Arthur W. Dake (1910-2000) became a bridge toll collector, then a highway auto controller, and finally an automobile inspector for the state of Oregon after serving in the merchant marines when he was 16. He learned how to play chess at... Read more »
Harlow Bussey Daly was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on December 2, 1883, He is perhaps the oldest person to win a state chess championship. In 1959 and 1960, he won the Maine championship. In 1968 he won the Championship of ... Read more »
Pedro Damiano (1470-1544) was a Portuguese apothecary (pharmacist) and author of Questo Libro e da imparare giocave a scachi et de li partiti, the first chess (modern chess) book in Italy. It was published in Rome and written in Italian and ... Read more »
Nicholas (Nick) Ernest DeFirmian, born July 26, 1957, is an American Grandmaster (1985). In 1986, he won the World Open and first prize of $21,000. He was U.S. chess champion in 1987 (tied with Joel Benjamin), 1995, and 1998. ... Read more »
Adrian de Groot (1914-2006) was a Dutch psychologist and chess master who did the first psychological enquiry into the minds of chess players. His 1965 book, Thought and Choice in Chess, showed the different abilities of masters and amateurs... Read more »
Cecil Valentine Brown, later known as Cecil de Vere, was born in February 14 (Valentine’s Day), 1845. In 1857, at the age of 12, he was taught who to play chess by a strong London player, Francis Burden (1830-1882). In 1859, he j... Read more »
Eugene Delmar was born in New York City on September 12. 1841. In 1874, he won the Brookyn Chess Club championship. In 1876, he tied for 2nd place in the New York Clipper tournament, behind James Mason. In 1879, he defeated Sam L... Read more »
The first demonstration board was designed in 1857 by Lowenthal. The first use of a demonstration board in a World Championship match was for the Steinitz-Zukertort match in 1886. Read more »
Arnold Sheldon Denker (1914-2005 was a onetime boxer and boxing manager (won three successive Golden Gloves bouts by knockouts). He won the New York State championship in 1938 and 1939. He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championsh... Read more »
Alexandre Deschapelles (1780-1847) was probably the strongest chess player in the world from 1800 to 1820. He claimed to have mastered chess in three days of study. He lost his right arm fighting the Prussians in Napoleon’s army. He gave up ... Read more »