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Dionisio Martinez

Courtesy of http://www.edochess.ca/batgirl/PhilaChess.html

Most played openings

C67		Ruy Lopez (8 games)
C28		Vienna Game (6 games)
C30		King's Gambit Declined (5 games)
C50		Giuoco Piano (5 games)
C42		Petrov Defense (4 games)
C70		Ruy Lopez (4 games)
C25		Vienna (3 games)
C65		Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense (3 games)
C45		Scotch Game (3 games)
C78		Ruy Lopez (2 games)

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DIONISIO MARTINEZ (born Jun-26-1837, died Mar-11-1928, 90 years old) Cuba (federation/nationality United States of America) [what is this?] Diónisio Maria Martínez, born Matanzas, CUB; died Philadelphia, PA USA. He emigrated from Cuba ca. 1873-1875 and settled in Philadelphia, where he in 1885 became the first president of the Franklin Chess Club. His son Charles Martinez (1868-1941) also played chess. He was regarded as one of the strongest chess players in Philadelphia. There he played several matches against James Mason (4 : 5 in 1874 and 3 : 1 in 1875), Wilhelm Steinitz (0 : 7 in November 1882, 2.5 : 4.5 in December 1882, and 1 : 10 in 1883), and Johannes Zukertort (3.5 : 9.5 in 1884). He took 9th at Philadelphia 1876 (Fourth American Chess Congress, Mason won), and tied for 17-18th at New York 1889 (Sixth American CC, Max Weiss and Mikhail Chigorin won). The New York Times of 16 June 1889 describes him as "Dion Martinez of Philadelphia is rather an elderly gentleman, tall and dignified. He was regarded as one of the strongest chessplayers in Philadelphia, but has not practiced much for two years past, and financial adversities have tended to detract his mind from the game." Wikipedia article: Dion Martinez Last updated: 2025-04-12 21:35:08

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page 1 of 4; games 1-25 of 78  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Mason vs D Martinez 1-0 25 1874 Philadelphia, First Match C25 Vienna 2. D Martinez vs Mason 1-0 46 1874 Philadelphia, First Match C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed 3. Mason vs D Martinez   0-1 51 1874 Philadelphia, First Match B06 Robatsch 4. D Martinez vs Mason   0-1 36 1874 Philadelphia, First Match C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 5. D Martinez vs Mason 1-0 38 1875 Third Match C42 Petrov Defense 6. Mason vs D Martinez   ½-½ 56 1875 Philadelphia, Second Match C25 Vienna 7. Mason vs D Martinez   0-1 48 1875 Philadelphia, Second Match C66 Ruy Lopez 8. D Martinez vs E Alberoni   0-1 84 1875 Alberoni Exhibition, Match Game C67 Ruy Lopez 9. D Martinez vs E Alberoni 0-1 12 1875 Casual game C40 King's Knight Opening 10. H Davidson vs D Martinez   ½-½ 61 1876 4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia C01 French, Exchange 11. D Martinez vs H Davidson ½-½ 72 1876 4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia A83 Dutch, Staunton Gambit 12. D Martinez vs Mason 0-1 42 1876 4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia A83 Dutch, Staunton Gambit 13. Mason vs D Martinez 1-0 27 1876 4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia C01 French, Exchange 14. D Martinez vs Mackenzie 1-0 23 1880 Philadelphia C49 Four Knights 15. Steinitz vs D Martinez 1-0 56 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C00 French Defense 16. D Martinez vs Steinitz   0-1 34 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C70 Ruy Lopez 17. Steinitz vs D Martinez 1-0 44 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C30 King's Gambit Declined 18. D Martinez vs Steinitz 0-1 53 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C70 Ruy Lopez 19. Steinitz vs D Martinez 1-0 59 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C30 King's Gambit Declined 20. D Martinez vs Steinitz 0-1 21 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C51 Evans Gambit 21. Steinitz vs D Martinez   1-0 38 1882 Steinitz - Martinez C28 Vienna Game 22. Steinitz vs D Martinez   0-1 58 1882 Philadelphia m2 C28 Vienna Game 23. Steinitz vs D Martinez ½-½ 74 1882 Philadelphia m2 C28 Vienna Game 24. D Martinez vs Steinitz ½-½ 81 1882 Philadelphia m2 C70 Ruy Lopez 25. Steinitz vs D Martinez 1-0 69 1882 Philadelphia m2 C28 Vienna Game  page 1 of 4; games 1-25 of 78

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Jan-05-11    Shams: Is nothing known about this fellow? I'd imagine he's the best pre-Capa Cuban. Mar-14-13    Tabanus: Some of the games here may be by his son Charles S Martinez. Here is the family in Philadelphia 1880: Dionisio Martinez 42 Carlota Martinez 36 Dionisio M. Martinez 13 Charles S. Martinez 12 Isabel M. Martinez 11 Benjiman Y. Martinez 8 Fermina F. Martinez 7 Maria T. Martinez 5 Ignacio J. Martinez 2 Not sure if Dionisio Jr. also played chess. Mar-15-13    Tabanus: In a letter letter from Steinitz (copied from the "Steinitz letters" p. 42) 1883: <Respecting the Chess Monthly it is very shabby that they do not distinctly mention that Mr. Martinez has in reality beaten both Messrs Mackenzie and Mason.> His match and tournament data is perhaps best seen here: http://www.edochess.ca/players/p102... Mar-11-16    zanzibar: According to Shipley, he first appeared in 1874, having come from Cuba where he had recently defeated Golmayo for the island's championship. Shipley mentions the Centennial Tournament (1876), saying only that Martinez dropped out after losing two to Mason, and drawing two against Davidson. I've seen other reports that he dropped out due to an illness in his family. For the source of this info, and his claim of being responsible for bringing Steinitz to the US, see here: Wilhelm Steinitz (kibitz #1143) (Another strong Mexican/Cuban player near that period was A.C. Vazquez, who supposedly published Capablanca's first game from Capa's childhood). May-14-16    zanzibar: This guy? http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...

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