Author: Esteban Canal (1896–1981) from the Library of Lothar Schmid
Year: 1951
Publisher: Accademia Reggiana Scacchi
Place: Reggio Emilia
Description:
20 pages with tables and photographs. Royal Octavo (9 1/2" x 6 3/4") bound in original publisher's wrappers. From the library of Lothar Schmid. (Bibliotheca Van der Linde-Niemeijeriana: 5832) First edition.
The Reggio Emilia chess tournament is a chess tournament played in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In Italian the tournament is called Torneo di Capodanno (New Year's tournament), as it starts just after Christmas and ends on the day of Epiphany (6 January). It was established as an annual event in 1958 by grandmaster Enrico Paoli. It is Italy's oldest and most renowned chess tournament. The tournament is usually played as a 10 to 16 player round-robin tournament. The 1952 was the first edition of this tournament which had twelve combatants. Moshe Czerniak was the victor with a score of 9/11 easily out distancing the second place finisher, the American Herman Steiner, by a full point. Elio Romani and Enrico Paoli, both Italians fished third and fourth each half point behind in their respective places. Fifth and sixth was shared with Hans Keller of Austria and Federico Norcia of Italy each with 5 1/2 points.
Lothar Maximilian Lorenz Schmid (10 May 1928 - 18 May 2013) was a German chess grandmaster. He was born in Radebeul near Dresden into a family who were the co-owners of the Karl May Press, which published the German Karl May adventure novels. He was best known as the chief arbiter at several World Chess Championship matches, in particular the 1972 encounter between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky at Reykjavic. He was also an avid collector of chess books and paraphernalia. It was reputed that he owned the largest known private chess library in the world, as well as a renowned collection of chess art, chess boards and chess pieces from around the globe.
Condition:
Lothar Schmid's book plate to front wrapper verso. Interior toned, edge wear with bumped corners else very good.