Louis Uedemann

           Through 1938 the forerunner of the US Open tournament was organized by the Western Chess Association and, after 1938, the American Chess Federation.  Since 1939 the US Open has been run by the USCF.

           In the early years the number of entrants was small, and play was conducted as round robin with included preliminary rounds. Winners of the preliminary rounds advanced to the Championship Finals and Consolation Finals. Starting in 1947 the Swiss System has been used. Up until 1967 the US Open was a really long event…12-13 rounds played over two weeks.  Starting in 2006 it became a nine round event.
          What is considered to be the first US Open was played in 1900 in Excelsior, Minnesota and was won by Louis Uedemann. He also won the 1902 event, also held in Excelsior
           Little is known about Louis Uedemann (10 January 1854 – 22 November 1912).   He was born in Westphalia, Germany and immigrated to the United States at the age of 12. Uedemann was the chess editor for the Chicago Tribune. He developed a code that was later refined by D. A. Gringmuth, of St. Petersburg, a leading Russian problem composer, that adapted for use with telegraphs for cable matches. The Uedemann-Gringmuth code was first used in the telegraphic match between London and St Petersburg in November 1886
           In other events Uedemann finished first in Chicago, 1890, finished seventh at St. Louis, 1890 and tied for 4-5 at Lexington, 1891.  He finished third  at Chicago, 1903, second  at St. Louis 1904 (the 5th WCA-ch), took 3rd at St. Louis 1904 (the Seventh American Congress).  In 1905 Uedemann tied for 3-4 at Excelsior 1905 took fifth at Chicago 1906.
          He finished third at Excelsior 1907 and fourth in 1908. He was again third in Excelsior in 1909 and in 1910 in Chicago, guess where he finished?  If you guessed anything other than third, shame on you!
         Uedemann played for the Chicago Chess Club in cable matches against Twin Cities CC (1904), Franklin CC of Pennsylvania (1904 and 1905), Brooklyn CC (1905), and Manhattan CC (1905).

St Louis  October  1904

7th American Chess Congress

1  Marshall    * 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ W   8.5

2  Judd        0 * 0 1 1 1 W 1 1 1   7.0

3  Uedemann    0 1 * W 1 1 0 0 1 W   6.0

4  Kemeny      0 0 L * 1 W 1 0 1 W   5.0

5  Schrader    0 0 0 0 * ½ 1 1 1 1   4.5

6  Eisenberg   0 0 0 L ½ * 1 1 1 1   4.5

7  Jaffe       0 L 1 0 0 0 * W 1 1   4.0

8  Schwietzer  0 0 1 1 0 0 L * 0 W   3.0

9  Mlotkowski  ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 * 1   2.5

10  Schrader    L 0 L L 0 0 0 L 0 *   0.0

        According to the Edo rating list, Uedemann maintained a rating of around 2425.  While that may not be considered particulary high today, back in the day it was a pretty hefty rating.  That said, remember that rating measure how well one performs against the players in one’s rating pool, NOT absolute ability.  Still, Uedemann was a solid master.