The Grand International Masters'; Chess Tournament at St Petersburg, 1914: the Whole of the games, with notes, both original and compiled from various sources

The Grand International Masters'; Chess Tournament at St Petersburg, 1914: the Whole of the games, with notes, both original and compiled from various sources

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Author: Watts, William Henry (1878-1941) [compiler]

Year: 1924

Publisher: David McKay Co

Place: Philadelphia

Description:

75 pages with index. Small octavo (7 1/2" x 5") issued in red cloth with black lettering to cover. Picture of the tournament player laid in. (Betts: 25-55) First American edition.

Contains all 75 games, with notes from various sources, chiefly newspaper columns. The tournament was in two sections, all eleven players competing in the first fifty five games and the five leaders in the second twenty games. Includes an introduction, indexes of games and openings, and reproduction of a group photograph of the contestants laid in. The St. Petersburg Grand International Masters' Tournament of 1914 was undoubtedly the most important tournament since the first San Sebastian Tournament, when Capablanca won his spurs, or, as some will have it, since the St. Petersburg Quadrangular Tournament of 1895.

It would be noteworthy even if for no other reason than that the World's Champion, Dr. Emanuel Lasker, took part - the first occasion since the last International Tournament in St. Petersburg in 1909. On that occasion, however he tied for the first place with Akuba K. Rubinstein instead of winning outright, as on this occasion and in 1895. It is a remarkable circumstance that this time Rubinstein did not even attain so high as fifth place, which would have enabled him to play in the second section for the allocation of the prizes, the more extraordinary in view of his almost unbroken success of late years. The St. Petersburg Chess Society was responsible for the initiation, organization, and conduct of the Tournament, the Tsar himself subscribing 1,000 rubles towards the prize fund.

Condition:

Spine ends chipped, corners bumped, previous owner's name on front end paper, notes on back paste down, some marginalia, marks-a-lot on page 26, 27 and 52 from one to three lines else a good to very good copy lacking dust jacket.

SOLD 2018