<17th Western Championship Chicago, Illinois
August 14-23, 1916>

With the coming of Edward Lasker, the Western Championship entered a new phase. For the first time, a leading national player would participate in and dominate the tournament on a consistent basis, as Lasker would win the title in five of the next six years. The tournament also broke away permanently from its roots in Minnesota, moving around a wider variety of cities with Chicago as the hub of operations.

Lasker didn't win this first title easily, as Jackson W. Showalter put up a spirited battle and only fell behind in the last two rounds when he overlooked a stalemate trap against Isaacs, then lost to third place finisher Herman H. Hahlbohm.

                              1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
1  Edward Lasker              X ½ ½ 1 1 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16.5
2  Jackson Whipps Showalter   ½ X 0 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 16.0
3  Herman H Hahlbohm          ½ 1 X ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 14.5
4  John Taliaferro Beckner    0 ½ ½ X 0 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13.5
5  Norman Tweed Whitaker      0 0 ½ 1 X 0 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13.5
6  Rolf Suckow Hoff           1 0 0 0 1 X 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13.0
7  George Gessner             0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 X 0 1 1 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12.5
8  Lewis J Isaacs             0 ½ 0 1 0 1 1 X 1 ½ 1 0 1 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 12.0
9  John Winter                0 0 0 1 ½ 1 0 0 X 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 12.0
10 Wilbur Lyttleton Moorman   ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 X ½ 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 10.5
11 Edward Friederich Schrader 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 1 0 0 ½ X 1 ½ 0 1 0 1 1 1 1  9.5
12 Willis Greely Hine         0 0 1 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 0 0 X 0 ½ 1 0 1 1 1 1  9.0
13 Kalman Erdeky              0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 X 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1  8.0
14 Eric M Cobb                0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 ½ 0 X 0 1 1 ½ 1 1  7.0
15 Joseph Daniels             0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 1 0 0 ½ 1 X 1 0 1 1 1  7.0
16 Horace Greeley Kent        0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 X 1 1 1 1  6.0
17 Harris Herschel Ryan       0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 0 0 1  3.5
18 Marvin C Palmer            0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 X 1 0  3.0
19 R H Willingham             0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 1  2.0
20 M L Walker                 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X  1.0

Round-by-Round results

Daily reports by Harry Fowler Lee in the "Chicago Daily Tribune" are available for all rounds, but are missing a few games and do not indicate colors. I have prepared a reconstruction based on the Berger pairing table, in which the pairing harmonized with Lee's accounts and the colors of all known games are correct. Still. I must emphasize that this is an unsourced reconstruction, so while it may be useful it should also be approached with due caution.

An asterisk (*) indicates a game available in the collection.

Round 1 (Monday, August 14): Beckner 1 Willingham; Ryan 1 Daniels; Kent 0 Moorman; Walker 0 Cobb ; Showalter 1 Hoff*; Erdeky 0 Hahlbohm; Lasker 1 Gessner*; Hine 1 Winter; Schrader 1 Palmer;; Whitaker 1 Isaacs Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune," August 15, 19161, p. 12

Round 2 (Monday, August 14)L Willingham 0 Isaacs; Palmer 0 Whitaker; Winter 1 Schrader; Gessner 1/2 Hine; Hahlbohm 1/2 Laskerl; Hoff 1 Erdeky; Cobb 0 Showalter; Moorman 1 Walker; Daniels 1 Kent; Beckner 1 Ryan Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 15, 19161, p. 12

Round 3 (Tuesday, August 15): Ryan 0 Willingham; Kent 0 Beckner; Walker 0 Daniels; Showalter 1/2 Moorman; Erdeky 1 Cobb; Lasker 0 Hoff*; Hine 1 Hahlbohm; Schrader 1 Gessner; Whitaker 1/2 Winter; Isaacs 1/2 Palmer Results source: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 16, 1916, p. 8

Round 4 (Tuesday, August 15): Willingham 0 Palmer; Winter 0 Isaacs; Gessner 1 Whitaker*; Hahlbohm 1/2 Schrader; Hoff 1 Hine; Cobb 0 Lasker*; Moorman 1 Erdeky; Daniels 0 Showalter; Beckner 1 Walker; Ryan 0 Kent Results source: "Chicago Daily Tribune" August 16, 1916, p. 8

Round 5 (Wednesday, August 16): Kent 1 Willingham; Walker 0 Ryan; Showalter 1/2 Beckner*; Erdeky 1/2 Daniels; Lasker 1/2 Moorman*; Hine 1/2 Cobb; Schrader 1 Hoff; Whitaker 1/2 Hahlbohm; Isaacs 1 Gessner; Palmer 0 Winter Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 17, 1916, p. 9l

Round 6 (Wednesday, August 16): Willingham 0 Wiinter; Gessner 1 Palmer; Hahlbohm 1 Isaacs; Hoff 1 Whitaker*; Cobb 1 Schrader; Moorman 1 Hine; Daniels 0 Lasker ; Beckner 1 Erdeky*; Ryan 0 Showalter; Kent 1 Walker Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 17, 1916, p. 9.

