Noted as winner of Beauty Prize, Cologne Easter Tournament.

We aren't always cusy with our comments, so one should make an allowance, especially if the criticism is valid (even if the presentation is slightly sharp (aka impolite)).

<Chessist> might not know, despite the name, that <NCA> is working almost exclusively from newspapers, and has yet to fully master the vast expanse of sources we normally utilize.

Allowances cut both ways.

Now then, I would say having an obscure source is far better than having no source. (Capt Obvious level remark on my part!)

Having said that, I fully concur that chess magazines, especially ones readily available online, are preferable over newspaper columns (though some columns can be equally excellent - from certain GM's turned columnist [e.g. Lasker, Steinitz, etc], or from certain personages of great merit - like Helms of the BDE).

But the quality of newspaper columns can be highly variable, as for the games themselves (e.g. when an editor outside of the chess decides the column-inches need to be trimmed).

A chess magazine will almost always include the full movelist, and certainly have the chess as the primary goal for the reporting, etc. etc.

If only <CG> would widen the PGN Source tag to the full 255 characters, we could have both

< [Source "Deutsche Schachblätter (v?? N??) 1935-05-01 p128 // The Morning Call, Chess, Steckel, Allentown, PA, Sep. 01, 1935"] >

The DSB ref is the better one, yes, but it seems we owe <NCA> a tip of the hat for providing the kick-in-the-pants to dig it out.

No sooner than stating a fact that was being published worldwide in 1923 from numerous sources... lo and behold, on cue some of the know-everythings shot back, "The newspapers lie!" "Alekhine went there and returned home." 🙄 I suppose they too "read it in a book"... one book or two... to suggest the thought hadn't grazed not 'ary a man's thoughts in 1923 that Alekhine might be fit to challenge Capablanca.

I think one of the primary sources for confirming Alekhine's hope to challenge Capablanca in 1923, might well have been Hermann Helms himself (don't quote that). But it was coming from all over, including those in charge of the last major European or British tournament/exhibition tour Alekhine participated in before leaving for the U.S.

Of course, obviously, Capablanca refused. I even translated a letter written by Alekhine to Capablanca... all of it in French during his brief visit in Canada, upon arrival to the North American continent. But certain persons would like to see my work snuffed out. I understand that. It doesn't change my trajectory however.

That isnt all. There were some interesting sporadic reports of propositions from Emanuel Lasker too regarding the potential of another world championship... long lost on "books".

Such intellectual snobbery reminds me of when Nazis piled publications into bonfires to get rid of views and opinions that were unpopular and differed from their own.

As I was advised by my instructor, yes, you can read Wikipedia... but regard it as a starting point for your actual research.

Unlike Wikipedia, contemporary newspapers are a valid reference to cite.

I'm sure the critic doesn't understand, not everyone can afford to pay the exorbitant fees required by newspaper archives. I am, TRYING, to make those chess-related newspaper resources available on the web at no charge to the public. It's no small task, as I've recently learned, newspapers(com) is blocking the Wayback machine/Internet archive from making a stable copy if you embed it in your pages. So this puts me in a precarious position of having to download an image, upload to the server and mark it, REL=NOFOLLOW since they don't want to allow the public free, easy access to works in the public domain.

When I first took interest in historic chess-related newspaper columns and reports of major tournament... it's because I recognize their historical value. A particular Grandmaster from India confided, that, at the time, most people relied upon newspaper for any possible access to chess.

Well lo and behold, the obscure!

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sunday, June 04, 1911 AMERICAN CHESS BULLETIN.
Issued monthly since 1904; 2.00 yearly; sample copies upon application; only New York City emporium for chess goods and books; 150 Nassau Street.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/...

I assure you. Professional chess columnists did far more reading of books, magazines, and monthlies than most do today. Mainstream people still, just as in 1911, rely on what they can get their hands on, for free... whether opening the daily news or major search engine.

The most important reason, above all... I ENJOY what I'm doing.

Every game I came across over the past 5 years or so, rather than set up my own copy from newspapers, I found it more efficient to simply link to the copy ofn<CG>. I've linked to thousands is my guess. With a paid membership why should they care if I dump a few links on games I contributed.

Really!

Besides, the source I cited was not "obscure." The critic is in my ignore-list for such a misinformed statement.

William Henry Steckel (the chess columnist) was the state chess champion. That is why the Allentown, Pennsylvania newspaper hired him to edit the column. He knew his chess.