<21st Western Championship Memphis, Tennessee
September 20-26, 1920>

Defending champion Edward Lasker took his fourth title, though not without a challenge from hometown hero and two-time champion Bradford B. Jefferson. Lasker defeated Jefferson in the first round, but three draws allowed Jefferson a chance to catch up before his last-round loss to John T. Beckner.

Jackson W. Showalter had been expected to play, but telegraphed his regrets at the last moment.

The tournament was held in the Chess Room of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce Guilding. Play was held from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, then after a lunch interval from 3;00 PM to 7:00 PM. The time limit was 15 moves per hour.

                           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1  Edward Lasker           X 1 = = 1 1 1 = 5.5
2  Bradford B Jefferson    0 X 0 = 1 1 1 1 4.5
3  John Taliaferro Beckner = 1 X 0 1 0 1 1 4.5
4  Robert Scrivener        = = 1 X 0 0 1 1 4.0
5  Eric M Cobb             0 0 0 1 X 1 1 1 4.0
6  Louis R Eisenberg       0 0 1 1 0 X = 1 3.5
7  Marvin C Palmer         0 0 0 0 0 = X 1 1.5
8  John H Norris           = 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 0.5

Pairings

Round 1 (Monday, September 20, 9:00 AM): Scrivener 1 Palmer (begun in the afternoon session, 3:00 PM): Norris 0 Eisenberg; Jefferson 0 Lasker; Cobb 0 Beckner

Round 2 (Tuesday, September 21, 9:00 AM): Palmer 0 Beckner; Lasker 1 Cobb; Eisenberg 0 Jefferson; Scrivener 1 Norris

Round 3 (Tuesday, September 21, 3:00 PM): Norris 0 Palmer; Jefferson 1/2 Scrivener; Cobb 1 Eisenberg; Beckner 1/2 Lasker

Round 4 (Wednesday, September 22, 9:00 AM): Palmer 0 Laskerl Eisenberg 1 Beckner; Scrivener 0 Cobb; Norris 0 Jefferson

Round 5 (Thursday, September 23, 9:00 AM) Jefferson 1 Palmer; Cobb 1 Norris; Beckner 0 Scrivener; Lasker 1 Eisenberg

Round 6 (Friday, September 24, 9:00 AM): Palmer 1/2 Eisenberg; Scrivener 1/2 Lasker; Norris 0 Beckner; Jefferson 1 Cobb

Round 7 (Saturday, September 25 9:00 AM)): Cobb 1 Palmer; Beckner 1 Jefferson; Lasker 1/2 Norris; Eisenberg 0 Scrivener

The game between Lasker and Norris was played on the afternoon of Friday, September 24. Norris, who was indisposed, apparently wished to leave early, and Lasker was willing to accommodate him.

Beckner - Jefferson, which decided fate of the first three prizes, was adjourned after six hours play and completed on Sunday, Septemer 26.

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Prizes

1st: Edward Lasker $100
2nd-3rd: Jefferson, Beckner: $40
4th-5th: Scrivener, Cobb: $15

Brilianch Prize: R Scrivener vs E M Cobb, 1920

Best played game prize:.

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Sources:

American Chess Bulletin, November 1920, p.173; December 1920, p.194; 1921, p.140 ACB

Chess Results 1901-1920 / Gino di Felice, p.271

"Edward Lasker in Memphis--Roaring 1920s Western Championship". Memphis Chess History blog May 25, 2015: http://memphischessclub.blogspot.com/

Memphis Commercial Appear, September 26 and October 24, 1920 MCA

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SEE ALSO: Game Collection: US Open Tournament Index