Deaths of Chess Players

Historical knowledge and information regarding our great game.

John Foley
Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:58 am
Location: Kingston-upon-Thames
Contact:

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
Posts: 3815
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:36 pm
Location: Under Cover
Contact:

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
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:04 pm
Location: Sutton, Surrey

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.

Richard James
Posts: 1333
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:34 pm
Location: Twickenham
Contact:

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.

Paul Dupré
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:04 pm
Location: Sutton, Surrey

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.

Roger Mylward
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2010 9:40 pm

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
Posts: 3452
Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 3:54 pm

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
Posts: 387
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:58 am
Location: Kingston-upon-Thames
Contact:

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?

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6328
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

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.......
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Richard Thursby
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:25 am
Location: origin + pathname + search + hash

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.

James Pratt
Posts: 726
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:10 pm

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."

User avatar
Matt Mackenzie
Posts: 6328
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
Location: Millom, Cumbria

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.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Peter Walker
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:47 pm

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.

User avatar
JustinHorton
Posts: 10481
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:06 am
Location: Somewhere you're not

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.
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

Post Reply