Chicago Masters Tournament, 1926

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Chicago Masters Tournament, 1926
Compiled by Phony Benoni

<27th Western Championship Chicago, Illinois
August 21-September 2, 1926>

Throughout its first quarter century, the Western Chess Association had officially restricted its annual championship to "Western" players. The definition of "Western" was always quite broad; originally it had meant the US and Canada west of Pennsylvania, then evolved into most anybody except New Yorkers. In 1925, all such restrictions removed and the WCA welcomed its first players and champions from New York as it made plans to become a fully national organization.

Originally, the plan was to be an association of individual members as outlined by a letter sent out by WCA Secretary Samuel D Factor and published in the <Brooklyn Daily Eagle> of October 22, 1925:

<"Dear Sir:

"For the past 26 years, the Western Chess Association has been a leading factor in maintaining and increasing a lively interest in chess throughout the West and Middle West.

"Its annual tournaments, where the championship of the association is decided, have invariably brought out an exceptionally high class of players.

"At the 26th annual meeting, held at Cedar Point, Ohio, Sept. 3, 1925, it was unanimously voted to increase the field and scope of the association by making it a national organization in place of a sectional.

"The Western Chess Association has therefore reorganized as a national institution with membership open to all chess players in the United States and Canada.

"It is the duty of every chess player to give to this organization both his moral and finanical support.

"Dues are $1 per year.

"As a member of the Western Chess Association, you will be entitled to vote, either in person or by proxy, on all questions pertaining to the policy of the association, and in addition you will receive each year the Western Chess Association Year Book, which will contain scores of the games played in the championship tournaments.

"Our slogan is 10,000 members.

"This can be reached if you and your friends, chess players, will fill out enclosed applications and mail in now.

"Fraternally yours,

"SAMUEL D. FACTOR, Secretary/Treasurer">

However, this must have proved unwieldy, since by the time of the 1926 Western Championship a new proposal was on the table. This would establish the "National Chess Association of the U. S. A.", which was to take over governance on the national level. The Western Chess Association was to remain a "division" of the larger organization, continuing its programs on a regional basis. In addition, administrative layers to the NCA by involving local clubs or "chapters" and establishing the office of "Regional Vice President" to represent the national association on a local basis.

Obviously, the WCA would remain an important part of the national federation, as its President, Maurice Kuhns of Chicago, was also organizing the larger group. What soon became The National Chess Federation would endure, but eventually did little more than strictly national duties such as selecting teams for the Olympiad. The Western Chess Association operated on a smaller scope until the early 1930s, when a new generation of young masters began coming to the Western Championship in search of competition and the WCA began thinking nationally again.

For this year, however, the Western Chess Association was able to host an important Masters Tournament in addition to the Western Championship, both held at the Hotel LaSalle in Chicago from August 21-September 2, 1926.

The Masters Tournament included a number of major national figures, including six former Western champions, the current US Champion, and a stray foreign grandmaster in Geze Maroczy who was working the U.S. circuit that year. The turnout for the Western Championship was of course considerably weakened, but included a number of faithful attendees and a future star in Herman Steiner.

Technically, the Masters tournament does not belong in a US Open historical collection. But it was a major US event with an exciting finish, and almost all the games are available as opposed to nearly none from the Western itself. I have to talk about something. Besides, this will provide a chance to specify which games were from which tournament.

Masters Tournament

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 1 Frank James Marshall X 1 0 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 1 8.5 2 Geza Maroczy 0 X 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 8.0 3 Carlos Torre-Repetto 1 1 X 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 8.0 4 Charles Jaffe ½ ½ 1 X 0 ½ 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 7.5 5 Abraham Kupchik 0 ½ ½ 1 X ½ 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 7.5 6 Isaac Kashdan 0 0 ½ ½ ½ X 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 1 7.0 7 Samuel D Factor ½ 0 0 1 0 0 X 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 6.5 8 Edward Lasker ½ ½ 1 0 0 0 0 X 1 1 1 0 1 6.0 9 Adolf Jay Fink 0 0 ½ 0 1 ½ 0 0 X 1 ½ ½ 1 5.0 10 Newell Williams Banks 1 0 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 0 X ½ ½ 1 4.5 11 Oscar Chajes 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ X 1 1 4.0 12 Jackson Whipps Showalter 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 ½ ½ 0 X 0 3.0 13 Lewis J Isaacs 0 ½ 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 2.5

-----
<Sources>

American Chess Bulletin, September/October 1926, p. 109-112.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 3, 1926; July 29, 1926; October 22, 1925; September 16, 1926

Chess Results 1921-1930 / Gino di Felice, p. 136-138.

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PREVIOUS: Game Collection: US Open 1925, Cedar Point = 26th Western Champ.

NEXT: Game Collection: US Open 1927 Kalamazoo = 28th Western Champ.

