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Cecil Purdy
C Purdy 
 

Number of games in database: 193
Years covered: 1924 to 1979
Overall record: +95 -61 =37 (58.8%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games.

Repertoire Explorer
Most played openings
A07 King's Indian Attack (6 games)
E43 Nimzo-Indian, Fischer Variation (4 games)
B01 Scandinavian (4 games)
E49 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Botvinnik System (3 games)
A00 Uncommon Opening (3 games)
A56 Benoni Defense (3 games)
C91 Ruy Lopez, Closed (3 games)
B18 Caro-Kann, Classical (3 games)
D37 Queen's Gambit Declined (3 games)
A28 English (3 games)


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CECIL PURDY
(born Mar-27-1906, died Nov-06-1979, 73 years old) Australia

[what is this?]

Cecil John Seddon Purdy was born in Port Said, Egypt.

His father was Dr. J. S. Purdy, England's representative on the International Quarantine Board for the Suez Canal. Hobart was his first Australian home and at the age of nine he went to Sydney where he has lived thereafter. He did not take up chess until he was nearly 15 years of age. During a rainy school holiday in the country he looked up "Chess" in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." He copied out the rules carefully and after returning home started to pursue his new hobby.1

Other accounts stated he was 13 when he took up chess: "He was 13 when he began chess. He received useful instruction from from Mr. L. S. Crakanthorp father of Mr. Spencer Crakanthorp, ex-champion of New South Wales and New Zealand, and present champion of Australia. Only a year after Mr. Purdy learned the moves he was encouraged by the late A.E.N. Wallace, then Suite champion to enter for the State tourney of 1923." 2

Awarded the IM title in 1951 and the GMC title in 1953 he won the 1st Correspondence World Championship (1950) - (1953). He won the New Zealand Championship twice, 1924-25 and 1935-36 and was Australian Champion on four occasions, 1934-35, 1936-37 (after a play-off), 1948-49 and 1951. He was also Australian Correspondence Champion in 1940 and 1948.

In 1952, Purdy played the New Zealand Champion Ortvin Sarapu in a 10-game match for the Sarapu - Purdy Australasian Championship (1952). After nine games, the score was 5-4 in Sarapu's favour. Purdy won the 10th and final game to tie the match (+4, =2, -4).

He was the founder, editor, and publisher of a splendid chess magazine from 1929 to 1967 which went through three incarnations, 'Australasian Chess Review' (1929 - 1944), 'Check' (1944 - 1945) and 'Chess World' (1946 - 1967) and his writings are considered first class.

His father-in-law Spencer Crakanthorp and his son John Spencer Purdy have both been Australian Champions. He was married to Anne Purdy.

Sadly whilst playing at a tournament in Sydney in 1979 he suffered an aneurysm leading to his death. His last words to his son (who was also competing in the same tournament) were allegedly "I have a win, but it will take time".

