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James Sherwin
J Sherwin 
Photograph copyright © 2001 Helen Milligan of New Zealand Chess  

Number of games in database: 337
Years covered: 1950 to 2023
Last FIDE rating: 2246 (2184 rapid, 2025 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2408
Overall record: +121 -95 =117 (53.9%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 4 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 King's Indian (33) 
    E87 E81 E88 E95 E76
 Sicilian (22) 
    B32 B90 B27 B77 B62
 Ruy Lopez (16) 
    C84 C67 C78 C79 C63
 Nimzo Indian (10) 
    E53 E54 E25 E30 E47
 Slav (8) 
    D11 D15 D18 D16 D19
 Ruy Lopez, Closed (8) 
    C84 C97 C98 C90 C94
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (47) 
    B90 B22 B29 B56 B76
 King's Indian (19) 
    E90 E86 E72 E67 E68
 Sicilian Najdorf (13) 
    B90 B95 B91 B92 B94
 Grunfeld (10) 
    D93 D85 D75 D87 D98
 King's Indian Attack (10) 
    A07
 French Defense (8) 
    C02 C19 C05 C01 C18
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   J Sherwin vs Fischer, 1957 1-0
   H Rossetto vs J Sherwin, 1958 0-1
   J Sherwin vs Reshevsky, 1958 1-0
   Lombardy vs J Sherwin, 1958 1/2-1/2
   J Meyers vs J Sherwin, 1976 0-1
   H Seidman vs J Sherwin, 1954 0-1
   J Sherwin vs A Turner, 1957 1-0
   J Sherwin vs E Mednis, 1959 1/2-1/2
   J Sherwin vs Fischer, 1959 1/2-1/2
   J Sherwin vs E S Jackson, 1968 1-0

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   57th US Open (1956)
   United States Championship 1958/59 (1958)
   World Junior Championship qual-2 (1953)
   United States Championship 1957/58 (1957)
   55th US Open (1954)
   61st US Open (1960)
   United States Championship 1966/67 (1966)
   United States Championship (1954)
   US Championship 1961/62 (1961)
   54th US Open (1953)
   60th US Open (1959)
   52nd US Open (1951)
   69th US Open (1968)
   56th US Open (1955)
   Portoroz Interzonal (1958)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   US Championship 1957/58 by suenteus po 147
   US Championship 1957/58 by shankartr2018
   1954 US Championship by crawfb5
   US Championship 1958/59 by suenteus po 147
   US Championship 1961/62 by Phony Benoni

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 UK Blitz Open Bristol Qualifier
   P Lalic vs J Sherwin (Oct-01-23) 1-0, blitz

Search Sacrifice Explorer for James Sherwin
Search Google for James Sherwin
FIDE player card for James Sherwin

JAMES SHERWIN
(born Oct-25-1933, 91 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

James Terry Sherwin, born in New York, became an International Master in 1958. In 1951, he won the New York State Championship. He took 5th place in the 1953 World Junior Championship. He tied for 1st place with Alexander Kevitz in the 1954-55 Manhattan Chess club championship. He took 17th place in the Portoroz Interzonal (1958). Sherwin tied with Arthur Bisguier for first in the 57th US Open (1956). He finished third in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 US Championships. He won the first Eastern Open Chess Championship, held in Washington DC, in 1960.

In 1961, he was Chairman of the USCF Rules Committee. He was the American Chess Foundation (ACF) President from 1979 to 1990. Professionally, he was the Executive Vice President of GAF Corporation.

Sherwin now lives in England near Bath. In August 2019 in Torquay, aged 86, he tied for first place in the Rapidplay event at the British Championships. In December 2023, aged 90, he finished sixth at the 5th Bristol Blitz.

Wikipedia article: James Sherwin

https://britishchessnews.com/2020/1...

https://chess-results.com/tnr832050...

