Nov-07-14
 | | Phony Benoni: Mr. Stapp was involved in an incident revolving around the eternal question, "What happens if you announce mate but your flag falls?" The incident occurred at Game Collection: US Open 1940, Dallas, and most of the gory details come from "Chess Review", October 1940, p.147: <"A curious situation developed in one of the games in which one player announced a mate in three, forgot to push his clock, his time ran out, and his opponent claimed the game on time forfeiture! Shortly thereafter the players agreed upon a draw. But this agreement was subsequently nullified by the tournament director because the game was of vital consequence to a third player. The final decision of the referee upheld the claim, to time forfeiture in spite of the announced mate in three. Moral: better complete your move in time even though you have mate on the move."> This occurred in round one of the Preliminary stage. The players were identified in the "New York times", August 24, 1940, as Harold Burdge and Stapp. Apparently, the result was originally recorded as a draw (probably in the hope that the outcome wouldn't matter), but was changed to a win for Burdge at the last moment. The Preliminary Section qualified three players for the Championship Final. Changing the result meant Burdge took the second qualifying sprt, and dropped Stapp into a third-place tie with Howard Ohman. Stapp and Ohman were to play a play-off game for the spot, but I have found no record that it acutally took place. Ohman played in the Championship Final while Stapp did not take his place in the Consolation Section. It would be quite understandable if he were too upset over the incident to continue, though I'm not sure if he left before or after the play-off game. |
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| Nov-07-14 | | Jim Bartle: I would think announcing mate is totally irrelevant. A game would continue as if it hadn't occurred. |
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Nov-08-14
| | Phony Benoni: Seems obvious to us today, but things weren't quite as organized back then. The was the first "US Open" for the fledgling United States Chess Federation, organized less than a year before. |
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Nov-08-14
 | | Tabanus: <Phony Benoni> Jesse William Stapp, slip sent. |
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Nov-08-14
| | Phony Benoni: <Tabanus> Thanks. I had found "Jesse" last night and thought I was doing well. Apparently he could play some good chess. Haven't seen any of his games, but I have a feeling he would have been much more at home in the 19th century. Without chess clocks. |
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Oct-08-19
 | | wwall: Did he really die in 1961 as this bio suggests? The Feb 1975 issue of Chess Life and Review, page 128, reported that "Master Jesse Stapp, one of the southwest's strongest players, died recently in Dallas." And is it really Jesse William Stapp? Gaige lists a Jesse Stapp that died in 1974 and references the Texas Knights chess magazine, Sep-Oct 1974, p. 6. There is a "Jesse William Stapp" (1886-1961) in the 1930 census living in Texas, but I don't think that is Jesse Stapp the chess player. |
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Oct-09-19
| | Tabanus: <wwall> Apparently my fault, can't remember! There was a chess player "Jesse W. Stapp" in Dallas, and the records have this must be Jesse W. Stapp 1900-1974 who lived in Dallas most of his life. The W. is spelled out in a slightly dubious family tree, as "Williams" (perhaps meaning William). There is apparently a notice in Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas), 16 Oct. 1974. |
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Kibitzing
