English Chess Forum

Does anyone know anything about this gentleman? Apparently he challenged Alekhine to a match just after he defeated Capablanca in 1927, lost a game to him in 1928 (simul), and was still active in the 1970s.

Presuming that he played a fair amount in the intervening years at a little below the top level, what I'd really, really like to hear is that he beat Mieses somewhere along the line. Meaning that my victory against him in the Eastbourne Major of 1967, coupled with Mieses' defeat of Paulsen, and Paulsen's defeat of Morphy (both on chessgames) would give this wood-pusher a Morphy Number of 4, no simuls or friendlies, and wins all the way.

David Williams wrote:Does anyone know anything about this gentleman?

According to my copy of the 1970 (!) SCCU grading list, his grade in 1970 was 173, down from 182 in 1969. Club is shown as Rustington, which is in West Sussex.

Charles Ambrose Scott Damant (born 5 Aug 1895, Romford, mar. Elizabeth Paine, Richmond, 1919, died Nov 1984, Hastings). Obit on p77, Feb 1985 BCM. "regular congress goer, charming man though deafness made communication difficult in his later years. Older readers will remember him as a strong London league player, who also played a lot of CC..." His wife predeceased him, at which time he was described as a 'retired bank official'.

Did he beat Mieses? Haven't the foggiest, sorry. But he beat Vera Menchik if that is of any use.

[Event "BCF Major Open"] [Site "London"] [Date "1932.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Menchik, Vera"] [Black "Damant, Charles Ambrose S"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D19"] [PlyCount "148"] [EventDate "1932.08.15"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "ENG"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Rd1 Nd7 12. Nd2 Bc2 13. Rf1 Bg6 14. f4 Nf6 15. Nf3 Be4 16. Rd1 Qa5 17. Bd2 Bd5 18. Bd3 Be4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Bxb4 Qxb4 21. Qc2 Nf6 22. Rac1 Qa5 23. Rd3 Qd5 24. Rb3 Rab8 25. Ne5 Rfd8 26. Qc4 Ne4 27. Qxd5 exd5 28. a5 f6 29. Nd3 Nd2 30. Ra3 Nc4 31. Ra2 Nxe3 32. a6 Nf5 33. axb7 Nxd4 34. Rd1 Rxb7 35. Nc5 Ne2+ 36. Kf1 Re7 37. g3 Rde8 38. Ra6 g5 39. f5 Re5 40. g4 R8e7 41. Rxc6 h5 42. Rxf6 hxg4 43. Nd3 Re3 44. Rg6+ Kf7 45. Rxg5 Rf3+ 46. Nf2 Nf4 47. Rd2 Rc7 48. Ke1 Ng2+ 49. Kd1 Ne3+ 50. Ke2 Nc4 51. Nxg4 Nxd2 52. Kxd2 Kf8 53. h4 Rb3 54. Ne3 Rxb2+ 55. Kd3 Rb3+ 56. Kd4 Rb4+ 57. Kxd5 Rxh4 58. Rg6 Rhh7 59. Nc4 Rhg7 60. Rh6 Rh7 61. Rg6 Rh1 62. Nd6 Rd1+ 63. Ke5 Re7+ 64. Kf4 Rf1+ 65. Kg5 Rg1+ 66. Kf6 Rxg6+ 67. fxg6 Rc7 68. Nf5 Rc6+ 69. Kg5 Rb6 70. Kh6 Rb7 71. Nd6 Rd7 72. Ne4 a5 73. Nf6 Ra7 74. Nh5 Kg8 0-1

CHESS no 909-910 (Nov 1983) featured a game played earlier that year by him - a win with the Black pieces.

Played for Hampstead in the London League, during the 1930's. Must have been a strong player during this period, winning the Hampstead Championship Trophy in 1931, and 1935. Upon retirement, moved to Hastings.

I found this in my father’s chess archives in a hand written book on which he’s written ‘Congress’.