Last updated: 2024-10-21 18:57:35

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 14; games 1-25 of 337  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. A C Ludwig vs J Sherwin  1-041195051st US OpenD13 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation
2. E Hearst vs J Sherwin  1-0451951Marshall Chess ClubC71 Ruy Lopez
3. R Potter vs J Sherwin  0-133195152nd US OpenD10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
4. J Sherwin vs A Sandrin  1-024195152nd US OpenB45 Sicilian, Taimanov
5. N Whitaker vs J Sherwin  1-028195152nd US OpenC01 French, Exchange
6. K Smith vs J Sherwin  1-037195152nd US OpenC28 Vienna Game
7. J Sherwin vs C F Tears  1-040195152nd US OpenA34 English, Symmetrical
8. W M Byland vs J Sherwin  ½-½32195152nd US OpenC18 French, Winawer
9. J Sherwin vs L Isaacs  1-064195152nd US OpenC50 Giuoco Piano
10. W L Waters vs J Sherwin 0-137195152nd US OpenC02 French, Advance
11. J Sherwin vs E McCormick  1-019195152nd US OpenD19 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Dutch
12. A Sandrin vs J Sherwin 1-023195152nd US OpenD45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
13. J Sherwin vs Kashdan  0-143195152nd US OpenD87 Grunfeld, Exchange
14. J Sherwin vs A Mengarini  1-051195253rd US OpenD11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
15. I Zalys vs J Sherwin  0-150195253rd US OpenE33 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
16. J Sherwin vs H Steiner  1-095195253rd US OpenD34 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch
17. P Le Cornu vs J Sherwin  ½-½30195253rd US OpenE72 King's Indian
18. J Sherwin vs D Byrne  ½-½36195253rd US OpenB90 Sicilian, Najdorf
19. C Pilnick vs J Sherwin  ½-½48195253rd US OpenD29 Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical
20. J Sherwin vs I Romanenko  ½-½21195253rd US OpenA28 English
21. Santasiere vs J Sherwin  1-030195253rd US OpenA06 Reti Opening
22. E Hearst vs J Sherwin  ½-½19195253rd US OpenC59 Two Knights
23. J Sherwin vs Evans  ½-½40195253rd US OpenB92 Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation
24. A Pomar vs J Sherwin  1-029195253rd US OpenD45 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
25. F Roessel vs J Sherwin  0-1401953World Junior Championship qual-2E67 King's Indian, Fianchetto
 page 1 of 14; games 1-25 of 337  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Sherwin wins | Sherwin loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Nov-27-20
Premium Chessgames Member
  beatgiant: <perfidious>
I could post a "tip of the iceberg" joke, but it's no laughing matter for Sherwin. He was cleared of all wrongdoing, a rare event in such kind of federal prosecutions.
Feb-24-21  Petrosianic: I wonder if Jimmy has ever considered changing his middle name from Terry to Tiberius? No reason, it would just sound cool.
Feb-24-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: I always enjoyed the shows on PBS when Shelby Lyman, Edmar Mednis, and Jimmy were co-hosting doing the World Chess Championship coverage of the 1978 match between Karpov/Korchnoi, and in 1981. Amazing how they saw sometimes 5 to 7 moves deep in a combo that patzers like me were thinking allowing us to finally see the poison at the very end!!
Apr-06-21  Ironmanth: Always respected this IM immensely. One of the stalwart tough old masters of the last age. Thanks, James T. Sherwin, for your determined play and contributions to our beloved game. Peace out, brother.
Mar-21-22  Nosnibor: James is playing in a tournament in Bristol, England next month. At the present time he is the third highest rated player within the event. Best of luck to the 88 year old veteran.
Mar-21-22  Nosnibor: I should also mention that this is a blitz tournament which makes it amazing considering his age.
Jul-20-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Amazing: he scored 6/9 https://twitter.com/elgransenor1/st...
Jul-21-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  Joshka: Jimmy was always very entertaining and funny, correcting mistakes by Shelby on World Chess Championship shows hosted by Lyman, Jimmy, and Mednis. Sometimes Lyman would have 3 bishops or 2 kings for the white or black pieces when using the demonstration board to educate the public on the Royal game.
Apr-18-23  howardb86: Stunning info regarding his age; believe me I knows how hard it is in your 80's to play well at all- but 88 yrs of age has me mainly teaching my grandchildren. And not playing like I did in college. So my comment is to play with vigor as long as you 'like' this wonderful game. Eh?
Apr-18-23  savagerules: Does he still slide the Rook with his pinky as Fischer noted in the first game of My 60 Memorable Games book? "Sherwin slid the Rook here with his pinky, as if to emphasize the cunning of this mysterious move."
Jun-14-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  fiercebadger: check out the perpetual chess broadcast about James Sherwin 89 great stories about Bobby etc.
Oct-21-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: I think Sherwin and Saidy are the last living prominent players from the U.S. in the late '50s. Unless you count Raymond Weinstein, possibly still "alive," drugged up in a psychiatric hospital.
Oct-21-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: Very ancient history ( about 50 years ago ), I was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Jimmy Sherwin as Executive Vice President at GAF was a client .

