1944 Manhattan Chess Club Championship

Robert Willman

     On January 16th, 1944 the annual championship of the Manhattan Chess Club concluded in a tie between Arnold Denker and Robert Willman, both of whom were former New York State champions. 
     In the tournament Willman had Denker on the ropes in their individual game, but blundered in a winning position and lost. Thus, the tie and Denker won the title by defeating Willman 2-0 in a playoff match. 
     The third place finisher was Jack Moscowitz who had just been discharged from the military. He was followed by the former US Amateur Champion E.S. Jackson, Jr. 

1-2) Arnold Denker and Robert Willman 9.0-1.0 
3) Jack Moscowitz 6.5-2.5 
4) E.S. Jackson, Jr. 5.0-4.0 
5) George Shainswit 4.5-4.5 
6) Harold M. Phillips 4.0-4.0 
7) Albert S. Pinkus 3.4-4.5 
8) Dr. Joesph Platz 3.5-5.5 
9) Russehttp://tartajubow.blogspot.com/2013/07/l-russell-chauvenet.htmlll Chauvenet 1.0-8.0 
10) L. Walter Stephens 0.0-9.0 
 The game between Phillips and Pinkus was postponed. 

     Almost nothing is known about Robert Willman except that he was Manhattan Chess Club champion in 1933 and New York state champion in 1940. Willman was also one of the reserve players for the US in their 1945 radio match against the USSR. He was born on January 3, 1908 and according to chess historian Jeremy Gaige, Willman changed his name to Williams and died on December 30, 1978. 
     Jack Moscowitz (born October 19, 1912) was a National Master. He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship in 1939. Moscowitz died at the age of 92 on December 31, 2004. 
     Edward S. Jackson Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1897. He won the first two US Amateur Championships in 1942 and 1944, and remained an active tournament player until his death at the age of 90 on September 6, 1987. 
     George Shainswit (January 3, 1918 – September 5, 1997) was born in New York City and played in five US Championships and represented the US at the 1950 Olympiad at Dubrovnik. He tied for 1st place with Arnold Denker in the 1950 Manhattan Chess Club championship. 
     Harold M. Phillips (December 15, 1874 - January 7, 1967) was a lawyer and president of the USCF from 1950-54, president of the Manhattan Chess Club in the 1930s, president of the Marshall Chess Club, president of the Intercollegiate Chess League, former New York State Champion and Manhattan Chess Club Champion (1903). He was the organizer and director of the great New York (1924) tournament. In 1930, he played for the US in the chess Olympiad at Hamburg (drawing one and losing one). He played in chess tournaments for over 70 years. In his earlier years, he was known as “Der Kleine Morphy.” He died at the age of 92. 
     Albert Pinkus was a most interesting individual and you can read about his exploit on my post Albert Pinkus, Guppies, Snakes and Lizards. I have also posted on Dr. Platz and Chauvenet. Stories about L. Walter Stephens are legendary. You can read about him on Kevin Spraggett’s blog, The good (?!) Reverend of US chess 

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