Susan Polgar: Why is there a need for Girl’s or Women’s Tournaments?

[Ken MacDonald]

Re: When will our chess society be unified?

You'll have to double check this with Hans but I believe it was Morphy v Bird, Bird v Jack Ronean (as a boy in the very early 1900s), and Jack Ronean v several dozen players in the London, ON, area in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s.

P.S. This is based, of course, on Mr. Ronean's assertion that he played Bird in some sort of exhibition when he was a boy. Therefore, no game score and no absolute confirmation.

Does anyone have this book?

These books often have many little-known games found in newspapers of the time. McFarland has many such type of books. It would be nice to have proof for Hans although the lack of a game would prove nothing.

H.E. Bird
A Chess Biography with 1,198 Games

Hans Renette
Foreword by Richard Forster

Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-7578-0
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-4766-2462-4
85 photos, 1,198 games, 376 diagrams, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, indexes
608pp. library binding (8.5 x 11) 2016

Buy Now!
Price: $75.00
Quantity:

Available for immediate shipment

About the Book
No chess player of the 19th century had a longer, more varied career than Henry Edward Bird (1829–1908). After pursuing a civil career for years his love for chess prevailed. He belonged to the top level of British players for decades but he really shone at Simpson’s Divan. Bird’s accessibility, fierce attacking style and contempt for draws made him a people’s favorite but his proud and touchy character led him into disputes with his colleagues. A very strong and widely known player, he fell into oblivion after his death.

This comprehensive first biography of Bird provides a detailed account of his personal life and a deeply researched coverage of his feats at the chess board. Almost 1,200 games are included, hundreds of them published here for the first time. Nearly 450 games—many of them thrilling all-out fights—are presented with a mix of contemporary and modern annotations.

[Ken MacDonald]

Re: When will our chess society be unified?

You'll have to double check this with Hans but I believe it was Morphy v Bird, Bird v Jack Ronean (as a boy in the very early 1900s), and Jack Ronean v several dozen players in the London, ON, area in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s.

P.S. This is based, of course, on Mr. Ronean's assertion that he played Bird in some sort of exhibition when he was a boy. Therefore, no game score and no absolute confirmation.

Does anyone have this book?

These books often have many little-known games found in newspapers of the time. McFarland has many such type of books. It would be nice to have proof for Hans although the lack of a game would prove nothing.

H.E. Bird
A Chess Biography with 1,198 Games

Hans Renette
Foreword by Richard Forster

Print ISBN: 978-0-7864-7578-0
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-4766-2462-4
85 photos, 1,198 games, 376 diagrams, tables, appendices, notes, bibliography, indexes
608pp. library binding (8.5 x 11) 2016

Buy Now!
Price: $75.00
Quantity:

Available for immediate shipment

About the Book
No chess player of the 19th century had a longer, more varied career than Henry Edward Bird (1829–1908). After pursuing a civil career for years his love for chess prevailed. He belonged to the top level of British players for decades but he really shone at Simpson’s Divan. Bird’s accessibility, fierce attacking style and contempt for draws made him a people’s favorite but his proud and touchy character led him into disputes with his colleagues. A very strong and widely known player, he fell into oblivion after his death.

This comprehensive first biography of Bird provides a detailed account of his personal life and a deeply researched coverage of his feats at the chess board. Almost 1,200 games are included, hundreds of them published here for the first time. Nearly 450 games—many of them thrilling all-out fights—are presented with a mix of contemporary and modern annotations.

[Stephen Wright]

Re: When will our chess society be unified?

I do. There is no mention of Ronean in the index (but that does not mean they didn't play). For what it's worth, Bird's health suffered a serious decline after his last tournament (London 1899). His last public appearance was in June 1901, but even before that he was unable to walk and exhibitions were out of the question. Thereafter he was house-bound, receiving the occasional guest and playing a little chess by correspondence before dying in 1908.

[Neil Frarey]

Re: When will our chess society be unified?

Susan Polgar's article also discussed social factors. Perhaps, when it comes to encouraging girls to play chess by offering some girls-only tournaments, social-based factors are more important.

Peter, et al.; from Judit Polgar...

Does it feel odd to be playing against a field of men? "For me it is very natural," she says. "I started when I was five, and grew up playing against adults and against men most of the time." She never accepted the path many leading female players take, competing in separate women's events and aiming at the women's world title. She took on all-comers from an early age, became the then youngest ever grandmaster (male or female) at the age of 15, and didn't bother competing for the women's world championship because she could have won it in her sleep. She simply aimed to be the best in the world, regardless of gender.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...erything-chess