1. "The West Australian" (Perth), Monday 13th July 1953, p.16

2. "Evening News" (Sydney, NSW), Friday 15th November 1929, p.2

Wikipedia article: Cecil Purdy

Last updated: 2023-07-07 11:56:07

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 8; games 1-25 of 193  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. C Purdy vs G Dodds 1-0371924NZL-chD33 Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch
2. C Purdy vs A Burr ½-½251926NSW versus Victoria correspondence matchC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
3. J Sayers vs C Purdy 0-1551926AUS-chC13 French
4. C Purdy vs B Hill 1-0591926AUS-chD37 Queen's Gambit Declined
5. S Crakanthorp vs C Purdy 1-0261926AUS-chC14 French, Classical
6. C Boyce vs C Purdy 1-0381926AUS-chC13 French
7. C Purdy vs E Ingledew  1-0421926AUS-chD31 Queen's Gambit Declined
8. W Viner vs C Purdy 0-1441926AUS-chC00 French Defense
9. C Purdy vs S Woinarski 0-1351927Pietzcker tourneyC58 Two Knights
10. C Purdy vs J Kinman 1-0361928AUS-ch+D30 Queen's Gambit Declined
11. S Crakanthorp vs C Purdy  1-0571930Australian Championship 1930/31E00 Queen's Pawn Game
12. C Purdy vs E M Cowen  1-0281930Australian Championship 1930/31C28 Vienna Game
13. C Purdy vs J Sayers  1-0471930Australian Championship 1930/31A15 English
14. F Crowl vs C Purdy  0-1501930Australian Championship 1930/31A06 Reti Opening
15. M E Goldstein vs C Purdy 1-0231931NSW-chD02 Queen's Pawn Game
16. C Purdy vs G Gundersen  1-0541931Australian Championship 1930/31C82 Ruy Lopez, Open
17. C Watson vs C Purdy  0-1361931Australian Championship 1930/31D00 Queen's Pawn Game
18. C Purdy vs G Koshnitsky  1-0361931Australian Championship 1930/31B13 Caro-Kann, Exchange
19. M E Goldstein vs C Purdy  0-1561931Australian Championship 1930/31D11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
20. C Purdy vs W F Coultas  0-1681931Australian Championship 1930/31D46 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
21. G Koshnitsky vs C Purdy  1-0391932SydneyD04 Queen's Pawn Game
22. F Crowl vs C Purdy  0-1681932corrA00 Uncommon Opening
23. G Koshnitsky vs C Purdy 1-0221932SydneyD04 Queen's Pawn Game
24. C Purdy vs G Koshnitsky 0-1471932SydneyA13 English
25. C Purdy vs F Crowl 1-0461934corrE32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical
 page 1 of 8; games 1-25 of 193  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Purdy wins | Purdy loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 4 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
May-11-15  TheFocus: <Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf> - Cecil Purdy.
May-15-15  TheFocus: <I maintain that in every position that arises, we should deliberately search, among other things, for pieces which have no retreat. If we see one, we automatically look to see if it can be netted> - C.J.S. Purdy.
May-16-15  TheFocus: <Methodical thinking is of more use in chess than inspiration> - Cecil Purdey.
May-16-15  TheFocus: <If the student forces himself to examine all the moves that smite, however absurd they look at first glance, he is on his way to becoming a master of tactics> - Cecil Purdy.
May-21-15  TheFocus: <An open game can never be forced upon you, whether you are Black or White; a close game always can> - Cecil Purdy, Chess World.
May-21-15  diceman: His wife was Purdy!
May-22-15  TheFocus: <Chess players may be divided into three classes: those who don’t know the principles, and are therefore very weak; those who know the principles and are less weak; and those who know how weak the principles are, and are strong> - C. J. S. Purdy.
May-26-15  TheFocus: <You will never avoid oversights by grim determination; what is needed is a trained eye> - Cecil Purdy.
May-26-15  TheFocus: <It is even more important to look around than to look ahead> - Cecil Purdy.
May-28-15  TheFocus: <Examine moves that smite! A good eye for smites is far more important than a knowledge of strategical principles> - Cecil Purdy.
May-29-15  TheFocus: <If the student forces himself to examine all moves that smite, however absurd they may look at first glance, he is on the way to becoming a master of tactics> - Cecil Purdy.
May-30-15  TheFocus: <Methodical thinking is of more use in Chess than inspiration> - Cecil Purdy.
Nov-03-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Chess Note 9571, Purdy and Fischer, reveals that by the 1970s Cecil John Seddon Purdy had taken to wearing a brobdingnagian syrup which can be seen in all its glimmering, sentient glory in this picture: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/....

The gigantic postiche had a rating of 2120.

Mar-27-16  TheFocus: Happy birthday, CJS Purdy.

One of chess's greatest writers.

Oct-06-16  Gottschalk: "In endings with bishops of opposite color, material means NOTHING, position EVERYTHING." Purdy

This phrase contains a terrible logic
She reminds me of Hitler speaking to not back down on the Russian front, despite the equipment failure. This is of course a endgame concept. Someone who make this their motto in his life or in their chess games he should not be considered mad or stubborn. Rather, it is an idiot who never will gain success as chessplayer.

Oct-06-16  JimNorCal: From 2013:
JimNorCal: ... he said something like: "If you can't find a move, then at least find a way to make your least valuable piece more active."

IndigoViolet: Does he give any advice on figuring out what one's least valuable/most inactive piece might be?

Yes. Purdy's books, imho, have enormous value for beginners because they are so practical and contain numerous concrete examples. One is left feeling that, while you may never rise to a level where you can take on the top players, you can certainly achieve a level where you need feel no shame for your play.

