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| Albert Sandrin |
The entry fee was, by 1964 standards, a pretty hefty $10 (about $89 today), but the first prize of $400 (over $3,500 today) was attractive seeing that in those days you could pull into a gas station and buy a dollar's worth of gas and have enough that you could actually get somewhere. In those days I was in the military and was raking in $99.27 a month.
Additionally, the prize fund included $200 for second and $100 for third. Plus, there were two cash prizes for top women and juniors ($25 and $15) and, if you were a class player, A, B and C (the lowest class in those days), or unrated, you could win a (crappy) trophy. They also offered "merit" prizes. If you scored over 4.5 points, you got $30 for each full point and $15 for each half point.
The '64 tournament turned out to be all Albert Sandrin because the veteran Chicago Master, rated 2326, made almost a clean sweep and finished a full point ahead of a 10-way tie for second place which was shared by Stephen Popel, Curt Brasket, Paul Poschel, RichardVerber, Brian Owens, Edward Formanek, Charles Weldon, William Martz, Dr. Alex Angos, and the winner's brother Angelo Sandrin, who received the lone half-point given up by the winner. These second place winners shared prize money that came to $54.00 each ($481.80 today).
The strong field had no outstanding favorites at the start and there were more than the usual number of upsets early in the upper ranks of the 114 player field.
There was some excitement on July 4th, when the "beer that made Milwaukee famous", Schlitz, put on their parade which lasted almost four hours and passed the site of the tournament, the Plankinton House.
The morning round of the tournament was scheduled for 8 a.m. and the second round for 6 p.m.,so players could watch it.
Phil LeCornu of Chicago and Gregory Nowak of West Allis, Wisconsin were still playing their morning game when the parade started and were still at it when it finished. The game was adjourned at 6 p.m. for the next round, in which both lost, and was resumed at 11:30 p.m. Finally, after 129 moves the players agreed to a draw. Incredible!
Kate Sillars (3.5-3.5), rated 1828, and Adele Goddard (2.5-4.5), rated 1729, finished first and second and took the women's prizes. Ralph Tobler and Andrew Karklins were the top junior players while the trophies for the top Class A, B, C and unrated went respectively to Samuel Greenlaw, Larry Manter, Gary Sauer, and Larry Leuallen.
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| The top scores |
Albert Sandrin (April 25, 1923 - February 12, 2004, 80 years old) suffered damage to his vision in the summer of 1929 when, while playing outside the family home in Chicago, he stared directly into the sun for a long period of time. As a result, his eyesight deteriorated very slowly over the following years.
In 1952 he entered the Marshall School for the Blind and studied piano tuning. After learning how to tune pianos, he advertised in the telephone book for customers and soon found himself tuning pianos all over the Chicago area. He was totally blind by 1968.
Sandrin played a small part in US airline history when he was a passenger aboard the first PanAm 747 flight from Chicago to London in 1970.
His opponent was then 2262 rated William Martz (March 21, 1945 – January 17, 1983) who was later awarded the IM title (1975) and remained active until his premature death from cancer at the age of 37. Born in Detroit, Martz lived and worked in the Milwaukee area most of his life and for 20 years as the highest ranked Wisconsin player, Martz was something of a living legend.
Between the two of them they managed to produce a game that was full of spills and thrills thanks to Matz' old fashioned opening dating back to the days of cavemen!
William Martz - Albert Sandrin
Result: 0-1
Site: Western Open, Milwaukee
Date: 1964
Danish Gambit
[...] 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 Cheers to Martz for playing the Danish gambit in which he hopes to sacrifice a Pawn or two for the sake of rapid development and an attack. It was popular with Alekhine, Marshall, Blackburne and Mieses, but it had already lost favor over 40 years before this game was played. 3...dxc3 Cheers to Sandrin for accepting the gambit. 4.♗c4 cxb2 Even more cheers to Sandrin for accepting the second Pawn. 5.♗xb2 d6 6.♘f3
25.fxg6 There was nothing better. 25...hxg6 26.♖f1 ♕e7 27.♗a3 ♕e8 28.♗b2 c5 29.♕xd5+ ♘e6 30.♘xe6 ♗xe6 This is a horrible move that should have allowed white right back in the game! That said, finding the correct line was very, very difficult.
6.♘c3 ♗e6 7.♗xe6 fxe6 8.♕h5+ ♔d7 9.O-O-O and white does not have enough compensation. Knudsen,J-Meyer,F/Baden 1993
6.♕b3 has also been tried. After 6...♕d7 7.♘c3 ♘c6 8.♘d5 ♘a5 9.♕g3 Things get a bit tricky, but chances are about equal after 9...♘xc4 10.♗xg7 ♗xg7 11.♕xg7 ♕g4 12.♕xh8 ♕xg2 13.♘f6+ ♔f8 14.♖c1 ♗e6 15.♕xg8+ ♕xg8 16.♘xg8 ♔xg8 17.♘e2 with an unclear position. In Shootouts 5 games were drawn.
6...c6 Black chooses a rather slow system of development, but his position is still solid.