He was also at that time President of the American Chess Foundation and I was a Foundation Trustee.

On one GAF business assignment we spent a fair amount of time flying around together both in the U.S. and to Europe and we played a lot of skittles chess games together. He was an IM and I not very highly rated and certainly no chess title, but occasionally play well, and actually I won a few games, but no scores kept of the games.

At least my draw against GM Roman Dzindzihashvili I still have the score, and also my losses to GM Lev Alburt ( final mistake in R and P endgame threw away a draw ) and Magnus ( no hope against his Grand Prix attack against my Sicilian ).

Oct-22-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Paul, a lot of gifted chess players seem to find their way into finance. Is it quick wits (be on the trading floor) or perhaps being a programmer? Perhaps a guy/gal working in research or in the macro 'big picture' department? Investment banking?

In your opinion what area of finance best suits GM/IM level chess stars?

Oct-23-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: To: HeMateMe

Many years ago some of the banks oriented towards recruiting chess players for the trading area, mostly fixed income which has some complex mathematics and trading strategies. If i had to pick a financial area especially suitable to strong chess players that would probably be the area.

I note that chess players are also now very attracted to poker playing and some have had some success, both men and women chess players. There is a recent article about Almira Skripchenko's and Jennifer Shahade's poker playing. GM Michael Rhode who won my U.S. Championship Brilliancy Prize several times many years ago I think still is an active poker player and even Magnus plays for money.

I never had much interest in cards and gambling, never playing chess for money. When i would play the chess hustlers in the parks in NY, I would just pay them a fixed fee for playing, not wanting any money even when I won. My wife and I are still very active stock and bond market investors including using option strategies, but not doing short term trading.

Emanuel Lasker was a very strong bridge player.My parents, particularly my mother who was the better player, wanted me to focus more on bridge, deeming chess not being very socially oriented, but I never had much interest.

Oct-24-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Magriel seems to embody the idea of the chess player who can master many pursuits

<Paul David Magriel Jr. (pronounced Ma-grill) (July 1, 1946 – March 5, 2018) was an American professional backgammon player, poker player, and author based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Magriel became New York State Junior Chess Champion (January 1967) at the age of 20, while a student at New York University.>

I read somewhere online that he was already known as a hardcore poker/backgammon/chess gambler at the age of 16.

<Magriel had several notable finishes in poker tournaments from the mid-1990s in Europe, playing in London, Paris and Vienna in Omaha, hold'em and seven-card stud events. He won the €2,000 no limit hold'em event at the Aviation Club de France in September 2002, defeating a field including Pascal "Triple P" Perrault, Patrick Bruel and Simon "Aces" Trumper on the way to the €48,600 first prize.

In March 2003, he made his first World Poker Tour (WPT) final table, finishing 4th in the $5,000 no limit hold'em World Poker Challenge event in Reno.

Magriel finished in the money eight times at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), which includes one cash in the Main Event in 2010, he has also made the final table on the Professional Poker Tour and Ultimate Poker Challenge.>

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_...>

I own his book <backgammon> which was considered the best work on the game, at it's time. People who play feel that he was eclipsed as a writer and player by Bill Robertie. Robertie was also the winner of the USA speed chess championship when the tournament existed, which I'm guessing was five minute chess with no increments.

