Great Chess Upsets - Softcover

Reshevsky, S

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0668034939 ISBN 13: 9780668034937

Publisher: Simon Schuster Trade, 1976

Synopsis

Clean, bright used copy.

About this title

About the Author

Samuel Reshevsky was born in Ozorkow, Poland on November 26, 1911. Most chess players reach their peak at age 30. It was Reshevsky's misfortune that he reached his peak during the World War II years, when he was probably the strongest player in the world. He played in the World Championship tournament in 1948 and in the Candidates Tournament in Zurich 1953. In both events, there were rumors and reports of collusion by the Soviets to prevent Reshevsky from winning the world championship, which he probably would have won in a fair contest. Fischer is quoted as saying that Reshevsky was the strongest player in the world and would have easily defeated World Champion Botvinnik in a match. However, Reshevsky never got the chance. There is no doubt at all that Reshevsky was the strongest USA player in his time. He won the US championship seven times, in 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946 and 1969. He started his career as the greatest child prodigy in chess history, playing nearly master strength chess when he was eight years old. He went on a tour first of Europe and then America, giving simultaneous chess exhibitions against adults and winning almost every game. As a 9-year old, his first American simultaneous exhibition was with 20 officers and cadets at the Military Academy at West Point. The photo of him playing in this exhibition is one of the most famous in chess history. He won 19 games and drew one. He toured the country and played over 1,500 games as a 9-year old in simultaneous exhibitions and only lost 8 games. He started playing again as an adult and was quickly established as one of the strongest players in the world. Having started as the world's youngest master, Reshevsky went on to become the world's oldest. After winning a game against a strong player in the US Open and when somebody remarked that he was able to win at such an advanced age. He never had a birth certificate due to war-time conditions in his native Poland. Reshevsky remained a world class player even after he had passed 60 years old. He even won a game in Moscow against Smyslov in 1991 when Reshevsky was 80 years old. He defeated Grandmaster and US Chess Champion Larry Christiansen just a few months before he died. He died on April 4, 1992 in New York City at age 81.

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon Schuster Trade
• Publication date: 1976
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0668034939
• ISBN 13: 9780668034937
• Binding: Paperback