Capablanca being Oscar Chajes, Charles W. Phillips, F.H. Chase, and Einar Michelsen. Draws were secured by Louis Uedeman and Judge Smith.
The Tribune published one game from the exhibition, the win of F. H. Chase over the Cuban expert in it's December 5th chess column.
The Chicago Daily News printedfour games from the exhibition, Capablanca's wins against Sullivan and Erdeky, and loses to Chajes and Michelsen.
"Oscar Chajes was the first one to obtain a victory over the youthful chess master. On his sixteenth move Capablanca made a blunder, an unusual thing for him to do. Chajes took prompt advantage of his opportunity and forced a speedy ending."
(Chicago Daily News; November 27, 1909)
Just over a to the year to the date Capablanca would return to the "windy city", to give another simultaneous display. Although these five games don't add much to Capablanca's legacy, they are part of Chicago chess history and Capablanca's debut in the "windy city".
The ex-world chess champion Dr. Emanuel Lasker was greeted by hundreds of fans when he arrived at Chicago's Dearborn street train station on the afternoon of Saturday, February 20, 1926. The ex-champions arrival and reception was duly reported in the February 22nd edition of the Chicago Daily News.
"That the man who held the title of chess champion of the world for twenty-six years was deeply moved by the sincerity of the ovation given him upon his first appearance in Chicago since winning the New York international and securing the runner-up position at Moscow, was evident by the glistening of his keen brown eyes and his smile of appreciation"
The reception committee was headed by Harry E. Heick representing the Chicago Chess and Checker club,
S. D. Factor, city and state champion, and "Sir Knight" (Sir S.S. Bell), chess editor of the Chicago Daily News, as well delegates of the various chess club throughout the city.
Sir S. S. Bell (Sir Knight) and Dr. Emanuel Lasker
1926
SDN-065799B
Chicago Daily News negatives collection
Chicago History Museum.
Later that evening, Lasker would give a simultaneous exhibition at the rooms of the Chicago Chess and Checker club against thirty opponents, the ex-champion won 28 games, Charles Elison and J. M. Juran were the only players who managed to draw their games against the ex-champion.
Lasker had set sail from Hamburg aboard the steamship Cleveland, and had arrived in New York on January 19th, the ex-champions tour will him take him as far west as Seattle. Chicago would twice host the ex-champion during his current tour.
On the 23rd of February, at the Hamilton club, Lasker faced thirty-two opponents, including four former Illinois state champions. The gymnasium of the Hamilton club was packed with hundreds of Chicago chess fans, who saw the ex-champion victorious at twenty-six boards, two games ended in draws and four opponents "compelled the doctor to lay down his king."
The simultaneous exhibition was followed by a dinner at the Hamilton club and speeches.
"Sixty covers were laid at the dinner given in honor of Chicago distinguished visitor by the chess section of the Hamilton club. Introducing Dr. Lasker as the man who had held the world's championship at chess for twenty-six consecutive years, the master of ceremonies, M.S. Kuhns, told of his own visits to Berlin, Heidelberg and other university cities of Europe where, much to his surprise, he discovered the eminent doctor was even more largely recognized as an author, linguist, traveler and philosopher than he was as a master of chess."
'In replying, Dr. Lasker said in part; "The old game of chess is as important, as vital as well deserving of a high position as any game in the world. the game has a mission to accomplish and that is to draw people together to a better understanding of another when they are kept asunder by geographical, political or social lines. It is an equalizer of humanity." '
Chicago Daily News; February 24,1926
Lasker's stay in Chicago ended with a simultaneous exhibition at the City Club of Chicago on February 26th, the ex-champion contested games against thirty local players. The doctor won twenty-five games, lost two games, and three draws.
" Two of the games contested last night without sight of the board or pieces by either the exhibitor or Mr. and Mrs. T.R. Gundlach, who opposed the doctor in this event. Both their games resulted in draws."
"Lewis J. Issacs and Donald Kirk covered themselves in glory by compelling Dr. Lasker to lay down his king. The former Illinois champion [Issacs] offered a brilliant pawn sacrifice at the thirty first move and scored a beautiful victory...."
Chicago Daily News: February 26, 1926
The Kirk game given below was annotated by the winner.
The ex-champion left Chicago to continue his tour of the country, but would return to the city for a brief stop in April. During his first stay in Chicago, of the current tour, Lasker had won eighty one games, had had seven drawn games and forced to lay down his king six times.
The ex-champions imminent return to Chicago was announced, in the April 2nd issue of the Chicago Daily News.
"Dr. Emanuel Lasker will return to Chicago Wednesday , April 14, as the guest of the City club, at which time he will give an exhibition of his ability at rapid play. On this occasion the German master will tackle ten of Chicago's expert players, using time clocks, permitting his opponents twenty moves an hour, while the former world's chess champion will be obliged to make 200 moves each hour or forfeit his games. The players selected to meet Dr. Lasker in this event are Factor, Hahlbohm, Isaacs, C.W. Phillips, Dr. Phillips, Sparrow, Norris, Addlemann, Margolis, and Elison."
The April 14th, City club exhibition was to be Lasker's last public apperance in Chicago before his departure home to Berlin. A dinner, followed by a lecture by the ex-champion procceeded the simultaneous exhibition.
Chicago Daily News; April 15, 1926
The ex-champion won six games, drew three games and lost one game; under the handicap of having to make 200 moves each hour, while his opponents needed to make just 20 moves. Albert C. Margolis forced the doctor to lay down his king, while Addlemann, Norris, and Dr. Phillips managed wrestle draws from th ex-champion.
.
On April 15th, Lasker left Chicago for Cleveland and New York, after which he will return home to Berlin,
Note: I a have a question mark in the title of this post, because I am unsure if these games are in any Lasker database or in Ken Whyld's collection of Lasker games, which I don't have, but which I shall purchase.