Oct-24-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: Another very well known multiple games person is Asa Hoffmann, who essentially has made his living by playing games for money, not only chess.

Asa and I are the same age 81. Asa's card as I remember it had the title "Master Gamer "

Unfortunately since I have been living in Texas the last 5 years, I no longer get to mingle with the numerous colorful characters at the Marshall Chess Club. Another is IM jay Bonin who also was an active poker player.

Oct-24-24  stone free or die: <<PA> Unfortunately since I have been living in Texas the last 5 years, I no longer get to mingle with the numerous colorful characters at the Marshall Chess Club. >

<PA> not to mention, as gleamed from your profile, your " anti-chess spouse"!

(I'm afraid to ask if that was tongue-in-cheek or not)

Oct-24-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: I imagine 5here are some 'anti poker' spouses out there...
Oct-26-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: To stone free or die:

My reference to "anti-chess spouse" was not entirely tongue in cheek. My wife actually knows how play chess so likes it as just a frivolous amusement, but not as an obsession, regarding many top level chess players as eccentric, nerdy, unkempt, anti social individuals unable to make a living, certainly true in some cases many years ago. In those days mothers wanted their sons to be athletes, not GMs. Chess is very different now, both more popular and more respectable to be a professional player. As to serious amateur players who are married especially with children, going to big open tournaments held over Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc. is what spouses find objectionable about chess. I seldom did and have managed to remain married for 57 years. I taught our son chess starting at 5, but he never had a serious interest, and instead was a varsity athlete, honor roll student with an engineering degree, and now a successful businessman, so my wife has few current complaints related to what is now regrettably my limited chess activity.

Oct-26-24  stone free or die: <paulalbert> thank you for that charming reply.

I hope that you and your wife celebrate many more anniversaries together, going beyond your diamond celebration.

I'd mention the oak anniversary, but that might be a bit hard to get to.

https://www.caketoppers.co.uk/page/...

Cheers.

Oct-27-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  HeMateMe: Paul Albert, have you ever met Texas Grandmaster Ron Henley? I read somewhere that he was working in the options sector of investments in the '80s or '90s. I think he was also some sort of advisor or chess second to Anatoly Karpov for a few years.
Oct-31-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: I met Ron Henley (that I specifically remember but possibly some other times ) ) in 1992. Bob Rice, then a law partner in NY at prestigious firm Milbank Tweed, I , and a few other members of the so-called Wall Street chess club put up a fair amount of money to create a demo video tape with the idea of creating a televised chess league to be called the American Chess Challenge. We had a sportscaster from TV , Bob Beck, as announcer , and GMs John Federowicz and GM Maurice Ashley as game commentators and 8 players including Ron, Judith and Sofia Polgar and 5 other GMs ( I cannot recall the 5 others ) playing in a knockout , sudden death 5 minute blitz, format. This is all before the internet, increment clocks, etc. Ron won against Judith and as I remember was the event winner. We had a studio audience including me, the other investors, and other invited chess fans. Unfortunately Bob was unable to get any TV network to pick up our idea. I do not have a copy of the tape. Maybe Bob still has a complete version I found the portion of Ron's game versus Judith on Utube. How it was attained I have no idea, but it is worth watching to see the concept of the American Chess Challenge idea.
Oct-31-24  stone free or die: The oldest version of the game was put on youtube twelve years ago(*):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ_...

I would have put it on the game page if <CG> had one.

(*) There are other versions out there, but it appears they just ripped off the content.

.

Nov-01-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  paulalbert: To: stone free or die

Thanks for posting the youtube game between Ron and Judith which I mentioned seeing. I also had seen it years ago. I noted there is a reference to it coming from Ron Henley's private collection. Perhaps he has a copy of the complete tape.

The sports announcer was Bruce Beck, not Bob as I wrote. Also showing how long ago this was, Maurice was not yet even an IM.

I remember the game very well particularly the threat of the chimney mate.

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