Round 7 (Thursday, August 17); Walker 0 Willingham; Showalter 1 Kent; Erdeky 1 Ryan; Lasker 1 Beckner*; Hine 1 Daniels; Schrader 1/2 Moorman; Whitaker 1 Cobb; Isaacs 1 Hoff; Palmer 0 Hahlbohm; Winter 0 Gessner Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 18, 1916, p. 8

Round 8 (Thursday, August 17): Willingham 0 Gessner; Hahlbohm 1 Winter; Hoff 1 Palmer; Cobb 1 Isaacs; Moorman 1/2 Whitaker*; Daniels 0 Schrader; Beckner 1 Hine; Ryan 9 Lasker*; Kent 0 Erdeky; Walker 0 Showalter Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 18, 1916, p. 8

Round 9 (Friday, August 18): Showalter 1 Willingham; Erdeky 1 Walker Lasker 1 Kent*; Hine 1 Ryan; Schrader 0 Beckner*; Whitaker 1 Daniels; Isaacs 1/2 Moorman; Palmer 1/2 Cobb; Winter 1 Hoff; Gessner 1/2 Hahlbohm Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 19, 1916, p. 6

Round 10 *Friday, August 18): Willingham 0 Hahlbohm; Hoff 1 Gessner; Cobb 0 Winter; Moorman 1 Palmer; Daniels 1/2 Isaacs; Beckner 0 Whitaker*; Ryan 0 Schrader; Kent 1 Hine; Walker 0 Lasker*; Showalter1 Erdeky* Source for results: 'Chicago Daily Tribune", August 19, 1916, p. 6

Round 11 (Saturday,. August 19): Erdeky 1 Willingham; Lasker 1/2 Showalter*; Hine 1 Walker; Schrader 0 Kent; Whitaker 1 Ryan; Isaacs 1 Beckner; Palmer 0 Daniels (default); Winter 1 Moorman; Gessner 1 Cobb; Hahlbohm 1 Hoff Source for results: "Chicago Sunday Tribune", August 20, 1916, p. 2

Round 12 (Saturdayday, August 19): Willingham 0 Hoff; Cobb 0 Hahlbohm; Moorman 0 Gessner*; Daniels 0 Winter; Beckner 1 Palmer (default); Ryan 0 Isaacs; Kent 0 Whitaker*; Walker 0 Schrader; Showalter 1 Hine; Erdeky 0 Lasker* Source fore results: "Chicago Sunday Tribune", August 20, 1916, p. 2

Round 13 (Sunday, August 20): Lasker 1 Willingham; Hine 0 Erdeky; Schrader 0 Showalter*; Whitaker 1 Walker; Isaacs 1 Kent; Palmer 1 Ryan; Winter 1 Beckner; Gessner 1 Daniels; Hahlbohm 1 Moorman*; Hoff 1 Cobb Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 21, 1916, p. 8

Round 14 (Sundday, August 20): Willingham 0 Cobb; Moorman 0 Hoff*; Daniels 0 Hahlbohm; Beckner 1/2 Gessner; Ryan 1/2 Winter; Kent + Palmer (default); Walker 0 Isaacs; Showalter 1 Whitaker*; Erdeky 1/2 Schrader; Lasker 1 Hine; Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 21, 1916, p. 8

Round 15 (Monday, August 21): Hine 1 Willingham; Schrader 0 Lasker; Whitaker 1 Erdeky*; Isaacs 1/2 Showalter; Palmer 9 Walker (default); Winter 1 Kent (default)?); Gessner 1 Ryan; Hahlbohm 1/2 Beckner; Hoff 1 Daniels; Cobb 0 Moorman Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune, August 22, 1916, p. 8

Round 16 (Monday, August 21): Willingham 0 Moorman (Default?); Daniels 1 Cobb; Beckner 1 Hoff; Ryan 1 Hahlbohm; Kent 0 Gessner; Walker 0 Winter; Showalter 1 Palmer (default); Erdeky 0 Isaacs (Default); Lasker 1 Whitaker*; Hine 0 Schrader Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune, August 22, 1916, p. 8]

