1939 in chess
Encyclopedia
Chess events in brief
- Last (21st) edition of Howard StauntonHoward StauntonHoward Staunton was an English chess master who is generally regarded as having been the world's strongest player from 1843 to 1851, largely as a result of his 1843 victory over Saint-Amant. He promoted a chess set of clearly distinguishable pieces of standardised shape—the Staunton pattern—that...
's The Chess-Player's Handbook is published.
- 21 August-19 September 1939 - the 8th Chess Olympiad8th Chess OlympiadThe 8th Chess Olympiad, organised by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs , comprised an 'open' tournament, as well as a Women's World Championship contest...
(known at the time as the Hamilton-Russell Cup) is held in Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. Germany wins the gold medal (Erich EliskasesErich EliskasesErich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....
on first board), Poland silver (Savielly TartakowerSavielly TartakowerKsawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
on first board), and Estonia bronze (Paul KeresPaul KeresPaul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
on first board).
- The 7th Women's World ChampionshipWomen's World Chess ChampionshipThe Women's World Chess Championship is played to determine the women's world champion in chess. Like the World Chess Championship, it is administered by FIDE....
is held in conjunction with the Olympiad. Vera Menchik-StevensonVera MenchikVera Menchik was a British-Czech chess player who gained renown as the world's first women's chess champion. She also competed in chess tournaments with some of the world's leading male chess masters, defeating many of them, including future World Champion Max Euwe.The daughter of a Czech father...
(England) retains her title. She won, scoring 18/19, followed by Sonja GrafSonja GrafSonja Graf was a German chess master who also lived in Argentina and the United States. She was the Women's World Sub-Champion, two-time winner of the U.S...
(16/19), Berna CarrascoBerna CarrascoBerna Carrasco Araya a Chilean chess master, born in San Bernardo, Chile. She was a Women's World Championship challenger at Buenos Aires 1939, where she took 3rd, behind Vera Menchik and Sonja Graf....
(15.5/19), etc.
- Political refugees - At the conclusion of events, many participants decided to stay in Argentina or moved elsewhere in South America, rather than face an uncertain future by returning to Europe in the midst of World War II. The players affected included Miguel NajdorfMiguel NajdorfMiguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
, Paulino FrydmanPaulino FrydmanPaulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:...
, Gideon StåhlbergGideon StåhlbergAnders Gideon Tom Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess grandmaster.He won the Swedish Chess Championship of 1927, became Nordic champion in 1929, and held it until 1939....
, Erich EliskasesErich EliskasesErich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....
, Paul Michel, Ludwig EngelsLudwig EngelsLudwig Engels was a German–Brazilian chess master.-Biography:In 1928, Engels tied for 1st-2nd with van Nüss in Düsseldorf. In 1929, he took 4th in Cologne. In 1929, he won in Duisburg. In 1929, he tied for 1st-3rd in Duisburg. In 1930, he tied for 1st-2nd with Weissgerber in Frankfurt...
, Albert Becker, Heinrich ReinhardtHeinrich ReinhardtHeinrich Reinhardt a German–Argentine chess master.In 1932, he tied for 3rd-5th in Hamburg–Altona . In 1935, he won a match against Herbert Taube in Hamburg . In 1937, he tied for 3rd-4th in Berlin...
, Jiří Pelikán, Karel SkaličkaKarel SkalickaKarel Skalička was a Czech–Argentine chess master.In 1924, he won a team gold medal for Czechoslovakia in the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad in Paris. He took 3rd in group eliminations , and tied for 21-31st in the major tournament...
, Markas LuckisMarkas LuckisMarkas Luckis was a Lithuanian–Argentine chess master.-Biography:Luckis was born in Lithuania. He twice won the Kaunas City Chess Championship in 1927 and 1928...
, Movsas FeiginsMovsas FeiginsMovsas Feigins or Movša Feigins was a Latvian chess master.-Biography:Movsas Feigins was born in Dvinsk, . He won at Riga 1930, and was Latvian Champion in 1932 . In 1932, he tied for 3rd–5th at Riga. The event was won by Vladimirs Petrovs...
, Ilmar RaudIlmar RaudIlmar Raud was an Estonian chess master.-Biography:Raud played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event was won by Gunnar Friedemann. In 1934, he won the 6th EST–ch. In 1936, he took 3rd at the 8th EST–ch...
, Moshe CzerniakMoshe Czerniak-Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club...
, Meir RauchMeir RauchMeir Rauch was an Israeli chess master, born in Zolynia, Poland.In August–September 1939, he played for the Palestinian team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on the first reserve board in Buenos Aires...
, Victor WinzVictor WinzVictor Winz was a Palestine/Israeli–Argentine chess master.Born in Germany, he began his chess career in Berlin...
, Aristide GromerAristide GromerAristide Gromer was a French chess master.Gromer was thrice French Champion .He tied for 5-6th at Paris 1923 , took 3rd at Biarritz 1926 , took 2nd, behind Chéron, at Saint-Cloude 1929, shared 2nd with Savielly Tartakower, behind Eugene Znosko-Borovsky, at Paris 1930, took 2nd, behind Aimé Gibaud,...
, Franciszek SulikFranciszek SulikFranciszek Sulik was a Polish-Australian chess master.Before World War II, he lived in Lvov . In 1934, he tied for 2nd-3rd with Henryk Friedman, behind Stepan Popel, in the Lvov championship. In 1935, he tied for 8-9th in Warsaw...
, Adolf SeitzAdolf SeitzJakob Adolf Seitz was a German–Argentine chess master and journalist.In 1920, he tied for 2-4th in Canterbury, took 10th in Berlin, and tied for 4-5th in Kulmbach. In 1921, he tied for 8-9th in Hamburg. In 1922, he tied for 2nd-3rd in London . In 1922/23 he tied for 6-9th in Portsmouth/Southsea...
, Chris De RondeChris de RondeChris de Ronde was a Dutch–Argentine chess master.He was a champion of Rotterdam...
, Zelman KleinsteinZelman KleinsteinZelman Kleinstein was a Palestine/Israeli chess master.He played for Palestine team in the 8th Chess Olympiad on fourth board at Buenos Aires 1939...
, Sonja GrafSonja GrafSonja Graf was a German chess master who also lived in Argentina and the United States. She was the Women's World Sub-Champion, two-time winner of the U.S...
and Paulette SchwartzmannPaulette SchwartzmannPaulette Schwartzmann was a Latvian–French–Argentine chess player.Born in Riga, she emigrated to France. She won seven times French Chess Championship , although she was awarded the title only thrice. She became French citizen in 1933.She played twice in Women's World Chess Championship...
