Samuel Factor: 1927-1928

First National Federation Meeting - Kalamazoo, Michigen.

ACB 1927 p.152:

Beginning on Aug.25 and lasting until Sept. 05 1927 at the  New Burdick Hotel, Kalamazoo, Mich., the first meeting of the National Chess Federation of the USA, which was also 28th WCA, while not very largely attended, was nevertheless a most satisfactory one, reflecting credit upon those who, at short notice, were called upon to step into the breach. For the success thus obtained special recognition is due to the members of the Kalamazoo  Chess Club and particularly to Dr. Arthur E. West of that city, one of the regional vice president of the federation. He gave freely of his time and money to the end that the first year of the federation's existence might not pass without a congress worthy of the national body. In this he and his co-workers were entirely succesful.

Three very succesful tournaments constituted the pogram at Kalamazoo, the winners being N.T.Whitaker of Washington in the major, Albert Margolis of Chicago in the Western championship and Oskar A. Drake of Kalamazoo in the minor. Whitaker started with a defeat by Marvin Palmer in the first round. Then he drew with A.Kupchik of New York, the second prize winner, and had his bye in the third. Fromthen on he won six games in succession and thereby nosed out Kupchik by half a point.

Several times the victor has been near the top in Western Association meetings. At Detroit, in 1924, he was in a triple tie for second place, 2,5 points below Carlos Torre. He was bsent from Cedar Point, Ohio, in 1925 and Chicago last year.

Kupchik was the only one of the nine competitors who did not lose a game outright, but he drew four, which was only one too many. His strenght, to some extent, was sapped by series of long games during the early part of the meeting. Herman Steiner of New York surprised the talent and led until he lost his  first game to Whitaker in the semifinal round. On the following day he lost again to Stasch Mlotkowski, who thereby tied with him and Samuel  Reshevsky of Detroit for third places.

"A living chess game" was one of the features of this tournament. The 32 pieces was represented by approprialty costumed persons. 16 year old chess prodigy Sammy Reshevsky and Samuel Factor, Illinois Champion, was at opposite sides of the board. The game was played in the open.

The tournament results:

1.Whitaker - 6.5

2.Kupchik - 6.0

3-5.Mlotkowski, Reshevsky, Steiner -5.0

6. Isaacs - 3.5

7. Factor -3.0

8.Palmer -1.5

9. Roesch -0.5.

Samuel Factor won against Palmer and Roesch, drew with Mlotkowski and Reshevsky but in the end of tournament lost to Whitaker, Kupchik, Steiner and Isaacs and finally was 7th.

Very known Samuel Factor's  game against Nietsche wasn't played in 1942 but probably in 1928 or earlier. This game was published (without data when this game was played) in Manitoba Free Press,Winnipeg, Canada at 31.03.1928.

In 1928, Factor represented USA at third board (+4 –2 =5) in the 2nd Chess Olympiad in The Hague. He won team silver medal. Factor won against H.Mueller, M.Duchamp, Schoenmann and K.Gilg; lost to E.Voellmy and to his chess friend from Lodz, T.Regedzinski.