Yorkshire Chess History

Capablanca was introduced by Councillor A. R. Habershon, president of Rotherham Chess Club and Mayor elect of Rotherham. Councillor E. S. Bardsley, Chairman of the committee, explained the conditions of play, which duly commenced at about 6.30 p.m. before an audience of two hundred to three hundred spectators.

Capablanca took on, simultaneously, the following 36 opponents drawn from Rotherham, Sheffield, and the district surrounding Rotherham:

E. J. Griffith	Rotherham
A. R. Fleming	Rotherham
R. Dewar	Rotherham
W. J. Day	Rotherham
J. A. Macdonald	Rotherham
A. E. Slack	Rotherham
A. R. Habershon	Rotherham
F. R. Brown	Rotherham
S. P. Ludbrook	Rotherham
C. Adams	Rotherham
H. McWhire	Rotherham
C. A. Broadhead	Rotherham
C. J. Beck	Rotherham
J. F. Wilkinson	Rotherham
B. Bennett	Rotherham
J. A. Alderton	Rotherham
A. Hobson	Rotherham
T. Maw	Rotherham
H. H. Clarke	Sheffield
C. R. Gurnhill	Sheffield
C. North	Sheffield
H. F. Rothwell	Sheffield
W. J. Dingley	Sheffield
F. Sheldon	Sheffield
D Letts	Sheffield
J. H. Bruce	Sheffield
Rev. C. E. Hughes	Matlby
W. H. Jones	Swinton
O. Oliver	Rawmarsh
A. J. Rodgers	Parkgate
T. Todd	Dalton
J. W. Haycock	Greasbrough
L. Burland	Wath
E. H. Hayes	Wath
J. E. Pickering	Brampton Bierlow
W. Breislin	West Melton

Of the above, Archibald (“Archie”) Robert Fleming was the current Rotherham Chess Champion, P. Dodd was a relative youngster, and W. J. Day was blind.

Capablanca’s first victory came after 17 minutes’ play. Two more followed soon afterwards. Nevertheless, after three hours play, only nine of Capablanca’s opponent had lost; most of the remainder were of course losing, but hadn’t got round to resigning. The last two to hold out against the World Champion were A. R. Fleming and J. F. Wilkinson, but they too had lost by 10.30, fifteen minutes before the time set for the end of play.

Finally, E. J. Griffith thanked Capablanca on behalf of his opponents and the spectators. Capablanca replied with a “very interesting little speech” with advice on how to play the game. Interestingly, in Sheffield back in 1919 Capablanca had said, “I do hope there won’t be any speach making, I’m no good at it.” [Sheffield Daily Independent, 09/10/1919] He had presumably had more practice since becoming World Champion.

A brief report contained in the Sheffield Daily Independent of Friday 27/10/1922, erroneously referred to the World Champion throughout as “Senor J. P. Capablanca”, with the middle initial incorrect. Capablanca’s technique, reported the Independent, was “to clear off the pieces and win on the pawns.” Whilst this is a somewhat crude description, it reflects Capablanca’s teaching about considering how the opening and middlegame impact on the endgame.

A fuller report, on which this page mainly draws, was given in the chess column of the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star on Saturday 28/10/1922.

Created

08/07/2013

Last Updated

08/07/2013