News Brief

The thirty-fourth annual Western Chess Congress, in session at Hotel Tuller here all this week focused attention again on one of the world’s most interesting child prodigies—Sammy Reshevsky.

A noted chess prodigy at the age of six, Sammy has not been heard from for several years. Now he is back again, playing with the greatest figures in the game. In 1931 Sammy did make a brief comeback into the limelight and won the western chess title at Tulsa, Oklahoma. But on the whole he has been out of the public eye for about eight years—and the reason now becomes apparent.

The late Julius Rosenwald, noted philanthropist, was responsible for his disappearance from the chess arena. Knowing Sam’s ability and fearing that chess would cause the neglect of his education, Mr. Rosenwald financed his studies and he recently graduated from the University of Chicago in accountancy.

At the same time that Sammy is returning to active professional work he is expected also to participate again in chess. He was runner-up to Reuben Fine in 1932, at Minneapolis, for the western championship, and his friends maintain that he is greater than ever today at the game.

Morris Steinberg, chairman of the Detroit committee which arranged for the Western Chess Congress here, himself a champion checker player, close friend, adviser and guardian of Sammy Reshevsky, tells an interesting story which provides the answer to the question: “What happens to our prodigies?” His story provides the answer, at least in Sammy’s case.

“It was in 1924 that Mr. Rosenwald first showed an interest in Sam,” Mr. Steinberg said. “Through Fred M. Butzel, Detroit philanthropist and communal leader, and Dr. Alexander Dushkin, executive director of the Board of Jewish Education at Chicago, Sam and his parents were induced to live in Detroit. Sam had already been in this country for three years, but had made no progress educationally, since it had been necessary for him constantly to appear in exhibition games to help support the family.

“The interest taken by Mr. Rosenwald immediately gave Sam the opportunity he needed. He entered Northern High School, where he completed a four-year course. He then entered the University of Chicago.”

Mr. Steinberg quotes instances to prove Mr. Rosenwald’s concern over Sammy’s genuine religious feelings. When Sammy was at dinner at the philanthropist’s home, special efforts were made to provide him with strictly kosher food. On one occasion, when they were on their return to the Ravina home from a concert on a Friday evening, and Sammy was determined not to ride on the Sabbath, Mr. Rosenwald left his party of friends and walked home with Sammy.

Now this young genius is on his way to stage a comeback. He will be closely watched by chess players throughout the world.