. Most of them were Jewish and had come to Buenos Aires in August 1939 on the Belgian steamer "Piriapolis". The ship has therefore come to be regarded as the epitome of Noah's Ark for a generation of chess players. Significantly, all members of the German team also chose not to return to Nazi GermanyNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
- 27 December 1939 - American Chess Federation and National Chess Federation form the United States Chess FederationUnited States Chess FederationThe United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
(USCF).
Tournaments
- Hastings International Chess CongressHastings International Chess CongressThe Hastings International Chess Congress is an annual chess congress which takes place in Hastings, England, around the turn of the year. The main event is the Hastings Premier tournament, which was traditionally a 10 to 16 player round-robin tournament. In 2004/05 the tournament was played in the...
won by László SzabóLászló Szabó (chess player)László Szabó was a prominent Hungarian Grandmaster of chess.Born in Budapest, he burst onto the international chess scene in 1935, at the unusually young age of 18...
ahead of Max EuweMax EuweMachgielis Euwe was a Dutch chess Grandmaster, mathematician, and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion . Euwe also served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.- Early years :Euwe was born in Watergraafsmeer, near Amsterdam...
, 1938/39. - SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
(the Australian Chess ChampionshipAustralian Chess ChampionshipThe Australian Chess Championship is a tournament organised by the Australian Chess Federation and held every two years. The tournament is usually restricted to Australian chess players, although exceptions have been made on occasion. The winner of the tournament holds the title of Australian Chess...
), won by Gary KoshnitskyGary KoshnitskyGregory Koshnitsky was an Australian chess master.Born in Kishinev, Bessarabia , he emigrated in his youth to Australia....
, 1938/39. - WanganuiWanganuiWhanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
(the New Zealand Chess ChampionshipNew Zealand Chess ChampionshipThe New Zealand Chess Championship was first conducted in 1879.Note: Up until 1934 foreign players were eligible for the title. The eligibility rules were changed in 1935 to preclude this; John Angus Erskine was born in Invercargill and was therefore eligible although he was domiciled in...
), won by John DunlopJohn Dunlop (chess player)John Boyd Dunlop was a chess player from New Zealand. He won the New Zealand Chess Championship in 1920-21 , 1921-22, 1922-23 , 1933-34 , 1938-39 and 1939-40.- Sources :...
, 1938/39. - RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(the Latvian Chess ChampionshipLatvian Chess Championship-History:Professional level Latvian chess players have already appeared in the nineteenth century. They participated in chess tournaments and union congresses, organized by the Riga Chess Association. After the World War I, when Latvia became an independent country, official Latvian chess...
), won by Vladimirs PetrovsVladimirs PetrovsVladimirs Petrovs or Vladimir Petrov was a Latvian chess master.He was born in Riga, Latvia. Though he learned the game of chess relatively late, at age thirteen, Petrovs made rapid progress. By 1926, at age 19, he won the Riga Championship and finish third in the national championship...
, 1938/39. - WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
won by Mieczysław NajdorfMiguel NajdorfMiguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
ahead of Dawid PrzepiórkaDawid PrzepiórkaDawid Przepiórka was a prominent Polish chess player of the early twentieth century.Dawid Przepiórka was born 22 December 1880 in Warsaw, Poland , to a family of wealthy landowners and entrepreneurs of Jewish extraction...
, 1938/39. - KarlsruheKarlsruheThe City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
won by Anton KohlerAnton KohlerAnton Kohler , a German chess player from Munich.In 1937, he shared 3rd in Stadtprozelten / Main, and took 12th in Bad Oeynhausen . In 1938, he won in Heilbronn, and tied for 8-9th in Bad Oeynhausen . In 1938/39, he tied for 1st-3rd in Karlsruhe...
, Efim BogoljubowEfim BogoljubowEfim Dmitriyevich Bogolyubov was a Russo-German chess grandmaster who won numerous events and played two matches with Alexander Alekhine for the world championship.-Early career:...
and Eisinger Jr, 26 December 1938 - January 1939. - LeningradLeningradLeningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
-Moscow won by Salo FlohrSalo FlohrSalomon Mikhailovich Flohr was a leading Czech and later Soviet chess grandmaster of the mid-20th century, who became a national hero in Czechoslovakia during the 1930s. His name was used to sell many of the luxury products of the time, including Salo Flohr cigarettes, slippers and eau-de-cologne...
ahead of Samuel ReshevskySamuel ReshevskySamuel "Sammy" Herman Reshevsky was a famous chess prodigy and later a leading American chess Grandmaster...
, January 3 - February 1, 1939. - AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
(KNSB), won by Euwe, Szabó and Flohr - AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
(VARA), won by Salo LandauSalo LandauSalo Landau was a Dutch chess player, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.-Early life:...
and Euwe. - BaarnBaarnBaarn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The municipality Baarn :The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche.- The town Baarn :...
(I) (Quadrangular), won by Flohr. - BaarnBaarnBaarn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The municipality Baarn :The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche.- The town Baarn :...
(II) (Quadrangular), won by Euwe. - BeverwijkBeverwijkBeverwijk is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The town is located about northwest of Amsterdam in the Randstad metropolitan area, north of the North Sea Canal very close to the North Sea coast...
(Quadrangular), won by Nicolaas CortleverNicolaas CortleverNicolaas Cortlever was a Dutch chess master.He tied for 7-8th at Rotterdam 1936 ; took 2nd at Amsterdam 1938 ; won at the 2nd Hoogovens Beverwijk 1939 ; tied for 4-6th at Amsterdam I and 3rd-4th at Amsterdam II in 1939.During World War II, he tied for 2nd-3rd at...
. - AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
(the 12th Dutch Chess ChampionshipDutch Chess ChampionshipThe Dutch Chess Championship was officially established in 1909, although unofficial champions stretch back to the 1870s.-Early years:-Official championships:...
