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Women in Chess   - 1934
August  2007

                         


New York Times;  January 22, 1934

Scores in Marshall Club Play
Women's Tourney Opens

   The first chess tournament for Women to be held in this city for many years began yesterday at the rooms of the Marshall Chess Club under the direction of Mrs. Caroline Marshall, wife of the United States champion, who acted as referee.
   The summaries:
                         First Round.
Miss Weart 1, Miss Grau 0, Miss Raettig 1, Miss Smith 0, Miss Angus 1, Miss Allen 0, Mrs. Seaman 1, Mrs. Leeds 0, Miss Rivero 1, Miss Broughton 0, Mrs. McCready-Miss White, postponed.
              Second-Round Pairings
 Miss White vs. Miss Angus; Miss Raettig vs. Mrs. Seaman;  Miss Weart  vs. Broughton; Mrs. McCready  vs. Mrs. Rivero; Miss Grau vs. Mrs. Leeds; Miss Smith vs. Miss Allen  


New York Times;  February 16, 1934

MRS. SEAMAN KEEPS LEAD

   Victorious for the eighth time in succession, Mrs. W. I. Seaman of Staten Island, Mrs. W. I. Seaman of Staten Island kept her lead in the women's tournament at the Marshall Chess Club by defeating  Mrs. B. W. McCready of Orange, N. J. yesterday. Her most dangerous rival is Mrs. Adele Rivero of Manhattan to hold second place with a total of  7-1.
     Next, with 6-2, comes Mrs. Harriet Broughton of Manhattan, who won from Miss Hilde Grau of Manhattan. In the other games Miss Adele S. Raettig of Hoboken scored against Miss Helen White of Manhattan and Miss Edith Weart of Jackson Heights conquered Miss Vera Angus of Brooklyn.
     The standing of the players:

W. L. W. L.
Mrs. Seaman 8 0 Miss Weart 4 4
Mrs. Rivero 7 1 Mrs. Leeds 3 4
Mrs. B'ghton 6 2 Miss White 2½ 4½
Mrs. McCr'dy 4½ 3½ Miss Grau 2 6
Miss Angus 4 4 Miss Smith 1 7
Miss Raettig 4 4 Miss Allen 0 6

New York Times;  February 26, 1934

Fail to Determine Woman's Tourney Winner

Adjourn Final-Round Match

     Five of the six games scheduled in the eleventh and final round of the women's tournament at the Marshall Chess Club were decided yesterday, but first place remains in doubt. Mrs. W. I. Seaman of Staten Island,  leader with ten straight victories, and Mrs. Adele Rivero of Manhattan, 9-1, failed to reach a decision, their encounter being adjourned.
    Mrs. Harriet Broughton, third place, equaled Mrs. Rivero's total number of victories by defeating Miss Helen White. Mrs. B. W. McCready finished fourth with a score of 6½ - 4½ by turning back Miss Hilde Grau. There was a triple tie for fifth place among Miss Vera Angus, Miss Adele S. Raettig and Miss Edith Weart. Miss Angus defeated Mrs. Leeds, Miss Raettig won by default from Miss Hazel Allen and Miss Weart conquered Miss M. J. Smith.
              Standing of the Players,

W. L. W. L.
Mrs. Seaman 10 0 Miss Weart 6 5
Mrs. Rivero 9 1 Miss White 5½ 5½
Mrs. B'ghton 9 2 Mrs. Leeds 4 7
Mrs. McCr'dy 6½ 4½ Miss Grau 2 9
Miss Angus 6 5 Miss Smith 1 10
Miss Raettig 6 5 *Miss Allen 0 11
      *Withdrew.
 



Chess Review
MARCH, 1934


 

 

Mrs. Seaman Wins Women's Chess Tournament

Mrs. William 1. Seaman of Staten Island, N. Y., won the women's tournament at the Marshall Chess Club, with a perfect score of 11-0. Mrs. Seaman thus comes into possession of the handsome tournament trophy which was donated by Miss Hazel Allen of Kew Gardens.

Additional prizes have been presented by Alvin C. Cass and Alfred C. Klahre.

The final standing follows:

Depending on which source you believe, Marjorie Luce was born in Boston either in 1881 (NYTimes obituary) or in 1889 (Luce family genealogy page). On October 20, 1905, she married William Iucho Seaman (8/19/1871 - 4/5/1928) in Stapleton,
Staten Island N.Y. She died in her home at 144 Douglas Rd. Emerson Hill, Staten Island, N.Y., on November 19, 1950 after a brief illness. She was both a chess and bridge player who, besides winning the first championship of the Women's Chess Club of New York in 1924, was a member of the Correspondence Chess League, the Marshall Chess Club and the Staten Island Chess Club.

Mrs. Seaman ...............
Mrs. Broughton ...........
Mrs. Rivero .................
Mrs. McCready ..........
Miss Angus .................
Miss Reattig ................
Miss Weart .................
Miss White ..................
Mrs. Leeds .................
Miss Grau ...................
Miss Smith ..................
Miss Allen (withdrew).
11
9
9

6
6
6

4
2
2
0
0
2
2

5
5
5

7
9
9
11

                                                                                *           *           *

WOMEN IN CHESS
By HARRIET BROUGHTON


With the presentation of the Allen trophy to Mrs. W. I Seaman, of Staten Island. as first prize, copies of "Chess Potpourri," with the compliments of Alfred C. Klahre, the author, as second prizes to Mrs. Adele Rivero and Mrs. Harriet Broughton, who tied for second place, and a magnetic chess board, contributed by Alvin C. Cass, to Mrs. B. W. McCready, who ranked next highest, the Women's Chess Tournament of the Marshall Chess Club came to an end on March 2nd.

Besides bringing into the limelight such a seasoned player as Mrs. Seaman, who began her chess career in short skirts, promising material for future championship is recognized in Mrs. Rivero, who met Mrs. Seaman in the last round with only one lost game, and a chance to tie for first place.

The tournament has disclosed a number of interesting highlights concerning women chess players and their interest in the game. Evidence of the serious attitude they have lies in Miss Edith Weart's statement that games "bore" her, but she "likes chess." She says that for ten years the only competition she was able to get was from friends she herself had taught to play; and she taught them all the Evans gambit! Moreover, she used this opening consistently playing white in the tournament. She ended with six wins and five losses.

A possible sequence to this tournament may be a Ladies' Night at the Marshall, at special membership rates for one evening a week and perhaps Sunday afternoon, when coffee would be served. Apparently, however, there are two distinct reactions to this idea, as some of the ladies care not for Quaker meetings.

In the likelihood of another tournament in the not too distant future, resulting in further advancement in chess for women, who knows whether to take seriously Reshevsky's facetious aside to Fine. "That's what we have to fear?"



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