1999.02.01:
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Question: |
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Request for Assistance: Researching Games by Norman
T. Whitaker from San Francisco 1923 |
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My name is John Hilbert. I am researching the life
and games of Norman T. Whitaker. In 1923 Whitaker tied for first place
with Stasch Mlotkowski, then of Los Angeles, in the 24th Western Chess
Association Tournament held that year in San Francisco. The event,
with twelve participants, was played July 28, 1923 through August 4, 1923,
and according to the American Chess Bulletin for 1923, at page 155, the
annual meeting of the Western Chess Association was held at the rooms of
the Mechanics Institute Chess Club. |
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I am looking for someone either in the San Francisco
area or who has access to San Francisco or Los Angeles papers, or who has
connections with the Mechanics Institute Chess Club, who would be willing
to check newspaper microfilm for game scores by Whitaker from this event.
While over 500 Whitaker games have been recovered so far, only his loss
to Factor (out of eleven games played) has come to light from this event. |
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I can be reached at jshchess@aol.com
by anyone who might be able to help. Thanks so much for considering
my request. |
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John S. Hilbert
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Answer: |
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I hope the following game will help John Hilbert in his research on
the life and chess career of Norman T. Whitaker: |
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G.E.K. Branch - NTW
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WCA Championship, San Francisco 1923
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6
8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rc1 c5 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.Rfd1 b4 14.Na4 cxd4
15.Rxc8 Qxc8 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Bb1 h6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.f4 Nc6 20.Nb6 Qc7 21.Nxe6
Qxb6 22.Bh7+ Kxh7 23.Nxf8+ Kg8 24.Nd7 Qd8 25.Rd6 Kh8 26.Ne5 Qe8 27.Ng4
Be7 28.Rd5 Nd8 29.Rh5 Bf8 30.Qd2 f6 31.Rh3 Bc8 32.Rg3 Ne6 33.Nf2 Nc5 34.Qc2
Bb7 35.h4 Ne4 36.Nxe4 Qxe4 37.Qc7 Qe7 38.Qc4 Qc5 39.Qe2 a5 40.Kh2 Be4 41.Qa6
Bd5 42.b3 Be4 43.Qe6 Qe7 44.Qa6 Qc7 45 Qe6 Bb1 46.Qe8 Qe7 47.Qa4 Qd8 48.Rf3
f5 49.Kg3 Be7 50.h5 Bh4+ 51.Kh2 Bd3 52.g3 Bf6 53.Rf2 Bc3 54.Qc6 Be4 55.Qe6
Bf6 56.g4 Bc3 57.Kg1 Black announced mate in six moves. |
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British Chess Magazine, 1923, p463
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Good luck to John in his work! |
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Chess
is a scientific game and its literature ought to be placed on the basis
of the strictest truthfulness, which is the foundation of all scientific
research.