), won by Landau. - BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
won by Lodewijk PrinsLodewijk PrinsLodewijk Prins was a Dutch chess player and referee of chess competitions.Prins was awarded the International Master title in 1950, and was made an International Arbiter in 1960. In 1982 FIDE made him an honorary Grandmaster.Prins represented the Netherlands twelve times in all Chess Olympiads...
ahead of Paul ListPaul ListPaul M. List was a Ukrainian–German–British chess player.He was born in Odessa, Ukraine . He had a separate chess career in each of the 3 countries he lived in – Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom....
and H.E. Price. - BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
won by Zoltán von BallaZoltán von BallaZoltán von Balla was a Hungarian chess champion.In 1904, he took 11th in Coburg . In 1905, he took 10th in Vienna. In 1906, he won 1st Hungarian Championship in Györ. He shared the title with Zsigmond Barász at Budapest 1911...
and Szabó. - KemeriĶemeriĶemeri resort is a part of Jūrmala in Latvia, 44 km from Riga. From 1928 to 1959, Ķemeri was a separate town, famous for the healing mud baths and luxurious hotel. Now about 2 200 inhabitants live there, while the main hotel is under reconstruction....
–RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
won by Flohr ahead of Gideon StåhlbergGideon StåhlbergAnders Gideon Tom Ståhlberg was a Swedish chess grandmaster.He won the Swedish Chess Championship of 1927, became Nordic champion in 1929, and held it until 1939....
and Szabó, March 1939. - WarsawWarsawWarsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
won by Najdorf ahead of Paulin FrydmanPaulino FrydmanPaulino Frydman was a Polish chess master.-Biography:...
. - LodzLódzŁódź is the third-largest city in Poland. Located in the central part of the country, it had a population of 742,387 in December 2009. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is approximately south-west of Warsaw...
won by Izaak AppelIzaak Appel-Biography:In 1926, he took 12th. place in the Warsaw competition, which was won by Dawid Przepiórka. In 1929, he took 2nd place, behind Teodor Regedziński, in the Championship of Łódź. In 1930, he took 6th place in Zoppot , the event won by Paulin Frydman. In 1930–1934 and 1937, Appel won...
and Jakub KolskiJakub KolskiJakub Kolski was a Polish chess master.In the period 1920-1930s, Kolski was one of the strongest Lodz chess players. In 1922, he won ahead of Dawid Daniuszewski in Lodz . In 1924, he took 2nd, behind Gottesdiener, in Warsaw . In 1926, he tied for 3rd-7th in Warsaw...
, ahead of Teodor RegedzińskiTeodor RegedzinskiTeodor Regedziński was a Polish chess master.-Biography:Born Polish , Regedziński was of German origin as his father, named Reger. He had lived in Łódź since 1908, enrolling in the Łódź Association of Devotees of the Game of Chess...
, March 1939. - Lvov (Championship of the City), won by Izak SchächterIzak AloniIzak Aloni was an Israeli chess master.-Biography:Aloni, born Schächter in Buchach, Galicia , was twice Lvov champion , and four-times Lvov sub-champion . He played twice in Polish championships. In 1935, he tied for 12-14th in Warsaw...
ahead of Henryk FriedmanHenryk FriedmanHenryk Friedman was a Polish chess master.He lived in Lvov . In 1926–1934, Friedman won seven times in succession the Championship of Lvov but 1930, when he took 2nd place behind Stepan Popel. Friedman played in four Polish championships. In 1926, he took 14th in Warsaw . The event was won by...
. - MinskMinsk- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
(the Belarusian Chess ChampionshipBelarusian Chess ChampionshipThe 65th Belarusian Chess Championship was held 18–28 February 1999.GM Viacheslav Dydyshko won the 12-player, single round-robin tournament , earning his tenth championship in 26 attempts.-References:**...
), won by Gavril Veresov. - LeningradLeningradLeningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
(the Leningrad City Chess ChampionshipLeningrad City Chess ChampionshipThe Leningrad City Chess Championship is a chess tournament held officially in the city of Leningrad, Russia starting from 1920. The city was called Petrograd from 1914 to 1924, then Leningrad until 1991, and Saint Petersburg afterwards...
), won by Georgy LisitsinGeorgy LisitsinGeorgy Lisitsin was a Russian chess master.He won thrice Leningrad City Chess Championship in 1933/34 , 1939 and 1947 . He participated many times in USSR Chess Championship. His best result was in 1933 when he shared 3rd...
. - LübeckLübeckThe Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
won by Alfred BrinckmannAlfred BrinckmannAlfred Brinckmann was a German chess International Master, author and functionary from Kiel.-The chess player:He participated eight times in German Chess Championship in the period 1921-1949...
, start 2 April 1939. - KrefeldKrefeldKrefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
won by Georg KieningerGeorg KieningerGeorg Kieninger was a German chess player and International Master .An avid cigar smoker, Kieninger was nicknamed "Eisernen Schorsch" because of his fighting style. He won the German Chess Championship in 1937, 1940, and 1947...
and Ludwig EngelsLudwig EngelsLudwig Engels was a German–Brazilian chess master.-Biography:In 1928, Engels tied for 1st-2nd with van Nüss in Düsseldorf. In 1929, he took 4th in Cologne. In 1929, he won in Duisburg. In 1929, he tied for 1st-3rd in Duisburg. In 1930, he tied for 1st-2nd with Weissgerber in Frankfurt...
, start 6 April 1939. - Bad Warmbrunn won by Rudolf KellerRudolf KellerRudolf Keller was a German chess master.Born in Dresden, he was the brother of Edith Keller-Herrmann. In 1935-1938, he won Dresden and Saxony championships. He took 4th at Berlin 1938, shared 1st with Ludwig Rellstab and Paul Michel at Bad Warmbrunn 1939, played in a match Germany vs...
, Paul Michel and Ludwig RellstabLudwig Rellstab (chess player)Ludwig Rellstab was a German chess master.He was German Champion, winning at Bad Oeynhausen 1942. He took 8th in the European Championship at Munich 1942 . In 1943, he took 6th in Salzburg...
, start 7 April 1939. - AberdeenAberdeenAberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
(the Scottish Chess ChampionshipScottish Chess ChampionshipThe Scottish Chess Championship is organised by Chess Scotland, formerly the Scottish Chess Association. It has been running since 1884, and nowadays takes the form of a nine round tournament played over two weekends and the week in between...
), won by Max PaveyMax PaveyMax Pavey was an American chess master and medical doctor. Pavey was of at least International Master strength.- Biography :...
, April 1939. - MargateMargate-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
won by Paul KeresPaul KeresPaul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
ahead of José Raúl CapablancaJosé Raúl CapablancaJosé Raúl Capablanca y Graupera was a Cuban chess player who was world chess champion from 1921 to 1927. One of the greatest players of all time, he was renowned for his exceptional endgame skill and speed of play...
and Flohr, 12–21 April 1939. - LeningradLeningradLeningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
(the 11th USSR Chess ChampionshipUSSR Chess ChampionshipThis is a list of all the winners of the USSR Chess Championship. It was the strongest national chess championship ever held, with eight world chess champions and four world championship finalists among its winners...