Masters Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
L Isaacs vs Showalter, 1926
(C42) Petrov Defense, 34 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
Ed. Lasker vs Maroczy, 1926
(D12) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
C Jaffe vs Torre, 1926
(A48) King's Indian, 84 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
Kashdan vs Kupchik, 1926
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 96 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
S Factor vs N Banks, 1926
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 75 moves, 1/2-1/2
Championship Tournament, Round 1 (Saturday, August 21)
A J Fink vs O Chajes, 1926
(B06) Robatsch, 92 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Sunday, August 22)
N Banks vs A J Fink, 1926
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 35 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Sunday, August 22)
Kupchik vs S Factor, 1926
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 46 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Sunday, August 22)
Torre vs Kashdan, 1926
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 37 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Saturday, August 22)
Maroczy vs C Jaffe, 1926
(D04) Queen's Pawn Game, 65 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Sunday, August 22)
Showalter vs Ed. Lasker, 1926
(B04) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 58 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 2 (Sunday, August 22)
Marshall vs L Isaacs, 1926
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 70 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
Ed. Lasker vs Marshall, 1926
(C89) Ruy Lopez, Marshall, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
C Jaffe vs Showalter, 1926
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 41 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
Kashdan vs Maroczy, 1926
(C00) French Defense, 33 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
S Factor vs Torre, 1926
(D90) Grunfeld, 38 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
A J Fink vs Kupchik, 1926
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 44 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 3 (Monday, August 23)
O Chajes vs N Banks, 1926
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 67 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
Kupchik vs O Chajes, 1926
(A15) English, 41 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
Torre vs A J Fink, 1926
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
Maroczy vs S Factor, 1926
(C48) Four Knights, 30 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
Showalter vs Kashdan, 1926
(B05) Alekhine's Defense, Modern, 57 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
Marshall vs C Jaffe, 1926
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 4 (Tuesday, August 24)
L Isaacs vs Ed. Lasker, 1926
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 49 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
C Jaffe vs L Isaacs, 1926
(C86) Ruy Lopez, Worrall Attack, 25 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
Kashdan vs Marshall, 1926
(D52) Queen's Gambit Declined, 37 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
S Factor vs Showalter, 1926
(D55) Queen's Gambit Declined, 37 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
A J Fink vs Maroczy, 1926
(C13) French, 20 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
O Chajes vs Torre, 1926
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 35 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 5 (Wednesday, August 25)
N Banks vs Kupchik, 1926
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 59 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
Torre vs N Banks, 1926
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 74 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
Maroczy vs O Chajes, 1926
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 31 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
Showalter vs A J Fink, 1926
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 55 moves, 1/2-1/2
Master Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
Marshall vs S Factor, 1926
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 49 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
L Isaacs vs Kashdan, 1926
(C55) Two Knights Defense, 61 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 6 (Thursday, August 26)
Ed. Lasker vs C Jaffe, 1926
(D52) Queen's Gambit Declined, 23 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
Kashdan vs Ed. Lasker, 1926
(D49) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, Meran, 62 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
S Factor vs L Isaacs, 1926
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 54 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
A J Fink vs Marshall, 1926
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 34 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
O Chajes vs Showalter, 1926
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 37 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
N Banks vs Maroczy, 1926
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 61 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 7 (Friday, August 27)
Kupchik vs Torre, 1926
(A48) King's Indian, 24 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 8 (Saturday, August 28)
Maroczy vs Kupchik, 1926
(A53) Old Indian, 39 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 8 (Saturday, August 28)
Showalter vs N Banks, 1926
(B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 8 (Saturday, August 28)
Marshall vs O Chajes, 1926
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 34 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 8 (Saturday, August 28)
Ed. Lasker vs S Factor, 1926
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 44 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 8 (Saturday, August 28)
C Jaffe vs Kashdan, 1926
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 63 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
S Factor vs C Jaffe, 1926
(D52) Queen's Gambit Declined, 66 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
A J Fink vs Ed. Lasker, 1926
(C78) Ruy Lopez, 97 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
O Chajes vs L Isaacs, 1926
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 72 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
N Banks vs Marshall, 1926
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 63 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
Kupchik vs Showalter, 1926
(A09) Reti Opening, 52 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 9 (Sunday, August 29)
Torre vs Maroczy, 1926
(D21) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 42 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
Showalter vs Torre, 1926
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 25 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
Marshall vs Kupchik, 1926
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 30 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
L Isaacs vs N Banks, 1926
(B13) Caro-Kann, Exchange, 42 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
Ed. Lasker vs O Chajes, 1926
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 59 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
C Jaffe vs A J Fink, 1926
(C66) Ruy Lopez, 37 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 10 (Monday, August 30)
Kashdan vs S Factor, 1926
(C79) Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred, 20 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 11 (Tuesday, August 31)
A J Fink vs Kashdan, 1926
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 62 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 11 (Tuesday, August 31)
O Chajes vs C Jaffe, 1926
(C91) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 21 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 11 (Tuesday, August 31)
Torre vs Marshall, 1926
(D11) Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, 37 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 11 (Tuesday, August 31)
Maroczy vs Showalter, 1926
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 23 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
Marshall vs Maroczy, 1926
(D67) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, Bd3 line, 44 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
L Isaacs vs Torre, 1926
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 69 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
Ed. Lasker vs Kupchik, 1926
(A50) Queen's Pawn Game, 46 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
C Jaffe vs N Banks, 1926
(B15) Caro-Kann, 11 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
Kashdan vs O Chajes, 1926
(A54) Old Indian, Ukrainian Variation, 4.Nf3, 40 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 12 (Wednesday, September 1)
S Factor vs A J Fink, 1926
(D02) Queen's Pawn Game, 8 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 13 (Thursday, September 2)
N Banks vs Kashdan, 1926
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 46 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 13 (Thursday, September 2)
Kupchik vs C Jaffe, 1926
(C84) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 37 moves, 1-0
Masters Tournament, Round 13 (Thursday, September 2)
Torre vs Ed. Lasker, 1926
(A09) Reti Opening, 48 moves, 0-1
Masters Tournament, Round 13 (Thursday, September 2)
Maroczy vs L Isaacs, 1926
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2
Masters Tournament, Round 13 (Thursday, September 2)
Showalter vs Marshall, 1926
(B03) Alekhine's Defense, 45 moves, 0-1
74 games

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