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Sammy Reshevsky-America's New Champion Six THE JEWISH CRITERION June 5, 1936 Sammy Reshevsky-America's New Champion IXTEEN years ago, when Sammy Sammy's "pal" for sixteen years, has Reshevsky, diminutive prodigy About a Chess Prodigy Who Made Good as a Player made it his life's hobby to guide the S approaching his eighth birthday, and a Human Being boy in the right direction. Mr. Stein­ was spoken of as the possible world's berg relates the following facts to il­ chess champion, there were many who lustrate the manner in which Julius laughed up their sleeves. Infant Rosenwald became interested in the prodigies have a habit of not grow­ By Philip Slomovitz chess prodigy and became the boy's ing into geniuses. guardian angel: Chess Cham­ When seven years ago Sammy, at Sammy Reshevsky is only one step from the World's "It was my privilege to know Mr. the banquet given in his honor on Feb­ pionship. His rise from boy prodigy to holder of the United States Rosenwald for seven years. Many ruary 21, 1929, in Detroit, at the Chess title is interestingly told in this article by the editor of the opportunities presented themselves home of Morris Fishman,. gave the Detroit Jewish Chronicle in an exclusive Seven Arts article. The during those years for me to come into promise: "I hope to bring laurels to parts ivhich Juliiis Rosemvald and Morris Steinberg played in the close contact with this great man. Detroit some day by capturing the making of Sammy's life are herewith revealed for tJie first time. "In 1924 he interested himself in world's chess title," many were still THE EDITOR Sammy Reshevsky, the chess prodigy, skeptical. and through Fred M. Butzel, Detroit philanthropist and communal leader, But Sammy is making good his With his graduation from the Uni­ in the world today hold this title in chess. and Dr. A. M. Dushkin, executive di­ promise. If the outstanding chess versity of Chicago also began the re­ rector of the Board of Jewish Educa­ experts in America are correct in vival of his chess career which, in the Shortly after the Margate contests, tion of Chicago, it was agreed that their prophecies, it will not be long- opinion of experts, is leading the Sammy also played in an international Sam and his parents should live in before the world title will be in Sam­ young genius to the world's title. In series of games at Yarmouth, Eng­ Detroit. Sam had already been in my's possession. 1934 Sammy again attracted world land, and lost only one game and that this country three years, but made interest by defeating the best talent on a technicality. virtually no progress educationally, it The one-time infant prodigy, now from the United States, Germany, Sammy had alrea'dy been decorated having been made constantly neces­ in his twenty-fourth year, is already Canada, Mexico, and Italy, in an in­ sary for him to give exhibitions to close to the. title, having won the for his chess playing toy the govern­ ternational contest held at Syracuse. ments of the United States, France, help support his parents,, sisters and championship of the United States on He did not lose a game of the fourteen brothers abroad. May 16. Germany, Austria, England, Belgium he played, since he won ten games and Holland. As a native of Poland, "Mr. Rosenwald was more interest­ There is a most interesting story and drew four. he naturally began to play in that ed in having Sam enjoy a normal boy­ attached to Sammy's latest triumph. Shortly thereafter, in the summer country. When he visited his "pal" hood and education and develop into When he first came to Detroit in 1920, and "big brother," Morris Steinberg a worth-while citizen, even though he Steinberg, a nationally known of 1935, Sammy met twelve outstand­ Morris players at Margate, England, and in Detroit during the week following might show no extraordinary qualities checker enthusiast and publisher of ing his acquisition of the United States other than genius as a chess player. literature on checker playing, took an again did not lose a game, winning eight and drawing three. Among championship in chess, he remarked, He admonished us to keep him out of interest in the boy and became direct­ "I remember when the Germans were public notice and saw to it that he ly responsible for the manner in those he defeated was Jose R. Capa- blanla of Cuba, a former world cham­ occupying Poland and General Von enjoyed boy friends and participated which his life has been shaped. Stein- Besseler challenged me. I was only in their play and educational activi­ berg interested the late Julius Rosen- pion. Because of the defeat inflicted was six years old at that time but I beat ties. Prior to that time Sam's neces­ wald in the chess prodigy and it was upon Capablanla, Reshevsky him. I told him 'You can shoot but sity for making a living forced only at the behest of the eminent million­ awarded the title of the great master, I can play.' " adult contacts on him. aire and philanthropist that the boy an honor given to those who defeat went into retirement and recessed as champions. Only about ten people Mr. Steinberg, who has now been "The interest taken by Mr. Rosen- professional chess player for a period of eight years in order to be able to devote himself to his studies and to enjoy a normal boyhood. Sammy en­ tered Northern High School in De­ troit, from which he graduated with honors. He then entered the Uni­ versity of Chicago and in 1934 earned his Ph.B. degree from this university's School of Commerce, having special­ ized in accounting. wald immediately gave Sam the op­ portunity to which every boy is en­ titled. Sam was given lessons pri­ vately to make up for his grammar school deficiencies. He then entered Detroit Northern High School and completed a four-year course. During this period not more than a handful of friends knew that he was the boy chess wonder. This was confided only to the school principal and teachers. While with me he met many people in Detroit, but very few were aware that he was the same boy who opposed and defeated the Army's best players simultaneously at the age of eight. So closely was his identity concealed that when a leading magazine published an Lower photograph is of Sammy Reshevsky engrossed at the chessboard. Upper photograph is article on 'What Becomes of Our Prodigies?' only a picture was used of of Sammy taken in the winter of 1920 at West Point, where he opposed the army's best chess Sam with the statement that no one players and won 19 games and tied one. Sam my played at West Point shortly after his arrival seems to know what became of him. in this country. (Continued on page 32).
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