), won by Mikhail BotvinnikMikhail BotvinnikMikhail Moiseyevich Botvinnik, Ph.D. was a Soviet and Russian International Grandmaster and three-time World Chess Champion. Working as an electrical engineer and computer scientist at the same time, he was one of the very few famous chess players who achieved distinction in another career while...
ahead of Alexander KotovAlexander KotovAlexander Alexandrovich Kotov was a Soviet chess grandmaster and author. He was a Soviet champion, a two-time world title Candidate, and a prolific chess author. Kotov served in high posts in the Soviet Chess Federation and most of his books were written during the period of Cold War between the...
, April 15 - May 16, 1939. - StuttgartStuttgartStuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
(Europa-Turnier) won by Bogoljubow ahead of Kurt RichterKurt RichterKurt Paul Otto Joseph Richter was a German chess International Master and chess writer.- Chess achievements :...
, start 15 May 1939. - MontreuxMontreuxMontreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
(the Swiss Chess ChampionshipSwiss Chess ChampionshipThe Swiss Chess Championship is held annually during two weeks of July. It is organised by the Swiss Chess Federation , which has been a member of the overall governing body, Swiss Olympic, since 2000...
), won by Henri GrobHenri GrobHenri Grob was a Swiss chess master.Grob represented Switzerland in Chess Olympiads.* In 1927, at fourth board in 1st Chess Olympiad in London ;...
. - Paris won by Nicolas RossolimoNicolas RossolimoNicolas Rossolimo was an American-French-Russian-Greek chess Grandmaster. He was many times champion of Paris, France, and after relocating to the United States won the 1955 U.S. Open Championship...
ahead of Savielly TartakowerSavielly TartakowerKsawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
. - Rome (the Italian Chess ChampionshipItalian Chess ChampionshipThe Italian Chess Federation , was established in 1920.The first Italian Chess Championship took place at Viareggio 1921.The 1998 Championship was held 21–29 November in Saint-Vincent....
), won by Mario MonticelliMario MonticelliMario Monticelli was an Italian chess grandmaster.In 1922, he won in Rome . In 1925, he won in Bologna. In 1926, Monticelli tied for 1st with Ernst Grünfeld in Budapest. In 1929, he took 11th in Budapest . In 1929, he tied for 4-5th in Barcelona...
ahead of Vincenzo CastaldiVincenzo CastaldiVincenzo Castaldi was an Italian chess master.He won the Italian Chess Championship seven times, , and was an Italian correspondence chess champion in 1956.Castaldi represented Italy on first board in the 7th Chess Olympiad at Stockholm 1937 and 9th Chess Olympiad at...
. - ZagrebZagrebZagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
(the Yugoslav Chess ChampionshipYugoslav Chess ChampionshipThe Yugoslav Chess Championship is a tournament with great tradition, held to determine the national champion. It was a very strong event especially in the period 1945–1991, when it represented players from six federal republics, today independent countries....
), won by Milan VidmarMilan VidmarMilan Vidmar was a Slovene electrical engineer, chess player, chess theorist, philosopher, and writer. He was a specialist in power transformers and transmission of electric current.- Biography :...
ahead of Vasilije TomovićVasilije TomovićVasilije Tomović aka Vasily Tomovic was a Montenegrin chess master. He was born in Mateševo.Before World War II, Vasilije Tomovic was the first significant chess player in Montenegro. He was also mathematician and philosopher. In April 1936, he tied for 11-12th in Novi Sad...
. - PraguePraguePrague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
won by Jiří Pelikán ahead of Karel OpočenskýKarel OpocenskýKarel Opočenský was a Czech chess master.-Biography:He was four-time Czech Champion . In 1919, he took 2nd, behind František Schubert, in Prague . In 1925, he tied for 3rd-4th in Paris . In 1927, he won in Česke Budějovice...
, František SchubertFrantišek SchubertFrantišek Schubert was a Czech chess master.Before World War I, he took 4th at Pilsen 1911 , played at Böhmisch Trübau 1913, and took 7th at Jungbunzlau 1913 .In 1915, he took 5th in Vienna František Schubert (27 April 1894, Mladá Boleslav – December 1940) was a Czech chess master.Before World...
and Karel SkaličkaKarel SkalickaKarel Skalička was a Czech–Argentine chess master.In 1924, he won a team gold medal for Czechoslovakia in the 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad in Paris. He took 3rd in group eliminations , and tied for 21-31st in the major tournament...
. - Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
(the Argentine Chess ChampionshipArgentine Chess ChampionshipThe first Argentine Chess Championship was held in 1921. The Champion's title was granted after victorious or drawn match between previous champion and challenger, a winner of Torneo Mayor...
, Torneo Mayor), won by Ion Traian IliescuJuan IliescoJuan Traian Iliesco aka Ion Traian Iliescu was a Romanian–Argentine chess master.He played several times in Argentine championships...
followed jointly by Carlos MadernaCarlos MadernaCarlos Hugo Maderna was an Argentine chess master.He was twice Argentine Champion; in 1940 he won a match for the title against Luis Piazzini , then lost a match to Carlos Guimard in 1941, and won the title after play-off with Jacobo Bolbochán and Heinrich Reinhardt in 1950/51.In 1928, he tied...
, Luis PiazziniLuis PiazziniLuis Roberto Piazzini was an Argentine chess master.He participated many times in Argentine championships, and was an Argentine Champion in 1933 winning ARG-ch Torneo Mayor and a match for the title against Jacobo Bolbochán...
, and José GerschmanJosé GerschmanJosé Gerschman was an Argentine chess master.He played four times in Argentine Chess Championship . He took 15th in 1937 , took 19th in 1938 , tied for 2nd-4th in 1939 and took last place in a play-off triangular tournament for the title , and took 13th in 1940 José Gerschman (born c. 1910) was...
. - London (Championship of the City), won by George Alan ThomasGeorge Alan ThomasSir George Alan Thomas, Bart. was a British badminton, tennis and chess player. He was twice British Chess Champion and a 21-time All-England Badminton champion. He also played in the semi-finals of the men's tennis doubles at Wimbledon in 1911...
. - London (League Congress), won by William WinterWilliam Winter (chess player)William Winter was a British chess player. He won the British Open Chess Championship in 1934 and the British Chess Championship in 1935 and 1936. An acolyte of Siegbert Tarrasch, his sound, strategic play enabled him to defeat a number of the world's top players, including David Bronstein, Aron...
. - DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
(the South African Chess ChampionshipSouth African Chess ChampionshipThe first South African Chess Championship was organised in 1892 by the Cape Town Chess Club. Nowadays the Championship is organised by Chess South Africa , the governing body of chess in South Africa. The tournament is normally held every two years...
) won by Wolfgang HeidenfeldWolfgang HeidenfeldWolfgang Heidenfeld was a chess player.Heidenfeld was born in Berlin. He was forced to move from Germany to South Africa because he was a Jew. There, he won the South African Chess Championship eight times, and he represented South Africa in the Chess Olympiad in 1958...
. - OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
(the 19th Nordic Chess ChampionshipNordic Chess ChampionshipThe first Nordic Chess Championship took place in Stockholm in 1897.-Winners:The winners in the Nordic Championship in 1934 and 1936, Aron Nimzowitsch and Erik Lundin, got the Nordiske kongresmestre title, as the champion 1930, Erik Andersen, defended his title with 3-3 against Gideon Ståhlberg at...
), won by Ståhlberg and Erik LundinErik LundinErik Lundin a Swedish chess master.In 1928, he won in Oslo, took 5th in Helsingborg, tied for 2nd-3rd in Stockholm . In 1929, he took 2nd in Göteborg , and took 3rd in Västerås...
. - HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
(the Finnish Chess ChampionshipFinnish Chess Championship-References: *-External links: *...
), won by Osmo KailaOsmo KailaOsmo Ilmari Kaila was a Finnish chess master and chess problemist.Born in Helsinki, he was twice Finnish Champion and thrice Sub-Champion ....
. - CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
(the Danish Chess ChampionshipDanish Chess ChampionshipThe Danish Chess Championship was organised by the Danish Chess Union and first held in 1910. A masterclass was first introduced in 1915. But it is only from 1922 that the title of Danish chess champion was introduced, this was the first year also players from Copenhagen joined.-History:In 1949...
, play-off), won by Holger Norman-HansenHolger Norman-HansenHolger Norman-Hansen was a Danish chess master.Norman-Hansen played for Denmark in Chess Olympiads:* In the 1st Chess Olympiad at London 1927 ;* In the 2nd Chess Olympiad at The Hague 1928 ;...
. - StockholmStockholmStockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
(the Swedish Chess ChampionshipSwedish Chess ChampionshipThe first Swedish Champion was Gustaf Nyholm who won two matches against winners of national tournaments: Berndtsson in Göteborg and Löwenborg in Stockholm in 1917. Until 1931 Swedish Chess Championships decided by match play. In the 1930s, Gideon Ståhlberg held the title in spite of results of the...
), won by Ståhlberg ahead of Rudolf SpielmannRudolf SpielmannRudolf Spielmann was an Austrian-Jewish chess player of the romantic school, and chess writer.-Career:He was a lawyer but never worked as one....
and Nils BergkvistNils BergkvistNils Valentin Bergkvist or Nils Bergqvist was a Swedish chess master.He shared first in the national tournament at Lund 1933, took 5th at Stockholm 1937 , played a match with Salo Landau at Stockholm 1937, twice tied for 3rd-4th, with Ernst Larsson at Kalmar 1938 , and with Allan Bergkvist at...
. - GothenburgGothenburgGothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
won by Flohr and Spielmann. - TallinnTallinnTallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
(the Estonian Chess ChampionshipEstonian Chess ChampionshipThe first unofficial Estonian Chess Championship was held in 1903, organized by a chess club formed in Reval in 1903 and named for the famous Russian master Mikhail Chigorin. After the World War I, when Estonia became an independent country, official Estonian championships started...
), won by Ilmar RaudIlmar RaudIlmar Raud was an Estonian chess master.-Biography:Raud played several times in the Estonian championships at Tallinn. In 1933, he tied for 3rd-5th at the 5th EST–ch. The event was won by Gunnar Friedemann. In 1934, he won the 6th EST–ch. In 1936, he took 3rd at the 8th EST–ch...
. - Jerusalem (Championship of the City), won by Moshe CzerniakMoshe Czerniak-Biography:In 1930 Moshe Czerniak took ninth at Warsaw in an event won by Paulino Frydman. In 1934 Czerniak emigrated from Poland to Palestine . In April 1935, he tied for 7th–8th in Tel Aviv . He was Palestinian Champion in 1936 and 1938. In April 1939, he played in the First Lasker Chess Club...
, June 1939. - Berlin (the Berlin City Chess ChampionshipBerlin City Chess ChampionshipThe Berlin Chess Championship is an annual chess tournament in Germany. The first unofficial Berlin Chess Championship was held in 1853, and Jean Dufresne won a match against Max Lange.Since 1904, official Berlin championships have taken place...
), won by Mölbitz ahead of Paul MrossPaul MrossPaul Mross was a Polish–German chess master.-Biography:...
, June 1939. - Bad ElsterBad ElsterBad Elster is a spa town in the Vogtlandkreis district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It lies on the border of Bavaria and the Czech Republic in the Elster gebirge hills. It is situated on the river Weiße Elster, and is protected from extremes of temperature by the surrounding wooded...
won by Erich EliskasesErich EliskasesErich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....
followed by Josef LokvencJosef LokvencJosef Lokvenc was an Austrian chess master.In 1925, he was awarded the Chess Master title in Braunau. In 1926, he took 3rd in Vienna. In 1936, he tied for 6-7th in Vienna . In 1938, he tied for 6-7th in Bad Harzburg...
, Herbert HeinickeHerbert HeinickeHerbert Heinicke was a German chess master.-Biography:He, like Carlos Otto Junge and Klaus Junge, left South America for Hamburg, Germany....
and Michel, start 4 June 1939. - ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
won by Eliskases ahead of Hans Müller, start 11 June 1939. - Bad HarzburgBad HarzburgBad Harzburg is a town in central Germany, in the Goslar district of Lower Saxony. It lies on the northern edge of the Harz mountains and is a recognised saltwater spa and climatic health resort.- Location :...
won by Eliskases ahead of Ståhlberg, start 25 June 1939. - Bad OeynhausenBad OeynhausenBad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
(the 6th German Chess ChampionshipGerman Chess ChampionshipThe German Chess Championship has been played since 1861, and determines the national champion.Prior to 1880 three different federations organized chess activities in Germany: the Westdeutscher Schachbund , the Norddeutscher Schachbund and the Mitteldeutscher Schachbund . Each one organized its...
