AArgus-Leader Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sunday, July 16, 1972 - Page 15
Chess Being Promoted by Enthusiasts in Sioux Falls by Gary Deguise, Argus-Leader Staff Writer
Quiet … nothing but quiet for over four hours.
Then, white makes a move and “checkmate.” The audience and players sigh with relief. They are all totally exhausted from concentrating constantly for those four hours.
The scene was the South Dakota Chess Tournament recently held in Pierre, where three Sioux Falls persons claimed the top three positions.
And these three persons belong to the Sioux Falls Chess Club, are members of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and are working hard toward building up a club in Sioux Falls that could sponsor chess tourneys.
Gerald Mortimer, recently elected president of the South Dakota Chess Club who took third in the tourney, and Art Tollefson, junior state champion and president of the Sioux Falls club, are spearheading the club drive.
“Presently,” said Mortimer, the biggest obstacle in our way is to get a building where we can hold our meetings and where chess tournaments could be held.”
“We really hope that anyone with a site that we might possibly be able to use would give me or Art a call.”
The weekly meetings of the club are mainly just a fun get-together. Many different variations of chess are played, the most hectic being a game called speed chess, where each player has only five minutes of playing time. A special type of stop watch is used to keep track of the seconds each person takes to make a move.
“At times, it really is hectic,” said Mortimer, “but it is great fun.”
An interesting point about the club is the age spread of the members. The club has persons ranging in age from 14 into their 60's, but the spirit in the club overshadows any generation gap there might be.
Presently, the club has only about 15 members, but as Mortimer pointed out, “If we can get a building then the interest can be generated to get the young people involved.”
In 1952, the United States had only 1,152 rated chess players, but in 20 years, the number has increased to 22,500 and over. The main reason being, said Mortimer, that clubs such as ours set up tourneys which interested the young. But, we still have only 72 chess players per million compared to Russia with over 12,000 per million.
Mortimer began playing chess when he was eight years old, joined the USCF when he was 19 and has played about 40 USCF sanctioned games. He is rated in the high B class. The top player in Sioux Falls, Sam Prieb, is just below expert level.
Recalling his longest match, Mortimer said rather regretfully, “I tried hard for seven hours, nearly had a draw, and then blew it.” When asked about the fewest moves a player could lose in, he said four moves. (This writer has been close, he lost in five moves once.)
Giving some opinions on the chess match presently between world champion Boris Spassky and Bobby Fischer, Mortimer pointed out that Fischer has a higher point rating than does Spassky.
But, he was quick to point out too that the point rating was put out by the USCF.
“That may have something to do with it,” he said with a laugh.
“I'm putting my guesses on Fischer,” he said “but then I'm from the United States, so I may be prejudiced.
Many USCF tournaments are held each year in the United States but the first international Chess Tournament for the United States will be held this year.
A native son, George Koltanowski, a former Yankton Chess Club member back in 1946, is the International Tournament Director. It is sponsored by the Church's Fried Chicken Inc.
Many great names have been invited including Boris Spassky, although it is not sure he will attend yet.
A tournament event coming anywhere near this one, said Mortimer, is years away. “What we have to do now is get a building so we can generate the interest for our club.
Who knows, if the interest is there in the people, Sioux Falls may have another Bobby Fischer, who was U.S. champion at 14.
Of course, at the tournaments we go to, said Mortimer, no one holds out for more money, but some good prizes are given. And, a person doesn't have to be a rated player. Some tournaments give prizes in all different categories including novice and unrated. So, everyone has a chance to win, said Mortimer.
“What we need now is a start; a building, and a chance to build.”
Chess Being Promoted By Enthusiasts in Sioux Falls 16 Jul 1972, Sun Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) Newspapers.com
