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Tournament: Cambridge Premier • 18 of a possible 28 games, plus 2 part-games, plus 6+1 games/part-games from other sections
Venue: Guildhall, Cambridge • Dates: 26 March - 2 April 1932 • Download PGN
Updated: Friday 20 December, 2024 0:48 AM

 

1932 Cambridge Premier, 26 March - 2 April, The Guildhall

1932 Cambridge Premier Fed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Sultan Khan IND
&;
1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 5½
2 Johannes van den Bosch NED 0
&;
1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 4½
3 C Hugh O'D Alexander ENG 0 0
&;
1 1 1 ½ 1 4½
4 Sir George Alan Thomas ENG ½ ½ 0
&;
½ ½ ½ 1 3½
5 Theodore Henry Tylor ENG ½ 0 0 ½
&;
1 ½ ½ 3
6 Fred Dewhirst Yates ENG ½ ½ 0 ½ 0
&;
½ 1 3
7 Vera Menchik ENG 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½
&;
1 3
8 (Philip) Stuart Milner-Barry ENG 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0
&;
1

BCM, May 1932, ppn 189-196

THE CAMBRIDGE CONGRESS

The Cambridge Congress added another to the long list of Easter Meetings which have been so beneficial to chess in this country. E. H. Church1, the organiser, has been well known for years for his work in Cambridge and his ripe experience served him in good stead. The details of the Congress were carefully thought out, with the result that a most enjoyable holiday was spent.

It was a master stroke to secure the presence of Sir John Simon to open the Congress. The Foreign Secretary made one of the best speeches ever heard on an occasion like this. Fresh from his labours at Geneva his speech was both witty and topical. In the course of his remarks he said "A congress which is going to be conducted on the principle that nobody speaks— (laughter) —and which is quite certain by the end of next week to have achieved some definite result which nobody will seek to deny or contradict, is a curiosity among international congresses. I shall take Cambridge as a very pleasant model of what a congress ought to be to places like Geneva or Lausanne. All of us who have tried to play chess spend much time in endeavouring to discover what exactly is the feature which distinguishes it from all other games. For politicians there is an obvious distinction, for chess is the only game which M.P.'s are permitted openly to play within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster."

"There had been some quite considerable chess players among the members of the House of Commons; he would not say whether it was their political eminence which caused them to play chess well or their achievements in chess which endeared them to their constituents." (Laughter).

"Bonar Law," he remarked, "was a very good chess player indeed, and I remember, when I was a young man, seeing him fetched away at a critical moment of the game in the House of Commons to take part in a debate. I remember him returning two and a half hours later with the greatest coolness and making the move he had previously thought about for half an hour. I feel, therefore, that we may describe chess as the politician’s game, for obviously there are some qualities which make it particularly suitable for politicians; for example, nobody can cheat in chess. So far as I know it is the only game in the world in which it is impossible to cheat."

The speaker admitted that he himself had taken an interest in the game for a great many years, and it had been a great pleasure to follow some of the great matches in recent times. He was at Buenos Aires when the championship match was going on between Capablanca and Dr. Alekhine.

"I gazed at the players through a plate-glass window, much in the way you would look at corpses in a morgue. (Laughter). I watched for three-quarters of an hour, during which time Dr. Alekhine made no move. Each man had the same pieces—a King, a Castle and four Pawns—and exactly at midnight Dr. Alekhine made the move which I should have made in thirty seconds. (Laughter) The next morning the game was drawn by mutual consent."

" What," asked Sir John Simon, "are the qualities of this Royal, this ancient, and this splendid game? What are the attributes you may hope to find inherent, or developed in the chess player? It is very difficult, indeed, to say. I doubt if there is any game in which it is more important to exhibit two essential qualities of sport—modesty when you think you are going to win, and determination when you think you are going to lose."

"He fancied that the attraction of chess for a great many people was that from the beginning to the end it was the discipline for all those moral qualities which lay at the bottom of all games. The fact that it was a game where no advantage was to be gained from lavish expenditure or special outfit, made it fundamentally one of the democratic games of the world."

"He thought it was a fine thing that that world-wide game should be a pastime which might be pursued for the smallest possible outlay and without any paraphernalia; it made it one of the bonds of them all, whatever their circumstances. Then there was the fact that it required no ancient club to interpret its rules, which remain unchanged, and that it should be practised under the same regulations in every civilised country. It was those things which made it one of the most interesting games in the whole world."

Others on the platform were E. H. Church1 in the chair, Alderman W. L. Raines2 (Mayor of Cambridge), Sir George Thomas and the Hon. A. J. Lowther3, L. Illingworth and B. Goulding-Brown.

Sir John Simon stayed to watch the whole of the first round and later in the evening was entertained to dinner by the Vice-Provost and Fellows of King’s College.