), won by Eliskases followed by Lokvenc, Karl GilgKarl GilgKarl Gilg was a German chess International Master from Czechoslovakia.Gilg played for Czechoslovakia in several Chess Olympiads....
, etc., start 9 July 1939. - Ventnor City won by Milton HanauerMilton HanauerMilton Loeb Hanauer was a public school principal, chess master and Marshall Chess Club official.Born in Harrison, New York, He is best known for running the New York school competition that became known as the Hanauer League and for writing the book Chess Made Simple.His playing career is not...
ahead of Fred ReinfeldFred ReinfeldFred Reinfeld was an American chess master and a prolific writer on chess and many other subjects, whose books are still read today.-Biography:...
, 8–16 July 1939. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(the 40th U.S. OpenU.S. Open Chess ChampionshipThe U.S. Open Championship is an open national chess championship that has been held in the United States annually since 1900.-History:Through 1938, the tournaments were organized by the Western Chess Association and its successor, the American Chess Federation .The United States Chess Federation ...
, American Chess Federation Championship), won by Reuben FineReuben FineReuben Fine was one of the strongest chess players in the world from the early 1930s through the 1940s, an International Grandmaster, psychologist, university professor, and author of many books on both chess and psychology.Fine won five medals in three chess Olympiads. Fine won the U.S...
followed by Reshevsky, Israel Albert Horowitz, etc., 17–29 July 1939. - BournemouthBournemouthBournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
won by Max EuweMax EuweMachgielis Euwe was a Dutch chess Grandmaster, mathematician, and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion . Euwe also served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.- Early years :Euwe was born in Watergraafsmeer, near Amsterdam...
ahead of Ernest KleinErnest Klein (chess player)Ernest Ludwig Klein was an Austrian-British chess master and author.Born in Vienna into a Jewish family, he emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1930s...
and Flohr, August 1939. - RosarioRosarioRosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
won by Petrovs, followed by Eliskases, Vladas MikėnasVladas MikenasVladas Mikėnas was a Lithuanian International Master of chess, an Honorary Grandmaster, and a journalist.- Early life :Vladas Mikėnas played for Lithuania at first board in five official and one unofficial Chess Olympiads....
, etc., 21–28 September 1939. - MontevideoMontevideoMontevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
(Millington Drake Tournament) won by Alexander AlekhineAlexander AlekhineAlexander Alexandrovich Alekhine was the fourth World Chess Champion. He is often considered one of the greatest chess players ever.By the age of twenty-two, he was already among the strongest chess players in the world. During the 1920s, he won most of the tournaments in which he played...
ahead of Harry GolombekHarry GolombekHarry Golombek OBE , was a British chess International Master and honorary grandmaster, chess arbiter, and chess author. He was three times British chess champion, in 1947, 1949, and 1955 and finished second in 1948. He became a grandmaster in 1985.He was the chess correspondent of The Times...
and Vera MenchikVera MenchikVera Menchik was a British-Czech chess player who gained renown as the world's first women's chess champion. She also competed in chess tournaments with some of the world's leading male chess masters, defeating many of them, including future World Champion Max Euwe.The daughter of a Czech father...
, 21–29 September 1939. - Buenos AiresBuenos AiresBuenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
(Circulo) won by Keres and Miguel NajdorfMiguel NajdorfMiguel Najdorf was a Polish-born Argentine chess grandmaster of Jewish origin, famous for his Najdorf Variation....
, ahead of Ståhlberg and Czerniak, 2–19 October 1939. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(the 23rd Marshall Chess ClubMarshall Chess ClubThe Marshall Chess Club in New York City is one of the oldest chess clubs in the United States, located in Greenwich Village. The club was formed in 1915 by a group of players led by Frank Marshall. It is a non-profit organization.-History:...
Championship), won by Fine followed by Hanauer, Frank James Marshall, David PollandDavid PollandDavid S. Polland was an American chess master.He tied for 2nd-4th at New York 1930/31 ,...
, Herbert SeidmanHerbert SeidmanHerbert Seidman was a U.S. Senior Master of chess born in New York City. He played several times in the U.S. Chess Championship. He was known for his swashbuckling-style, playing risky or sacrificial openings such as the Orang-Utan attack.In 1961, Seidman won the most games of any player in the U.S...
, Edward LaskerEdward LaskerEdward Lasker was a leading German-American chess and Go player. He was awarded the title of International Master of chess by FIDE. Lasker was an engineer by profession, and an author.-Background:...
, etc. - HampsteadHampsteadHampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
won by Imre KönigImre KönigImre König aka Mirko Kenig was a Hungarian chess master.He was born in Gyula, Hungary, and also lived in Austria, England and the USA during the troubled times between the two world wars.In 1921, he took 2nd in Celje...
and Philip Stuart Milner-Barry, December 1939. - DnipropetrovskDnipropetrovskDnipropetrovsk or Dnepropetrovsk formerly Yekaterinoslav is Ukraine's third largest city with one million inhabitants. It is located southeast of Ukraine's capital Kiev on the Dnieper River, in the south-central region of the country...
(the 11th Ukrainian Chess ChampionshipUkrainian Chess ChampionshipThis is a list of all the winners of the Ukrainian Chess Championship, including those held when Ukraine was a Soviet republic and those held after Ukraine became independent. Players' names listed in parentheses indicate that the player won the tournament but did not receive the title since he...
), won by Isaac BoleslavskyIsaac BoleslavskyIsaac Yefremovich Boleslavsky was a Soviet–Jewish chess Grandmaster.-Early career:Boleslavsky taught himself chess at age 9...
, 12–31 December 1939. - Moscow (the Moscow City Chess ChampionshipMoscow City Chess Championship-References: ****** from chessbase.com...
), won by Andor LilienthalAndor LilienthalAndor Arnoldovich Lilienthal was a Hungarian and Soviet chess Grandmaster. In his long career, he played against ten male and female world champions, beating Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, and Vera Menchik...
ahead of Vasily PanovVasily PanovVasily Nikolayevich Panov was a Soviet chess player, author, and journalist. Winner of the Moscow City Championship in 1929, he also played in five USSR Chess Championships from 1935 to 1948. His greatest tournament victory was Kiev, 1938...
and Vasily SmyslovVasily SmyslovVasily Vasilyevich Smyslov was a Soviet and Russian chess grandmaster, and was World Chess Champion from 1957 to 1958. He was a Candidate for the World Chess Championship on eight occasions . Smyslov was twice equal first at the Soviet Championship , and his total of 17 Chess Olympiad medals won...
