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WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER July 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse, Fred H. Weaver, Viktor Pupols, Stephen Falk, Dan E. Wade, Ollie W. LaFreniere.  Washington Open tournament announcement filled about ˝ a page. Event was set for Labor Day Weekend at the Seattle Chess Club, 618  Madison St., Seattle. Event was to be a 7 round swiss, 2-3-2 per playing day and 100% USCF rated event with entry fee of $2.50 for USCF members and $3.00 for non members.  Time control was 45/2 then 15/30.

In tournament results report, Ivars Dalbergs of Portland won the 6 round Seafair Open, 4.5 - 1.5.  Ted (Eugene) Warner of Seattle had the same score but lost out on tie-break points. Charles Joachin scored 4-2. Ken Mulford of Seattle won the Woodpusher tournament over 7 other players.  R.M. Collins of Tacoma was 2^nd.  More details were to appear in the August issue of WCL.

Dan Wade did an article on history of annual match between Washington and British Columbia.

On the CHESS in ‘REVIEW’ page of information from CHESS LIFE we find that Arthur Bisguier won the Pan-American Open held in Los Angeles a .5 point ahead of Larry Evans. Bisguier won $1,000.00 while Evans got $750.00. Olaf Ulvestad of Seattle won $50.00 in trying for 10^th place.  44 players from 10 states took part in U.S. Junior Championship won by Ross Siemens of Toronto Canada. He played his first US Junior at age 11 in 1947.  Jim McCormick of Seattle took part in the event but “he forgot to play good chess”.  William Addison won a Northern California event 8-1.  John Penquite was the top player in South Dakota.

There was a report with game scores (all showing the top player having white) of Arthur Bisguier vs. Seattle over 34 boards. The US Champion 30- Seattle 4, 27 wins 6 draws and one loss. Ken Day of Bellevue and once the first board player for Roosevelt High School (1934) was the only winner. Those able to draw were Sol Birulin, William Gillette, Fred Howard Weaver, Charles Rosburg, Viktor Pupols and Jim McCormick.  “Over half of the players present at the exhibition were players who do not take an active interest in chess.” The Seattle P-I newspaper gave the event lots of advanced publicity. There was not enough room in the Seattle CC playing site for all of those who wanted to play.

Pasco and Milton-Freewater Chess Clubs played a match that ended in a 10-10 draw.

A game with notes by Philip Woliston and Dan Wade played in the 1935 Washington Championship between Harry Ishida and Olaf Ulvestad was printed. Pupols "Vox Pupoli" column covers the Fine vs. Okelly played in 1951 Wertheim Memorial in New York.  More of Botvinnik vs. Smyslov games are given also. 22 pages in this issue.

WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER August 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse (Nourse AdNauseam), Fred H. Weaver (From Chess Life), Viktor Pupols (Vox Pupoli), Stephen Falk (Chess Bits), Dan E. Wade (Feature Writer), Ollie W. LaFreniere (Feature Writer). As announced last month the Washington Open tournament announcement filled about ˝ a page. The event was set for Labor Day Weekend at the Seattle Chess Club. 1954 Washington Junior has been rescheduled for Sept 18-19 in Yakima.

Last month in a short tournament results report, Ivars Dalbergs of Portland won the 6 round Seafair Open, 4.5 - 1.5.  Ted (Eugene) Warner of Seattle had the same score but lost out on tie-break points. Charles Joachin scored 4-2. This month there was a full story of 3.5 pages including the 20 player crosstable. Only name in the crosstable still around playing chess that I know is James McCormick. Roseburg won the Seattle City Championship that was conducted concurrently with the Seattle Seafair. Charles Joachim was the tournament director and story writer.

As reported in the the July issue, Ken Mulford of Seattle won the Woodpusher tournament over 8 other players. R.M. Collins of Tacoma was 2^nd. A full crosstable was given this issue.

From the report from CHESS LIFE we learn that Larry Evans and Arturo Pomar tied for 1^st place in US Open held in New Orleans, LA at 9.5-2.5. Each won $700 and Evans took the title on tie-break.  Mrs. Gisel Gresser won the Woman’s title in New Orleans.  George Krauss won the 49 player Southern Open.  C.C. Bates won a 28 player Alabama event. Gene Shapiro toped 24 others in New Mexico.

Washington won the annual international match with British Columbia 22-8 in the A section and 9-6 in B Section.  Elmars Zemgalis lost on board 1 to W. Jursevakis. They used to play each other in Latvia before World War II. Zemgalis usually won those games.  Others players who might read this article that took part were James McCormick, Norman Abramson. The playing site was Seven Cedars Pavilion in Mount Vernon. Mt. Vernon Chess Club was the host. All the Yakima players won their games, Nelson, Edberg, Hoge, Falk and LaFreniere. This was Charles Joachim’s 8^th WA-BC match and he has not lost a game, with a 5 wins and 3 draws score. In total 58 Washington players turned out while 43 came from BC. The smallest BC turnout for several years. This was the 9^th event.