6...♘f6 7.O-O ♗e6 8.♗d5 ♘c6 9.♕b3 ♕c8 10.♘g5 ♘d8 11.f4 ♗e7 12.♗xe6 fxe6 In spite of black's rather convoluted defense he has managed to equalize. Mieses,J-Marco,G/ Monte Carlo 1903
7.O-O Does white's lead in development make up for his two Pawn minus? Stockfish thinks so, Komodo is not quite so sure. 7...♘d7 8.♘d4 This move wastes time, something white cannot afford. Better was 8.Nbd2 8...♘gf6 9.♘c3 g6 10.♔h1 Again, there is no time for this.
10.f4 Would make black think twice about playing ...Bg7 10...♗g7 11.e5 dxe5 12.♗xf7+ ♔xf7 13.♕b3+ ♔e8 14.♖ae1 ♕b6 15.♕e6+ with equal chances.
10.f4 and black's best reply seems to be 10...♗e7 11.♕e2 O-O 12.e5 d5 13.♗b3 ♗c5 and black stands well.
10...♗g7 11.f4 O-O Black has a solid position and white has slim prospects of launching any kind of an attack. 12.♗b3 ♖e8 This should have allowed white to get back into the game. Correct was 12...Nc5!
12...♘c5 and white could not play 13.e5 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 ♘g4 15.e6 ♘xe6 16.♕xg4 ♘xd4
13.♕f3 Martz fails to take advantage of the opportunity black's last move presented him.
13.e5 dxe5 14.♗xf7+ ♔xf7 15.♕b3+ ♔f8 16.♗a3+ c5 17.fxe5 ♖xe5 18.♖ae1 and white is back in the game. Here are the results of a Shootout at 17 plies... 18...♕e7 19.♖xe5 ♘xe5 20.♘d5 ♕f7 21.♗xc5+ ♔g8 22.♘xf6+ ♔h8 23.♕xf7 ♘xf7 24.♘e8 b6 25.♖xf7 bxc5 26.♘f3 and the ending was eventually drawn as were the other four Shootout games.
13...♘c5 Black is back on track now. 14.♗c2 d5
14...♗g4 would have been very difficult for white to meet. 15.♕g3 ♘fxe4 16.♘xe4 ♘xe4 17.♕xg4 ♕b6 18.♗xe4 ♖xe4 19.♖ab1 ♗xd4 20.♗xd4 ♕xd4 21.♖xb7 ♖ae8 and black is two Ps up.
15.e5 ♘fd7 16.♘ce2 ♘f8 17.g4 I can imagine white thinking that he now has a very strong K-side attack. His pieces are aimed at black's K plus he can now begin advancing his K-side Ps. In this era of powerful engines that can see through all the complications and quickly find the way to avoid disaster, we are informed that black has about a 2.5 P advantage, or a won game. For the players sitting at the board it's a different matter! 17...♘ce6 This should have allowed white to equalize with the same N offer.
17...♕h4 Keeps the advantage says Komodo. 18.♘f5 gxf5 19.gxf5 ♘e4 20.♗xe4 dxe4 21.♕xe4 ♕h3 Black's defenses will prove to be sufficient.
18.♖ae1 This slow move lets the wind out of his sails.
18.♘f5 gxf5 19.gxf5 The difference here is that there is no N to go to e4. 19...♘c5 (19...c5 20.fxe6 ♘xe6 21.♖g1 with about equal chances.) 20.f6 ♘g6 21.♖g1 ♘e4 22.f5 Again, both sides seem to have their chances in this unclear position which Komodo evaluates as equal, but in Shootouts Stockfish scored 5 wins for white. Indeed, Stockfish evaluates this position as white have about a 2 P advantage. That's why it's rated number one, I guess!
18...♘xd4 19.♘xd4 f6 A weak move that ruins his winning position because it opens up lines of attack for white.
19...c5 was the correct move and while technically white's best move may be 20.Nb5, the best practical chance remains 20.Nf5. 20.♘f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 d4 22.♖g1 ♗d7 23.f6 ♘g6 24.fxg7 White's own P blocks the g-file and so helps defend the black K! 24...♗c6 25.♗e4 ♘h4 26.♕d3 ♗xe4+ 27.♕xe4 There is no attack left and black has a won game.
20.exf6 This looks good as it opens lines, but in fact it results in a position where black still has good defensive possibilities. If you guessed that 20.Nf5 was the best move give yourself a pat on the back.
20.♘f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 fxe5 22.fxe5 ♕h4 23.♖g1 How should black best meet the threat of 24.f6? 23...♗xf5 By returning a piece! 24.♗xf5 ♘g6 However, here black's K is too exposed and he must lose the game. 25.e6 ♗xb2 26.♗xg6 hxg6 27.♖xg6+ ♔h8 28.♖g3 ♖f8 29.♕d3 There is no defense against Rh3.
20...♖xe1 21.f7+ Better was the immediate capture on e1. (21.♖xe1 ♗xf6 22.f5 with a dangerous attack.) 21...♔xf7 22.♖xe1 ♕h4 23.♖g1 ♗d7 24.f5 It's amazing! Black's K appears to be even more exposed that it was previously. 24...♔g8 Stepping back to safety and leaving white with not quite enough of an attack.