Round 17 (Tuesday, August 22): Schrader 1 Willingham; Whitaker 1 Hine*; Isaacs 0 Lasker*; Palmer 0 Erdeky; Winter 0 Showalter*; Gessner 1 Walker; Hahlbohm 1 Kent, (default); Hoff 1 Ryan; Cobb 0 Beckner; Moorman 0 Daniels* Source for results: "Chicao Daily Tribune", August 23, 1916, p. 10

>Round 18 (Tuesday, August 22)>: Willingham 0 Daniels; Beckner 1 Moorman*; Ryan 0 Cobb; Kent 0 Hoff; Walker 0 Hahlbohm; Showalter 1 Gessner*; Erdeky 0 Winter; Lasker 1 Palmer*; Hine 1 Isaacs; Schrader 0 Whitaker* Source for results: "Chicago Daily Tribune", August 23, 1916, p. 10

Round 19 (Wednsday, August 23): Whitaker 1 Willingham; Isaacs 1 Schrader*; Palmer 0 Hine; Winter 0 Lasker,*; Gessner 1 Erdeky; Hahlbohm 1 Showalter*; Hoff 1 Walker;; Cobb 1 Kent (default); Moorman 1 Ryan; Daniels 0 Beckner Source for results: "Chicago Daily Triubne", August 24, 1916, p. 11

-----

Progressive scores

Based on Lee's reports, with missing information added.

               1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19
1  Lasker     1.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 8.5  9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5 14.5 15.5 16.5
2  Showalter  1.0 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 16.0
3  Hahlboahm  1.0 1.5 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.0 7.0 8.0  9.0 10.0 11.0 11.5 11.5 12.5 13.5 14.5
4  Beckner    1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 4.5 5.5 5.5 6.5 7.5 7.5 7.5  8.5  8.5  9.0  9.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5
5  Whiatker   1.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.5  8.5  9.5  9.5 10.5 10.5 11.5 12.5 13.5
6  Hoff       0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0  7.0  8.0  9.0 10.0 10.0 11.0 12.0 13.0
7  Gessner    0.0 0.5 0.5 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.0 5.0 6.0  7.0  8.0  8.5  9.5 10.5 11.5 11.5 12.5
8  Isaacs     0.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.5  7.5  8.5  9.5 10.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 12.0
9  Winter     0.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5  7.5  8.5  9.0 10.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 12.0
10 Moorman    1.0 2.0 2.5 3.5 4.0 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.5 7.5  7.5  7.5  7.5  8.5  9.5  9.5  9.5 10.5
11 Schrader   1.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 3.5 3.5 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0 6.0  7.0  7.0  7.5  7.5  8.5  9.5  9.5  9.5
12 Hine       1.0 1.5 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0  6.0  6.0  6.0  7.0  7.0  7.0  8.0  9.0
13 Erdeky     0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 5.5  5.5  6.5  7.0  7.0  7.0  8.0  8.0  8.0
14 Cobb       1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.0  4.0  4.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  5.0  6.0  7.0
15 Daniels    0.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.0 4.0  4.0  4.0  4.0  4.0  5.0  6.0  7.0  7.0
16 Kent       0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 4.0 5.0  5.0  5.0  6.0  6.0  6.0  6.0  6.0  6.0
17 Ryan       1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0  2.0  2.0  2.5  2.5  3.5  3.5  3.5  3.5
18 Palmer     0.0 0.0 0.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0  2.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0  3.0
19 Willingham 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0
20 Walker     0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0  0.0  0.0  0.0  1.0  1.0  1.0  1.0 1.0

Brilliancy Prize: G Gessner vs N Whitaker, 1916

Thanks to <MissScarlett>, for tracking down several Whitaker games.

-----

Sources:

American Chess Bulletin, 1916, p. 184-194, 230, 246.

British Chess Magazine, October 1916m o, 350-354, 384485-486.

Chess Results 1901-1920 / Gino di Felice, p. 231

Chicago Daily Tribune, reports by Harry Fowler Lee, August 15-24, 1916.

New York Sun, August 27, September 17, September 24, 1916.

Shady side : the life and crimes of Norman Tweed Whitaker, chessmaster, by John Hilbert. Yorklyn, DE : Caissa Editions, 2000. SS

Sunday Star, August 27, 1916

-----

PREVIOUS: Game Collection: US Open 1915, Excelsior = 16th Western Champ.

NEXT: Game Collection: US Open 1917, Lexington = 18th Western Champ.

SEE ALSO: Game Collection: US Open Tournament Index