, 1939/40. - Hastings International Chess CongressHastings International Chess CongressThe Hastings International Chess Congress is an annual chess congress which takes place in Hastings, England, around the turn of the year. The main event is the Hastings Premier tournament, which was traditionally a 10 to 16 player round-robin tournament. In 2004/05 the tournament was played in the...
won by Frank ParrFrank ParrFrank Parr was an English chess player, born in Wandsworth.He was British Boys champion in 1935.- Biography :Parr won the Hastings Premier in 1939/1940 with a score of 6/7, allowing only two draws....
, 1939/40.
Matches
- Erich EliskasesErich EliskasesErich Gottlieb Eliskases was a chess Grandmaster of the 1930s and 1940s, who represented Austria, Germany and Argentina in international competition....
defeated Efim BogoljubowEfim BogoljubowEfim Dmitriyevich Bogolyubov was a Russo-German chess grandmaster who won numerous events and played two matches with Alexander Alekhine for the world championship.-Early career:...
(11.5 : 8.5) in Germany (various places), January 1939. - Sonja GrafSonja GrafSonja Graf was a German chess master who also lived in Argentina and the United States. She was the Women's World Sub-Champion, two-time winner of the U.S...
beat Fenny HeemskerkFenny HeemskerkFenny Heemskerk was a Dutch female chess master.She won the female Dutch Chess Championship ten times...
(4 : 0) in Amsterdam. - Sonja GrafSonja GrafSonja Graf was a German chess master who also lived in Argentina and the United States. She was the Women's World Sub-Champion, two-time winner of the U.S...
beat Catharina RoodzantCatharina RoodzantCatharina Roodzant was a Dutch female chess master.She won thrice the female Dutch Chess Championship...
(3 : 1) in Rotterdam. - Salo LandauSalo LandauSalo Landau was a Dutch chess player, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.-Early life:...
drew with Theo van ScheltingaTheo van ScheltingaTjeerd Daniel van Scheltinga was a Dutch chess player. FIDE awarded him the International Master title in 1950 ....
(5 : 5) in Amsterdam. - Salo LandauSalo LandauSalo Landau was a Dutch chess player, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.-Early life:...
drew with László SzabóLászló Szabó (chess player)László Szabó was a prominent Hungarian Grandmaster of chess.Born in Budapest, he burst onto the international chess scene in 1935, at the unusually young age of 18...
(5 : 5) in Amsterdam. - Max EuweMax EuweMachgielis Euwe was a Dutch chess Grandmaster, mathematician, and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion . Euwe also served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.- Early years :Euwe was born in Watergraafsmeer, near Amsterdam...
beat Salo LandauSalo LandauSalo Landau was a Dutch chess player, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.-Early life:...
(7.5 : 2.5) in Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague. - Roberto GrauRoberto GrauRoberto Gabriel Grau was an Argentine chess master.Grau played in many Argentine championships. In 1921/22, he tied for 3rd-4th . In 1922, he tied for 2nd-3rd . In 1923/24, he tied for 2nd-4th...
defeated Carlos GuimardCarlos GuimardCarlos Enrique Guimard was an Argentine chess Grandmaster. He was born in Santiago del Estero.-Biography:Guimard was thrice Argentine Champion. In 1936, he won the ARG-ch 15 Mayor, and in 1937 a match for the title against Roberto Grau . In 1937/38, he won a match against Luis Piazzini...
(7.5 : 5.5) in La Plata, Argentina (the 17th ARG-chArgentine Chess ChampionshipThe first Argentine Chess Championship was held in 1921. The Champion's title was granted after victorious or drawn match between previous champion and challenger, a winner of Torneo Mayor...
). - Octavio TrompowskyOctavio TrompowskyOctavio Figueira Trompowsky de Almeida was a Brazilian chess player, who was born and died in Rio de Janeiro....
beat Walter CruzWalter CruzWalter Oswaldo Cruz was a Brazilian chess master.He was six-time Brazilian Champion and thrice Sub-Champion...
(5.5 : 2.5) in Rio de Janeiro (BRA-chBrazilian Chess ChampionshipThe 1998 championship was held 9–19 December in Itabirito, Minas Gerais State.The field of sixteen played a series of two-game single elimination matches to determine the finalists....
). - Paul KeresPaul KeresPaul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
won against Max EuweMax EuweMachgielis Euwe was a Dutch chess Grandmaster, mathematician, and author. He was the fifth player to become World Chess Champion . Euwe also served as President of FIDE, the World Chess Federation, from 1970 to 1978.- Early years :Euwe was born in Watergraafsmeer, near Amsterdam...
(7.5 : 6.5) in The Netherlands (various places) in 1939/40.
Team matches
- 15–16 April, Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary), Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia: Germany vs. Hungary 26½-13½ (13½-6½, 13-7)
(Eliskases 1½ Barcza; Bogoljubow 11 E.Steiner; Kieninger ½½ Rethy; Gilg ½1 Vajda; P.Michel 1½ Szily; Rellstab 1½ Tipary; Richter 11 Füster; Heinicke 1½ Törok; Kohler ½½ Balla; A.Becker ½1 Negyessi; Zollner 00 Balogh; L.Schmitt ½1 Sarközy; Lokvenc 1½ St.Gecsei; Schlage ½0 Sebestyen; Blümich ½½ Bakonyi; Hahn 1½ Sooky; R.Keller ½½ Laszlo; Krassnig ½1 Szentkiralyi-Toth; Platt ½1 Vargha; H.Keller ½1 Rög)
- 28–29 May, The Hague: Netherlands vs. England 10-10 (4½-5½, 5½-4½)
(Euwe 0½ Alexander; Landau 10 Thomas; Van den Bosch 1½ Milner-Barry; Cortlever 00 Broadbent; Van Scheltinga ½½ Golombek; G.S.Fontein 0½ Winter; De Groot ½1 E.G.Sergeant; Muhring 11 B.H.Wood; Mulder 0½ Parr; J.H.C.Fontein ½1 Lenton)
Births
- 7 January – Ivan RadulovIvan RadulovIvan Radulov is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster.As a chess player, he was most prominent during the 1970s, winning the Bulgarian Championship in 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980. He just missed out at the 1976 event, finishing 2nd...
in BurgasBurgas-History:During the rule of the Ancient Romans, near Burgas, Debeltum was established as a military colony for veterans by Vespasian. In the Middle Ages, a small fortress called Pyrgos was erected where Burgas is today and was most probably used as a watchtower...