The rest of World Title match games between Botvinnik and Smyslov were given. The match ended 12-12, with both winning 7 games but Botvinnik keeps the title.  Article says 2,000 spectators watch the final game.

57 names were listed on the Postal Chess Rating List. Tops was Greene. 26 pages in this fine issue of the WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER.

WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER September 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse(Nourse AdNauseam), Fred H. Weaver (From Chess Life), Viktor Pupols (Vox Pupoli), Stephen Falk (Chess Bits), Dan E. Wade (Feature Writer), Ollie W. LaFreniere (Feature Writer).

Puget Sound League play for 1954-55 was announced with matches to start in October. 9 teams were to take part: West Seattle, Seattle Y.M.C.A., Uof W, Seattle Chess Club, Olympia, Kitsap County, Tacoma, McNeil Island Prison, and The Latvian Sports Club. Dan Wade predicts the Latvians will win the league what with Zemgalis and Pupols on the team. James McCormick is to join the Tacoma team so Wade predicts them to finish 2^nd.

October 17^th to be the start of the Washington State Championship held at the Seattle Chess Club with a time control of 40/2 and 10 moves every ˝ hour after. Event will have preliminary round robins and then a final. 1954 Washington Junior only attracted 7 players and ended in a tie between Viktors Pupols and James McCormick when both ended up with 5-1 scores. They were to have a two game playoff. Pupols won the first game of the playoff.

The Log Cabin Chess Club of West Orange, NJ paid a visit to the Pacific Northwest in September 1954. E. Forry Laucks was the leader of the group that was touring all summer. Spokane beat them 4-3. Seattle CC also won but by 4-2 and City Chess Club of Vancouver BC lost 2.5-1.5.Herman Hesse was the Log Cabin top board.

Vernon Holmes won the Pierce County Championship. Pupols was 2^nd.

1954 California Open of 81 players was won by H. Steiner 6.5-.5 with Jim Schmitt (who use to live in Portland) 2^nd at 6-1. William Lombardy at age 16 won a New York State event 7-2.  Heart of America Open drew 54 players with John Rigan and Eliot Hearst taking 1^st place.  Northwest Open (held in an unknown part of USA but I am guessing Midwest) drew 41 players for a win by Lee Magee.

Five games played by J.L. Sheets in 1953 Washington Championship were given and he won 4 and drew one. The Washington Open winner was Ted Warner 6.5-.5 over 11 others.

Olaf Ulvestad announced he would give master annotations to games for a $1.00 per.

LaFreniere reports WCF has 146 current members.

WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER October 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse (Nourse AdNauseam), Fred H. Weaver (From Chess Life), Stephen Falk (Chess Bits), Dan E. Wade (Feature Writer), Ollie W. LaFreniere (Feature Writer).

1954-55 Puget Sound League results are coming in. Olympia beat McNeil Island 7.5-2.5, Latvian Club topped Tacoma 7-3, Seattle YMCA flattened Kitsap 7.5-2.5 and UofW topped Seattle CC 6-3. Jim McCormick was playing third board for Tacoma and Viktors Pupols was 2^nd board for Latvian Club.

1955 Washington Championship was won by William A. Bills. The event was 12 players starting out in two 6 player sections with top 3 advancing. 2^nd place was Olaf Ulvestad. Bills scored 3-2 in the preliminaries and 4.5-5 in finals. Ulvestad was 5-0 and 3-2 (one loss was a forfeit).

Ollie LaFreniere wrote a long article about hoping to set up an Eastern Washington Chess League with Spokane, Yakima, Tri-Cities and Milton-Freewater.

In information from CHESS LIFE we learn that Soviet Union won the International Team Tournament over Argentina. The playing site was switch from Argentina to Holland and the USA did not take part. 96 players took part in Great Lakes Open won by A. Pomar and R. Steinmeyer.  An 8-1 score by L. Dreibergs won the Michigan State event. Massachusetts only attracted 24 players good for tie for first between Harry Lyman and John Curdo at 4.5-.5 Here is that Midwest Open name again, won by Alex Liepnieks at 5-1 over 19 others.  Our Washington State Champion William A. Bills tied for first in the 67 player Southwestern Open with Blake Stevens both at 6-1.