24...gxf5 25.♘xf5 ♗xf5 26.♕xf5+ ♔g8 27.♗xg7 ♔xg7 28.g5 ♕d4 Otherwise Qf6+ wins. 29.♖e1 ♘g6 Black looks to be winning, but white can save the game. 30.♕d7+ ♔h8 31.♗xg6 hxg6 32.♕h3+ ♔g7 33.♖e7+ ♔f8 34.♖e3 ♔g7
34...c5 This attempt to win allows a mate in 9! 35.♖f3+ ♔g8 36.♕e6+ ♔h8 37.♖h3+ ♔g7 38.♕e7+ ♔g8 39.♕h7+ ♔f8 40.♖f3+ ♔e8 41.♕xg6+ ♔d7 42.♖f7+ mates next move.
35.♕d7+ ♔g8 36.♕e6+ ♔g7 37.♕d7+ White is forced to take the draw because he cannot allow Qd1+...for example 37...♔g8 38.♖h3 ♕e4+ 39.♔g1 ♕b1+ 40.♔g2 ♕xa2+ 41.♔g1 ♕b1+ 42.♔g2 ♕e4+ 43.♔g1 ♖e8 44.♕h7+ ♔f8 45.♕h8+ ♔e7 46.♕f6+ ♔d7 47.♖h7+ ♖e7 48.♖g7 ♖xg7 49.♕xg7+ ♕e7 with a won ending. 30...♗c6 The win of the Q is only temporary. 31.♗e4 ♗xd5 32.♗xd5 ♕d7 33.♘c7+ ♔h7 34.♖f7 ♕xf7 35.♗xf7 ♖c8 36.♘e6 ♗xb2 with a won ending.
31.♕xb7 A reasonable looking move, but also a losing one.
31.♕g5 Keeps white in the game after 31...♕b5 32.♔g2 ♕xb2 33.♕xg6 ♗d5+ 34.♔h3 The reason for 32.Kg2! The K is safe here and white is winning. 34...♕c3+ 35.♗d3 The threat is mate on h7 so... 35...♗g2+ 36.♔xg2 ♕d2+ 37.♔g3 ♕e3+ 38.♔h4 ♕h6+ 39.♕xh6 ♗xh6 White has a won ending. Just one sample lien... 40.♗c4+ ♔h7 41.♔h5 ♗g7 42.♖f7 ♖b8 43.♖c7 b5 44.♗d3+ ♔g8 45.♖xc5
31...♗xb2 32.♕xb2 Black now has a forced mate.
32.♗xg6 ♕xg6 33.♕xa8+ ♔h7 34.♕b7+ Without going into details, black scored 5 wins in Shootouts.
32...♗d5+ 33.♔g1 ♕e3+
33...♕e2 34.♖f2 ♕xg4+ 35.♔f1 ♗c4+ 36.♗d3 ♗xd3+ 37.♖e2 ♖e8 38.♔f2 ♖xe2+ 39.♕xe2 ♕xe2+ 40.♔g3 ♕e3+ 41.♔g2 ♗e4+ 42.♔f1 ♗f5 43.♔g2 ♗h3+ 44.♔h1 ♕e1#
34.♖f2 ♖f8
34...♕e1+ 35.♖f1 ♕e2 36.♖f2 ♕xg4+ 37.♔f1 ♗c4+ 38.♗d3 ♗xd3+ 39.♖e2 ♖e8 40.♔f2 ♖xe2+ 41.♕xe2 ♕xe2+ 42.♔g3 ♕e3+ 43.♔g2 ♗e4+ 44.♔f1 ♗f5 45.♔g2 ♗h3+ 46.♔h1 ♕e1#
35.♗d3 c4 36.♗f1 c3 37.♕c2 ♕xf2+ 38.♕xf2 ♖xf2 39.♔xf2 c2 40.♗d3
40.♗g2 hardly improves anything 40...♗xa2 41.♗f3 c1=♕ 42.♔g2 ♕d2+ 43.♔g3 ♗d5 44.♗xd5+ ♕xd5 45.h3 a5 46.h4 a4 47.h5 a3 48.h6 a2 49.h7+ ♔xh7 50.g5 a1=♕ 51.♔f2 ♕b2+ 52.♔g3 ♕xg5+ 53.♔h3 ♕bg2#
40...c1=♕ 41.♗xg6 ♕f4+ White resigned.
41...♕f4+ It's mate in 10. 42.♔e2 ♕xg4+ 43.♔e3 ♕xg6 44.a3 ♕e4+ 45.♔d2 ♗c4 46.a4 ♕d3+ 47.♔c1 ♗b3 48.♔b2 ♕c2+ 49.♔a3 a5 50.h3 ♕a2#
41...♕d2+ and it's mate in 6. 42.♔g3 ♔g7 43.♗e4 ♗xe4 44.a3 ♕e3+ 45.♔h4 ♕f2+ 46.♔h5 ♕xh2+ 47.♔g5 ♕h6#
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