Lincoln Journal Star Lincoln, Nebraska Sunday, May 28, 1972 - Page 13
Restrained Sport of Chess Really Nerve-Wracking Game of 'Action' Sun, May 28, 1972 – 13 · Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
Chess master S.A. Popel concentrates on move during first round play.
Restrained Sport of Chess Really Nerve-Wracking Game of 'Action' Sun, May 28, 1972 – 13 · Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
Restrained Sport of Chess Really Nerve-Wracking Game of 'Action' by Sue Story
Restrained Sport of Chess Really Nerve-Wracking Game of 'Action' Sun, May 28, 1972 – 13 · Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
In a smoke-filled room at the Ramada Inn Saturday afternoon, 45 men and one woman sat deep in concentration.
The near silence was broken by clocks ticking, pens scratching, clock buttons popping and people rising to walk.
This was the quiet sport of chess in action — the American Chess Organizers Invitational and Jerry Spann Memorial Tournament.
The national contest continues through Monday. It was designed as a memorial to the late Jerry Spann, a man known as the heart and soul of American chess.
At the registration desk were indigestion pills, cough drops, cold tablets and paper tissues. Another table held coffee, tea and water.
Chess is a demanding game that frequently brings on conditions needing the above remedies.
The tournament is played Swiss style. This means players have limited time to complete the game. Two and one-half hours are allowed to make 50 moves.
Entrants are Nebraska players and invited national players.
Among the notables present are S.A. Popel, a chess master; Fred Cramer, past president of the United States Chess Foundation; Aleksander Liepnieks, Lincoln Chess Foundation president and Arpad Elo, creator of the Elo rating system.
This system is used internationally to determine the rank of a chess player compared to another.
Elo said that by his ratings U.S. Champion Bobby Fischer is a better player than current world champion Boris Spassky.
Should the two meet, as presently scheduled, Elo said he favors Fischer by odds of five to three.
Few take the game as seriously as Fischer, but Saturday players looked intent.
There were grimaced faced, white knuckles, folded hands and nervous twitches. Some games were played rapidly with rooks, pawns and knights removed from the board quickly.
Restrained Sport of Chess Really Nerve-Wracking Game of 'Action' Sun, May 28, 1972 – 13 · Lincoln Journal Star (Lincoln, Nebraska) · Newspapers.com
Other games went more slowly.
The oldest player in the tournament is Popel, 65, the youngest Rodney Malpert, 11.
Mrs. De P. Beel, the only woman entered, said this was her first tournament. She has played 42 games of chess through the mail, mostly with prisoners and servicemen.
When the tournament is completed Monday, awards will be presented. In addition to cash prizes, trophies topped with kings and knights will be awarded.