An article by Samuel Reshevsky from the New York Times of Sunday June 13, 1954 was reprinted by WCL. Title was Chess is another Soviet gambit.  This was on the eve of the USA-USSR match. Interesting  article about Russian Chess and Russian chessplayers.

Charles Joachim took a trip to California and took part in the California Open where he scored 4-3. Two of his games are given, a draw with Larry Remlinger and a won over Van Gelder.

The Nouse AdNauseam column is about Benjamin Franklin’s writings on chess.

WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER November 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse (Nourse AdNauseam), Fred H. Weaver (From Chess Life), Viktors Pupols (Vox Pupoli), Stephen Falk (Chess Bits), Dan E. Wade (Feature Writer), Ollie W. LaFreniere (Feature Writer).

Puget Sound League results: Seattle Club 6 Kitsap 4, Latvian 9.5 McNeil Island .5, Seattle YMCA 5 Olympia 5, Tacoma 5 West Seattle 5, Seattle YMCA 5 Latvian 5, Olympia 3 Seattle 7, West Seattle 3 McNeil Island 7, Kitsap 4 UofW 5.  Latvian team leads play with 2 matches won and 1 drawn. Olaf Ulvestad was playing for Seattle CC as was Dan Wade. State Champion William Bills held down first board for Seattle YMCA while Vernon Holmes was tops for Tacoma CC. O.W. Manney was first board for West Seattle and Jim Amidon had that duty for Olympia. Ted Warner was playing first board for UofW.

The CHESS LIFE report gives Walter Shipman as winner of New Jersey Open. Golden Gate Championship must have been a big affair for R. Curris won in 16-3 with W. Addison 2^nd at 15.5-3.5. Irving Rivise won the 50 player Southern California qualifying event with 10 points.

10 players turned up for the 30-30 tournament in November and chess master Olaf Ulvestad won it 5-0. The Ulvestad simultaneous at the Seattle CC resulted in a 10-6 score for the master. Beating him were: Jim Amidon, John DeWitt, Viktors Pupols, Russell Vellias and William Shemaris, while draws were recorded by Max Bader and George Bishop.  The master numbered among his victims Ted Warner and William Bills. There was a 15 seconds per move blindfold game against Amidon won by the master.

It was reported that Pupols won his playoff match with Jim McCormick to win the State Junior Title.

Nourse AdNauseam this issue was about chess set collecting.

A short report is given about the Whidby Island Chess Club.

WASHINGTON CHESS LETTER December 1954 By Russell (Rusty) Miller

John.S. DeWitt continues as Editor. R.R. Merk was the circulation head with Ken W. Mulford as Publisher.  Contributors: John N. Nourse (Nourse AdNauseam), Fred H. Weaver (From Chess Life), Viktor Pupols (Vox Pupoli), Stephen Falk (Chess Bits), Dan E. Wade (Feature Writer), Ollie W. LaFreniere (Feature Writer).

Puget Sound League play results continue to come in. UofW 5.5 Olympia 4.5, West Seattle 1 Seattle YMCA 9, Latvian Club 7 Seattle CC 3, Tacoma CC 9 McNeil Island 1. Seattle YMCA 6 Tacoma 4, UofW 6 Latvian 4, Olympia 5 Kitsap 5, Seattle CC 7.5 West Seattle 2.5. After 5 round UofW is the leading team.  In a report on player results Elmars Zemgalis top board for the Latvian Club had won nine games and drawn 1. Viktors Pupols for the same group was 6 wins, 1 loss and 3 draws. Olaf Ulvestad for Seattle CC was 6 wins 2 losses and 2 draws. Robert Edberg for the same team had 5 wins and 1 draw.  Alan Clark had the best score for UofW with 5 wins and 2 draws. John DeWitt was doing well for Seattle YMCA with 6 wins 2 losses and 2 draws.

CHESS LIFE section reports North Central Open of 72 players won by Curt Bracket 6-1. Herman Steiner won California Championship in a 10 player round robin 7.5-1.5. Missouri Open only attracted 20 players for R. Steinmeyer to win over at 5-1. Eastern State Open did a little better with 50 players and Arthur Bisquier the winner at 6.5-.5.

Plans are in the works for annual Puget Sound Open for Washington Birthday weekend. Entry fee is $10.00 which is higher than most events if this era.

Dan Wade wrote and article “Operation Black and Blue”. He wants to organize a tournament in which players sign up to play either on Saturday or Sunday two weekend in a row. The winners of the two events then meet for the Seattle CC club championship unless it was the same person who won both events. He hoped to get a larger turnout than usual with this set up.

Only 16 pages this issue. It was reported the O.W. Manney one of main stays of Washington Chess had moved to Alaska. Ted Warner had graduated from UofW and was now working in Tri-Cities.