Dec-13-03
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| Chessical: Henry Ernest Atkins (1872-1955), was one of the most prolific British Champions, and perhaps the top British player during the first quarter of the 20th century, but his dedication to pursue a career in teaching led to few international appearances. At the age of 17 was already champion of the Leicestershire Chess Club, and he continued to play chess at Cambridge University where he read mathematics. During these four years he only lost one game. On leaving Cambridge he went into teaching but continued to play chess. At the first Hastings Chess Congress he became British Amateur Champion, a title he retained for several years. He remained a full time mathematics teacher and was described as: "standing with the other masters at the foot of the platform in the hall at morning prayers, a pale withdrawn figure with a high forehead, gown gathered round his folded arms, and appearing to us boys to be working out some new opening gambit." In 1904,Atkins entered the British Chess Championship and finished behind William E Napier In 1905, however, he was a clear winner. In 1912 he retired from competitive chess, only returning in 1924 (taking the British title then and the next year), so making 9 titles in all: 1905 Southport
1906 Shrewsbury
1907 London
1908 Tunbridge Wells
1909 Scarborough
1910 Oxford
1911 Glasgow
1924 Southport
1925 Stratford on Avon
His international career was limited, but his two continental appearances were successful. In 1899 in Amsterdam he won every game in a 16 strong field, and in 1902 at a Hanover Congress of World Masters he only lost twice and came third. Apart from that he was restricted to the Anglo-American cable matches for international practice. |
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Dec-13-03
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| Benzol: Atkins also performed reasonbly well at London in 1922. Lasker thought Atkins would have entered the World's elite if he hadn't remained an amateur. |
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Feb-08-04
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| fred lennox: Atkins is the Capablanca of England in simplicity and iron logic. |
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| May-22-04 |
| capanegra: "Who was the strongest British chess player? Not, I think, Howard Staunton, despite the claims that have been made for him as world champion of his age. The opposition he encountered was not particularly formidable, nor was he in fact at his best for very long. Joseph Henry Blackburne certainly achieved the most in the way of tournament successes; and if tournament success is the criterion, then one must award the palm to him. Meanwhile I am convinced that the strongest player was none of these, but that the Yorkshire schoolmaster, Henry Ernest Atkins, was our best player. Of him alone in British chess could it be truly said that he had the makings of a world champion." "He was an amateur whose profession was teaching, and he was no prepared to give up more than a certain amount of his holidays to playing chess. In consequence, in a playing span of some fifty-odd years, he took part in only five international tournaments: these were Amsterdam 1899, Hanover 1902, London 1922 and the two international team tournaments of London 1927 and Warsaw 1935. Few enough in all conscience, but sufficient to gain him on the Continent the title of 'the little Steinitz'. Partly this was a reference to his prowess as a player, and partly this was a description of his style of play; for he was much influenced by Wilhelm Steinitz, and played a type of game that the great Bohemian would have commended." –Harry Golombek (1963) |
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Dec-21-04
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| Benzol: Henry Ernest Atkins
Born 20th August 1872 in Leicester
Died 31st January 1955 in Huddersfield
He won the British amateur championship
in 1895, 1897 and 1900.
He won the British championship in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909 (after playoff), 1910, 1911 (after playoff), 1924, and 1925. He was also 1st= in 1904 but lost the playoff. |
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| Nov-22-05 |
| capanegra: <In 1899 in Amsterdam he won every game in a 16 strong field> Here is Atkins' perfect score in Amsterdam 1899: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/cserica/s... |
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May-08-07
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| Nasruddin Hodja: <Chessgames.com>: there seems to be another error here, unless Henry Ernest Atkins played his 1994 correspondence game with Don Wedding (last on his list of games) by way of a seance. Could it be another player named Atkins? Please check it out. |
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| Aug-14-07 |
| TheGadge: According to Chessmetrics, Mr Atkins achieved a rating of 2702 and number 6 in the world, albeit briefly, in 1902. Who knows what success this amateur may have encountered if things were different. It's tragic that so little is known or written about someone who may have been Britain's greatest ever player. Aleister Crowley claims that Atkins was the only person to have beaten him! Must have been bloody good to have conquered that stare |
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Aug-20-07
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| brankat: A very interesting character and chess master, Mr.Atkins. I wish there was more written about him material available, but at least we have a few dozens of games E.Atkins had left us. |
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Dec-25-08
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| whiteshark: He looks like he kept to an Atkins diet. |
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