As will be seen from the above table, the Premier Tournament attracted a strong entry including one foreign competitor, J. H. O. Van den Bosch (Holland), who, at this Congress, made his first appearance in British Chess. The fact that Holland has recently suffered a loss of two prominent young players, made his inclusion particularly welcome. Almost up to the very end Van den Bosch was in the running for the first place, but finally missed it by losing in the last round to Sultan Khan. This game decided the whole issue—Sultan Khan thus came first (a clear point ahead of the next prize-winner), while Van den Bosch only shared second and third prizes with Alexander. Playing with his usual calm and accuracy Sultan Khan went through the tournament undefeated. His victory, however, was perhaps to be anticipated. The real hero of the occasion was, no doubt, the young Cambridge player, C. H. O’D. Alexander, who played a most forward and interesting chess, and thoroughly deserved the high place he took in this tournament.

Notes

1 Edward Henry Church (1867-1947) was a pharmaceutical chemist and member of the Cambridge City CC.
2 William Luard Raynes (1868-1961 - n.b. correct spelling of surname) was a solicitor. He graduated (B.A.) from Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1890. No record of him being a chess player.
3 The Hon. Arthur James Beresford Lowther (28 October 1888 - 2 March 1967) was the son of James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater, Speaker of the House of Commons during WW1. Educ. Eton College, barrister of the Inner Temple. After WW1, became Assistant Commissioner for Kenya (1918-20) and later Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. Regular chess competitor.
4 Mrs May Marian Goulding Brown née Mortlock (1884-1961?), wife of chess player Bertram Goulding Brown. She too played chess for the Cambridge Town club.

Major Tournaments

A large entry received for the Major Tournament necessitated an addition of a "B" section. In the "A" group, Koltanowski was regarded from the start as a probable winner. His loss in the second round to Golombek, made this contest particularly exciting. Finally he caught up his rival, tying with him for the first and second prizes; Rupert Cross, only a point behind them, came third. In the middle of the week Koltanowski gave a very successful blindfold display on eight boards—winning six, drawing one and losing one. The "B" tournament was won by E. W. Carmichael, with a big score of 6½ out of possible 7. There was a very close fight for the second and third prizes, resulting in a tie between Mrs. Stevenson and E. M. Jellie. Mrs. Stevenson must be heartily congratulated on adding another fine success to her recent victory in the Referee Congress.

Altogether there were over 70 competitors in the lofty and commodious Guildhall where L. Illingworth worked hard all the week as Principal Steward.

On the final day the prizes were presented by Mrs. [May] Goulding-Brown, while E. H. Church and L. Illingworth each received a tangible recognition from the competitors, of all their labours and exertions. J. H. Van den Bosch being the speaker, C. H. Alexander thanked the prize giver, whose husband, B. Goulding-Brown, replied on her behalf.

The Mayor gave an interesting organ recital in the Guildhall on Thursday afternoon and a most delightful concert was arranged on the first Saturday by the organist of King’s College, while two visits to the Colleges took place, at each of which most proficient conductors were provided.

1932 Cambridge Major A

1932 Cambridge Major A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Harry Golombek
&;
1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 5½
2 George Koltanowski 0
&;
1 ½ 1 1 1 1 5½
3 (Alfred) Rupert Neale Cross ½ 0
&;
½ ½ 1 1 1 4½
4 Leslie Charles Gwyn Dewing ½ ½ ½
&;
½ 0 ½ 1 3½
5 John James O'Hanlon 0 0 ½ ½
&;
1 ½ 1 3½
6 William James Fry 0 0 0 1 0
&;
1 ½ 2½
7 Arthur John Mackenzie ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0
&;
0 1½
8 Peter Reid 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 1
&;
1½

1932 Cambridge Major B

1932 Cambridge Major B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Edward Wilson Carmichael
&;
1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 6½
2 Ernest Montgomery Jellie 0
&;
1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 5
3 Mrs Agnes Bradley Stevenson 0 0
&;
1 1 1 1 1 5
4 Alfred Joseph Butcher 0 ½ 0
&;
1 1 1 1 4½
5 Rev. Charles Fenton Bolland 0 ½ 0 0
&;
1 1 0 2½
6 Capt. Hugh Windsor Fiesch Heneage ½ 0 0 0 0
&;
0 1 1½
7 Mrs Edith Martha Holloway 0 0 0 0 0 1
&;
½ 1½
8 Charles Henry Taylor 0 0 0 0 1 0 ½
&;
1½

1932 Cambridge First Class A

1932 Cambridge First Class A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Douglas Ian Croker
&;
0 1 1 1 1 1 1 6
2 Ward Mayhew Parker Mitchell 1
&;
1 ½ 0 1 1 1 5½
3 Duncan Clarke 0 0
&;
0 1 0 1 1 3
4 Alfred Herman Reeve 0 ½ 1
&;
1 ½ 0 0 3
5 F Stearn 0 1 0 0
&;
1 ½ ½ 3
6 Rostislav Chernikeef 0 0 1 ½ 0
&;
0 1 2½
7 William Wesley Church 0 0 0 1 ½ 1
&;
0 2½
8 G Fletcher 0 0 0 1 ½ 0 1
&;
2½

