Deaths of Chess Players

Historical knowledge and information regarding our great game.
LawrenceCooper
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Deaths of Chess Players

Post by LawrenceCooper » Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:46 pm


John Foley
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by John Foley » Mon Sep 24, 2012 1:45 pm

Vera Menchik survived the German bombing of the National Chess Centre on 23 September 1940 where she was manager (http://www.westlondonchess.com/node/134) but died when a V-1 rocket hit her home in Kent on June 26, 1944.

Geoff Chandler
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Geoff Chandler » Mon Sep 24, 2012 3:43 pm

The odd coincidence that Staunton passed away on Morphy's birthday,
the 22nd June, was perhaps worth a mention.

Paul Dupré
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Paul Dupré » Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:18 pm

John Foley wrote:Vera Menchik survived the German bombing of the National Chess Centre on 23 September 1940 where she was manager (http://www.westlondonchess.com/node/134) but died when a V-1 rocket hit her home in Kent on June 26, 1944.
Does anyone have marriage records as I just read that she was Vera Menchik-Stevenson.
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Richard James
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Richard James » Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:42 pm

Paul Dupré wrote:
John Foley wrote:Vera Menchik survived the German bombing of the National Chess Centre on 23 September 1940 where she was manager (http://www.westlondonchess.com/node/134) but died when a V-1 rocket hit her home in Kent on June 26, 1944.
Does anyone have marriage records as I just read that she was Vera Menchik-Stevenson.
Wikipedia wrote:In 1937, at the age of 31, Vera Menchik married Rufus Henry Streatfeild Stevenson (1878–1943), twenty-eight years her senior, who was subscriptions editor of British Chess Magazine, a member of the West London Chess Club, and later honorary secretary of the British Chess Federation.
Looking up the BMD records: Vera Mencikova married Rufus H S Stevenson in Wandsworth in Q4 1937.

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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Paul Dupré » Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:24 pm

Richard James wrote:
Paul Dupré wrote:
John Foley wrote:Vera Menchik survived the German bombing of the National Chess Centre on 23 September 1940 where she was manager (http://www.westlondonchess.com/node/134) but died when a V-1 rocket hit her home in Kent on June 26, 1944.
Does anyone have marriage records as I just read that she was Vera Menchik-Stevenson.
Wikipedia wrote:In 1937, at the age of 31, Vera Menchik married Rufus Henry Streatfeild Stevenson (1878–1943), twenty-eight years her senior, who was subscriptions editor of British Chess Magazine, a member of the West London Chess Club, and later honorary secretary of the British Chess Federation.
Looking up the BMD records: Vera Mencikova married Rufus H S Stevenson in Wandsworth in Q4 1937.
Thanks Richard.
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Roger Mylward
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Roger Mylward » Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:50 pm

Edward Winter, Chess Notes 6548, 19 April 2010 states that according to the British Chess Magazine, November 1937, p 551, Vera Menchik was married on 19 October 1937.

Jonathan Bryant
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Jonathan Bryant » Sun Nov 04, 2012 12:14 am

An interesting read, but I wonder as to the rigour of Mr Wall's research. The account of Ilyin-Genevsky's death that he presents has been questioned and the Jessie Gilbert entry lacks a certain something. Makes me wonder about the others.

As a btw, was it really necessary to state that Staunton was writing his last book when he died?

John Foley
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by John Foley » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:55 pm

Is there a list of players who died whilst playing chess?

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Thu Nov 15, 2012 10:16 pm

There are a few floating around on the internet, making claims with varying degrees of reliability.......
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Richard Thursby » Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:41 pm

John Foley wrote:Is there a list of players who died whilst playing chess?
Matt Mackenzie wrote:There are a few floating around on the internet, making claims with varying degrees of reliability.......
There was a case a few years ago of a player completing round 1 of a weekend event on a Friday and dying overnight. I would definitely trust the sources from which I heard it.

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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by James Pratt » Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:25 pm

I think the Soviet GM Bagirov died at the board. Bronstein told me he did not want to die like this adding:
"..nor does Spassky."

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:32 pm

Leonard Barden previously corrected me on that in another thread......

Bagirov had his ultimately fatal heart attack whilst playing, but did not actually die until a while afterwards.
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Peter Walker
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by Peter Walker » Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:42 pm

I recall reading that Prof. Bernard Scott died at the board.

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JustinHorton
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Re: Deaths of Chess Players

Post by JustinHorton » Sat Jan 05, 2013 4:33 pm

I am sure I recall a press report from a couple of years ago of some poor chap dying at the board in an open tournament in, I think, Israel.
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