Jun-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: <Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf.>

In other words, much harder than they look. Ask Nakamura.

Jun-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Wot, he plays golf?
Jun-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Is this a Murcan thing, wishing people happy BIRTHday, when they're dead? I didn't think they were known for their sense of irony, but where else can such rot come from?
Jun-25-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Is this a Murcan thing, wishing people happy BIRTHday, when they're dead? I didn't think the western colonies were known for their sense of irony, but where else can such rot come from?
Jun-26-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Sorry guys, that was a bit rude. I'll delete it if I get an opportunity when the site settles down after its refurbishment.
Jun-26-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  jessicafischerqueen:

<Dionysius1>

When we post a kibbutz, it stays alive for 30 minutes.

If we haven't deleted it after 30 minutes, it stays up forever.

Jun-26-21
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dionysius1: Thanks Jfq. Oh well.
Nov-20-22  optimal play: <<<<<<CHESS CHAMPION.>

PURDY DEFEATS GOLDSTEIN.>

Exciting Final Game.>

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE.)>

ADELAIDE, Sunday. — By defeating Goldstein (Victoria) in the sixth game of the Australian championship chess match, Purdy (N.S.W.) scored his third win. He thus wins the match and retains the title. His score was three wins to one, with two games drawn.

The final game was exciting. Goldstein, having failed with an orthodox defence to the Queen's Gambit, chose the double-edged Indian Defence, developing his king's bishop in fianchetto.

Purdy coped with it in simple straightforward style, occupying only three minutes over his first ten moves, while Goldstein took forty minutes for his.

Goldstein complicated the game as his only chance of saving an inferior position.

Purdy, with time to spare, then took forty minutes over one move. It brought him a decisive advantage.

He won three pawns, but Goldstein, resourceful as usual, worked up a dangerous mating net round Purdy's king by exchanging his queen for two rooks.

Purdy's queen was strangely powerless.

He became very short of time, but at the last minute found a way out, and forced a win with his extra material.

The advantage of the first move was a big factor in this contest.

After the first two games, in which each player won once with black pieces, Purdy won both his games with white pieces and just managed to draw both his games with black.

The grimly determined defence in these games saved him from imminent defeat, and when he had the white pieces he pressed home his advantages forcefully except in the second game, in which Goldstein's ingenuity turned the tables.

Complete scores in the series of matches which arose from a quadruple tie in the tournament at Perth have been as follow; —

Goldstein (V.) d. Hastings (N.S.W.) by three wins to nil, with two games drawn.

Purdy (N.S.W.) d. Koshnitsky (N.S.W.) by four wins to one, with nine games drawn.

Purdy is the only player besides the late Spencer Crakanthorp to win a Commonwealth championship since it became a biennial event.>

Age (Melbourne, Vic.), Monday 28 June 1937, page 9>

[Event "Australian Championship playoff 3"]
[Site "Adelaide, Australia"]
[Date "1937.06.27"]
[EventDate "1937.06.17"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Cecil Purdy"]
[Black "Maurice Edward Goldstein"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[Source "http://www.ozbase.com.au/games.html"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. b3 Re8 11. Ba3 e4 12. Ne1 e3 13. f3 Nf8 14. Qc1 Bf5 15. g4 Bc8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Bxd6 Qd7 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Qxe3 Rad8 21. Nc2 Bxe4 22. fxe4 c5 23. dxc5 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Kf2 Be5 26. c6 bxc6 27. Qc5+ Kg7 28. Qxc6 Re6 29. Qb7 Nf4 30. Bf3 Rc1 31. Nb4 Nh3+ 32. Kg2 Nf4+ 33. Kf2 Nh3+ 34. Ke3 Rb6 35. Qe7 Bf4+ 36. Kd3 Rxb4 37. e3 Rbxc4 38. bxc4 Bxg5 39. Qxa7 Bf6 40. e5 Bxe5 41. Bd5 Bxh2 42. Qxf7+ Kh6 43. Qf8+ Kg5 44. Qe7+ Kg4 45. Qe4+ Kh5 46. Qg2 1-0

submitted for uploading to database

Oct-15-24  Gottschalk: Best ICCF rating 2566

https://www.iccf.com/player?id=3002...

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