1932 Cambridge First Class B

1932 Cambridge First Class B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7  Total 
 1  F A Richardson
&;
1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 4½
2 A[lfred John] Duke 0
&;
1 1 1 0 1 4
3 Miss Mary Ann Eliza Andrews 0 0
&;
1 ½ 1 1 3½
4 A R Robins ½ 0 0
&;
½ 1 1 3
5 W Barker ½ 0 ½ ½
&;
½ ½ 2½
6 John Keeble ½ 1 0 0 ½
&;
½ 2½
7 Miss Emily Eliza Abraham 0 0 0 0 ½ ½
&;
1

1932 Cambridge First Class C

1932 Cambridge First Class C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Michael Benger
&;
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 Cecil Caythorpe Palmer 0
&;
1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 5
3 Ernest Fowler Fardon 0 0
&;
½ ½ ½ 1 1 3½
4 G C Hodgson1 0 0 ½
&;
½ 1 ½ 1 3½
5 Hon. Arthur James Beresford Lowther 0 ½ ½ ½
&;
½ 1 ½ 3½
6 Ernest Edward Shepherd 0 ½ ½ 0 ½
&;
1 1 3½
7 Maj. Edgar Montague-Jones 0 0 0 ½ 0 0
&;
1 1½
8 Rev. A Clover 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0
&;
½

1 Possibly G M Hodgson? (A player of that name beat Sultan Khan in a simul in October 1932)

1932 Cambridge Second Class

1932 Cambridge Second Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  Total 
 1  Jasper Robertson Greenop
&;
½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7½
2 D Pullen ½
&;
1 1 1 1 1 0 1 6½
3 Frank Miles Argrave 0 0
&;
1 1 1 1 1 1 6
4 Henry St John Brooks 0 0 0
&;
½ 1 1 ½ 1 4
5 Miss Lillie Eveling 0 0 0 ½
&;
1 0 1 1 3½
6 Rev. W E Harvey 0 0 0 0 0
&;
1 1 1 3
7 John E Coleman 0 0 0 0 1 0
&;
1 1 3
8 Miss Marian J McCombie 0 1 0 ½ 0 0 0
&;
0 1½
9 H T Bland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
&;
1

1932 Cambridge Third Class

1932 Cambridge Third Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  Miss Esmé Hewetson Benson1
&;
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7
2 F Buttress 0
&;
½ 1 1 1 1 1 5½
3 Douglas Enty Budge1 0 ½
&;
½ ½ 1 1 ½ 4
4 R Fuller 0 0 ½
&;
0 1 1 1 3½
5 A G K MacKenzie 0 0 ½ 1
&;
0 1 1 3½
6 Miss Wright 0 0 0 0 1
&;
1 1 3
7 Mrs Clara Margaret McVean 0 0 0 0 0 0
&;
1 1
8 Miss Shrive 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0
&;
½

1 Esmé Hewetson Budge and Douglas Enty Budge were married in Malton, Yorkshire, in 1933.

1932 Cambridge Junior

1932 Cambridge Junior 1 2 3 4 5 6  Total 
 1  F W Barnard
&;
0½ 10 01 11 11 6½
2 C McD Whitaker 1½
&;
00 01 11 11 6½
3 K Harmer 01 11
&;
10 00 11 6
4 R H Brown 10 10 01
&;
  10  
5 H R Clarke 00 00 11  
&;
11  
6 E E Hancock 00 00 00 01 00
&;
1

Above table given exactly as it appeared in BCM, May 1932, p196, with no scores for the Brown v Clarke pairing and no totals for either player.

1932 Cambridge Schoolboys

1932 Cambridge Schoolboys 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8  Total 
 1  S Graves
&;
10 01 11 10 11 11 11 11
2 H J Diver 01
&;
01 11 10 01 01 11 9
3 A Quinney 10 10
&;
00 11 10 11 11 9
4 Hilary Goulding Brown 00 00 11
&;
01 11 01 11 8
5 D J Hewitt 01 01 00 10
&;
10 10 11 7
6 E Shepperson 00 10 01 00 01
&;
11 10 6
7 C J Miller 00 10 00 10 01 00
&;
11 5
8 S Dant 00 00 00 00 00 01 00
&;
1

It is not made clear what the distinction is between "juniors" and "schoolboys" but we know that Hilary Goulding Brown was born in September 1923 in Cambridge, so would be aged eight at the time of this tournament. He was the son of the well-known player Bertram Goulding Brown and his wife May (née) Mortlock.

File Updated

Date Notes
26 March 2016 First uploaded.
16 December 2024 Added three part-games from the Major sections. Updated to include crosstables of all events and the tournament report from BCM.
18 December 2024 Added two more games from Major A, submitted by Gerald Hartmann, for which many thanks: (1) G Koltanowski 0-1 H Golombek, rd 2; (2) G Koltanowski 1-0 A R Cross (rd 7, with some uncertainties in the score). I have also found the full score for A Mackenzie 0-1 G Koltanowski (rd 7) and added round numbers and dates for all games.
19 December 2024 We now have the full score for G Koltanowski 1-0 J O'Hanlon (Major A, rd 3). Many thanks to Ulrich Tamm for supplying.