Max Pavey
Encyclopedia
Max Pavey was an American
chess
master and medical doctor. Pavey was of at least International Master strength.
in Glasgow
, and while a student in Scotland
he won the Scottish Championship
at Aberdeen
1939, with 7.5/9. Pavey would leave Scotland soon after this tournament, in June 1939, just before World War II
. He was U.S. Lightning Champion in 1947. In 1948, he placed tied 5-8th place in the U.S. Open Chess Championship
at Baltimore
with 8.5/12. He was New York State Champion in 1949.
In 1951, he took 3rd in New York (United States Chess Championship with 7/11; Larry Evans
won). Also in that year, Pavey gave a simultaneous exhibition in Brooklyn, and faced a seven-year-old Bobby Fischer
in the lad's first attempt at serious chess; Pavey won in about a quarter of an hour.
In 1954, he took 3rd in the New York Manhattan Chess Club
Championship (Arnold Denker
won). In 1953, he took 2nd, behind Donald Byrne
, in Milwaukee (U.S. Open Chess Championship
). In 1954, he played at third board, and lost to Paul Keres
(+1 –2 =0) in a match USA vs USSR in New York. In 1955, he played at sixth board, and lost to Tigran Petrosian
(+0 –2 =0) in a match USA vs USSR in Moscow
.
In 1955/56, he won in New York (Manhattan CC-ch), with 12/15. In 1956, he tied for 10-11th in New York (3rd Rosenwald Memorial; Samuel Reshevsky
won). In 1956/57, he beat young Bobby Fischer
in New York (Manhattan CC-ch, semi-final), and won group 2 of that event with 4/5.
Pavey died in the Mount Sinai Hospital
, NYC, after a long battle with leukemia
in 1957. Although ratings were not implemented for international chess until 1970, it is possible to rate historical chess performances from before that time using modern algorithms. The site chessmetrics
.com specializes in historical ratings, and puts Pavey's peak at 2549 in July 1954, good for #88 in the world. This is clearly International Master standard. There is a file of 29 of his games at chessgames.com.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
master and medical doctor. Pavey was of at least International Master strength.
Biography
He was studying medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and while a student in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
he won the Scottish Championship
Scottish Chess Championship
The 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...
at Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen 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 ....
1939, with 7.5/9. Pavey would leave Scotland soon after this tournament, in June 1939, just before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was U.S. Lightning Champion in 1947. In 1948, he placed tied 5-8th place in the U.S. Open Chess Championship
U.S. Open Chess Championship
The 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 ...
at Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
with 8.5/12. He was New York State Champion in 1949.
In 1951, he took 3rd in New York (United States Chess Championship with 7/11; Larry Evans
Larry Evans
For the football player of the same name, see Larry Evans .Larry Melvyn Evans was an American chess grandmaster, author, and journalist. He won or shared the U.S. Chess Championship five times and the U.S. Open Chess Championship four times...
won). Also in that year, Pavey gave a simultaneous exhibition in Brooklyn, and faced a seven-year-old Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
in the lad's first attempt at serious chess; Pavey won in about a quarter of an hour.
In 1954, he took 3rd in the New York Manhattan Chess Club
Manhattan Chess Club
The Manhattan Chess Club in Manhattan was the second-oldest chess club in the United States . The club was founded in 1877 and started with three dozen players; membership later reached into the hundreds before the club ended its existence in 2002...
Championship (Arnold Denker
Arnold Denker
Arnold Sheldon Denker was an American chess player, Grandmaster, and chess author. He was U.S. Chess Champion in 1945 and 1946....
won). In 1953, he took 2nd, behind Donald Byrne
Donald Byrne
Donald Byrne was one of the USA's strongest chess players during the 1950s and 1960s.Born in New York City, he won the U.S. Open Chess Championship in 1953, was awarded the International Master title by FIDE in 1962, and played for or captained five U.S. Chess Olympiad teams between 1962 and 1972...
, in Milwaukee (U.S. Open Chess Championship
U.S. Open Chess Championship
The 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 ...
). In 1954, he played at third board, and lost to Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul 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....
(+1 –2 =0) in a match USA vs USSR in New York. In 1955, he played at sixth board, and lost to Tigran Petrosian
Tigran Petrosian
Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian was a Soviet-Armenian grandmaster, and World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" due to his playing style because of his almost impenetrable defence, which emphasised safety above all else...
(+0 –2 =0) in a match USA vs USSR in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
In 1955/56, he won in New York (Manhattan CC-ch), with 12/15. In 1956, he tied for 10-11th in New York (3rd Rosenwald Memorial; Samuel Reshevsky
Samuel Reshevsky
Samuel "Sammy" Herman Reshevsky was a famous chess prodigy and later a leading American chess Grandmaster...
won). In 1956/57, he beat young Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
in New York (Manhattan CC-ch, semi-final), and won group 2 of that event with 4/5.
Pavey died in the Mount Sinai Hospital
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
, NYC, after a long battle with leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 1957. Although ratings were not implemented for international chess until 1970, it is possible to rate historical chess performances from before that time using modern algorithms. The site chessmetrics
Chessmetrics
Chessmetrics is a system for rating chess players devised by Jeff Sonas. It is intended as an improvement over the Elo rating system.-Implementation:...
.com specializes in historical ratings, and puts Pavey's peak at 2549 in July 1954, good for #88 in the world. This is clearly International Master standard. There is a file of 29 of his games at chessgames.com.
Notable chess games
- Anthony Santasiere vs Max Pavey, New York, US-ch 1951, English, A16, 0-1
- Max Pavey vs Paul Keres, New York 1954, match US vs SU, King's Indian Defense, E60, 1-0
- Robert James Fischer vs Max Pavey, New York Manhattan 1956, King's Indian Attack, Symmetrical Defense, A05, 0-1