<18th Western Championship
Lexington, KY
August 20-25, 1917>
The tournament was played at the Elks' Clubhouse on North Broadway in Lexington, Kentucky, balliwick of the Association President and former U.S. Champion Jackson Whipps Showalter. With the hometown favorite not quite up to form, defending champion Lasker kept his crown. OK, not THAT Lasker.
The <American Chess Bulletin> notes that two tournaments were planned: a Masters' tournament and a major tournament. First prize in the Masters' event was guaranteed to be $100. Other prizes were planned to be $50 for second, $30 for third, $20 for fourth, with a possible fifth prize. There was an entrance fee of $5.
Here's a report from the <Brooklyn Daily Eagle>:
Lasker Still Supreme
"In winning the Western chess championship for the second time in succession, Edward Lasker of Chicago, handicapped as he was by a heavy cold, again upheld his reputation with flying colors. That he had Dame Fortune on his side on more than one occasion cannot be denied, but the mere fact that he split even with Showalter, his chief rival, was in itself enough to earn for him the laurels of the Western Chess Association's annual meeting.
"John Winter of Detroit missed a glorious opportunity to annex a game, which, assuredly, would have ranked among the chess briliancies of the year. He sacrificed his queen for a rook, and then had sufficient attack left with which to win, but failed at the crucial point and lost. Moorman of Lynchburg, Va., likewise had the upper hand against the champion, but lost his grip and, in the end, suffered defeat, in place of scoring a point."
"Edward Lasker, in addition to winning the Western championship for the second time in succession, was elected secretary of the Western Chess Association, with E. A. Munger of Chicago as president. Chicago will be the next meeting place. Winter of Detroit was the sensation of the tournament, for he defeated Showalter in both games, although he permitted Lasker to escape twice."
1 2 3 4 5
1. Edward Lasker XX 01 1= 11 11 6.5
2. Jackson Whipps Showalter 10 XX 00 1= 11 4.5
3. John Winter 0= 11 XX 01 10 4.5
4. Wilbur Lyttleman Moorman 00 0= 10 XX 11 3.5
5. John Taliaferro Beckner 00 00 01 00 XX 1.0
The newspaper coverage is scanty, and determining the schedule of play may not be impossible. The following should be regarded only as a reasonable attempt, and proof to the contrary will be welcomed.Round 1 Monday< August 20)
Showalter-Bye; Winter 0 Moorman; Lasker 1 Beckner*
Round 2 (Tuesday, August 21)
Bye-Beckner; Moorman 0 Lasker*; Showalter 0 Winter *
Round 3 (Tuesday, August 21)
Winter-Bye; Lasker 0 Showalter*; Beckner 0 Moorman*
Rounv 4 (Wednesday,A ugust 22)
Bye-Moorman' Showalter 1 Beckner*; Winter 0 Lasker*
Round 5 (Wednesday, August 22)
Lasker-Bye; Beckner 1 Winter *; Moorman 0 Showalter*
Round 6 (Thursday, August 23)
Bye - Showalter; Moorman 0 Winter; Beckner 0 Lasker
Round 7 (Friday, August 24)
Beckner - Bye; Lasker 1 Moorman*; Winter 1 Showalter
Round 8 (Friday, August 24)
Bye - Winter; Showalter 0 Lasker*; Moorman 1 Beckner
Round 9 (Saturday, August 25)
Moorman- Bye; Beckner 0 Showalter*; Lasker 1/2 Winter
Round 10 (Saturday, August 25)
Bye - Lasker; Winter 1 Beckner; Showalter 1/2 Moorman*
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Sources:
American Chess Bulletin, July/August, 1917, p. 146; September/October, 1917, p. 188-193.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 30, 1917
Charlotte Observer, August 21, 1917
Cincinnati Enquirer, August 24, 1917
Chess Results 1901-1920 / Gino di Felice, p. 238.
Louisville Courier Journal, August 22-24, 1917
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SEE ALSO: Game Collection: US Open Tournament Index
Kibitzing