, Hungarian GM - 29 January – Hans-Joachim HechtHans-Joachim HechtHans-Joachim Hecht is a German chess player and twice the national champion. His first name is often abbreviated to Hajo....
in LuckenwaldeLuckenwaldeLuckenwalde is the capital of the Teltow-Fläming district in the German state of Brandenburg. It is situated on the Nuthe river north of the Fläming Heath, at the eastern rim of the Nuthe-Nieplitz Nature Park, about south of Berlin...
, German GM, two-time German ChampionGerman Chess ChampionshipThe German Chess Championship has been played since 1861, and determines the national champion.Prior to 1880 three different federations organized chess activities in Germany: the Westdeutscher Schachbund , the Norddeutscher Schachbund and the Mitteldeutscher Schachbund . Each one organized its... - 29 January – Li ShongjianLi ShongjianLi Shongjian is a Chinese chess player. He was a member of the Chinese national chess team. He was part of the national team at the Chess Olympiad in 1980 as second reserve. This was the second time China competed in this event...
, Chinese chess player - 1 March – Leroy DubeckLeroy DubeckDr. Leroy William Dubeck is a chess master and a chess politician and a Professor of Physics. He was president of the US Chess Federation from 1969-1972. Dubeck also writes science fiction.-Academic career:...
in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New JerseyThe City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, President of the United States Chess FederationUnited States Chess FederationThe United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
(1969–1972) - 14 March – Stewart ReubenStewart ReubenStewart Reuben is a British chess player, organiser and arbiter. He has officiated at and/or organised a number of high-level chess events held in Britain and elsewhere, including the world chess championship, and was chief organiser of British Chess Championship Congresses for a number of years...
, British chess player, organiser, and arbiter - 1 June – Yaacov BernsteinYaacov BernsteinYaacov Bernstein an Israeli chess master.He took 3rd in Israeli Chess Championship in 1967 , took 14th at Netanya chess tournament 1968 . and tied for 3rd-4th at Netanya 1976.-External links:...
, Israeli chess player - 27 August – Tüdeviin Üitümen, Mongolian IM
- 15 November – Charles KalmeCharles KalmeCharles Ivars Kalme was an American International Master of chess recognized by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, and a mathematician.Kalme was born in Riga, Latvia on November 15, 1939...
in RigaRigaRiga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, American IM
Deaths
- 1939 - Katarina Beskow-FroekenKatarina BeskowKatarina Beskow Froeken was a Swedish chess master.She was four-time Women's World Chess Championship Challenger. She took 2nd, behind Vera Menchik at the first Women's World Championship in London 1927, 4th at Hamburg 1930, 4th at Prague 1931, and 23rd at Stockholm 1937.-References:...
died in Sweden. Women's World Sub-Champion in 1927. - 1939 - Iosif Januschpolski (Yanushpolsky) died.
- 2 February 1939 - Bernhard GregoryBernhard GregoryBernhard Gregory was an Estonian chess master.In 1902, he tied for 16-19th in Hannover . In 1903/04, he tied for 9-10th in Berlin...
died in Berlin, Germany. - 8 February 1939 - Salomon LanglebenSalomon LanglebenSalomon Langleben was a Polish chess master.He lived for many years in the United States of America. In 1894 he won in Buffalo. At the end of 19th century, he returned to Poland.He won, ahead of Alexander Flamberg, at Warsaw 1900...
died in Warsaw, Poland. - 11 February 1939 - Jan KvíčalaJan KvicalaJan Kvicala was a Czech chess master.He lived and played chess tournaments and matches in Prague. He won in 1891 , lost a match to Oldřich Důras in 1902, took 2nd behind Duras in 1906, took 18th in the Prague 1908 chess tournament , beat Karel Hromádka Jan (Hansi) Kvicala (Kvíčala) (1868 – 11...
died in Czecho-Slovakia. - 28 May 1939 - Hans FahrniHans FahrniHans Fahrni was a Swiss chess master.In 1892 he was joint Swiss chess champion ....
died in Ostermundingen, Switzerland. 1st to play 100 simultaneously, 1911. - 7 August 1939 - Paul KrügerPaul Krüger (chess player)Paul Krüger was a German chess master.He lived in Hamburg. At the beginning of his career, he shared 2nd at Dresden 1892 , won at Danzig 1898, tied for 2nd-3rd at Berlin 1899/1900, tied for 4-5th at Munich 1900 , took 11th at Haarlem 1901...
died in Germany. - August 1939 - Alexei AlekhineAlexei AlekhineAlexei Alekhine was a Russian chess master and the brother of World Chess Champion Alexander Alekhine.His father was a wealthy landowner, a Marshal of the Nobility and a member of the State Duma, and his mother was an heiress to an industrial fortune.Both he and his younger brother, Alexander...
killed by NKVDNKVDThe People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
in the Soviet Union. - September 1939 - Jan Kleczyński, Jr.Jan Kleczynski, Jr.Jan Kleczyński was a Polish writer, art critic, journalist and chess master .He was a son of Jan Kleczyński, Sr., famous Polish pianist and one of the best Warsaw chess masters in the 19th century. Jan Kleczyński Junior played in Warsaw City Chess Championship...
died of a heart attack during a bombing of Warsaw (World War II). - September 1939 - Karol PiltzKarol PiltzKarol Piltz was a Polish chess master.He played for Poland in 1st unofficial Chess Olympiad at Paris 1924, tied for 3rd-7th in the 1st Polish Chess Championship at Warsaw 1926 , and tied for 17-18th at Jurata 1937 .Piltz, along with other members of the Warsaw team Karol Piltz (1903-1939) was a...
died during the siege of Warsaw. - after 17 September 1939 - Kalikst MorawskiKalikst MorawskiKalikst von Morawski was a Polish chess master.Born in a village Boryszkowce , Galicia , he studied law in the Lviv University from 1877 to 1884. He moved to Stanislau in 1893, and lived there until 1914, working in the state treasure's office...
died during the Soviet occupation of Lvov. - 26 September 1939 - Ottó BláthyOttó BláthyOttó Titusz Bláthy was a Hungarian electrical engineer. In his career, he became the co-inventor of the modern electric transformer, the tension regulator, , the AC watt-hour meter, the single-phase alternating current electric motor, the turbo generator, and the high efficiency turbo...
died in Budapest. Created longest problem, 290 moves. - 4 October 1939 - Ludvig Collijn died in Stockholm. President of the Swedish Chess Association from 1917 to 1939.