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Spartanburg Chess Club
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History

An overview of what is known about the history of chess in Spartanburg, SC, USA.

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Organized chess in Spartanburg goes back to at least 1881 when both a major and a minor tournament were held at the Merchants' Inn.  Records of these events are sketchy, but evidently the proceedings opened with the mayor participating in a consultation game and the major tournament continuing for a week.  Chess historian, Robert John McCrary, found an announcement of this tournament in the "Philadelphia Times" and very possibly a game from this event won by Isaac E. Orchard, a Columbia native.

Research by McCrary also found that four of the eight founding members of the state chess association in South Carolina in 1926 were from Spartanburg with Professor W.H. Morton becoming its first president as well as the state's first official chess champion.

On August 17, 1985 GM Edmar Mednis gave a lecture at the Spartanburg Arts Center followed by a simul. at Westgate Mall.  He won 21, lost one, and drew one.

On May 7, 1988 WGM Anna Achsharumova gave a simul. at the Spartanburg Arts Center winning 15, losing five, and drawing five.
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In 1989 IM Vince McCambridge visited Spartanburg as a representative of the USCF.  He was in town as part of the approval process for the Club, along with Converse College, to host the U.S. Women's Championship.  Subsequently, Spartanburg was awarded the bid with the tournament being held in July, 1989 with Alexey Rudolph (now Root) of Los Angeles taking first with three players tied for second (Shernaz Mistry-Kennedy, Sharon Burtman, Vesna Dimitrijevic).

As a sidelight to this tournament, arguably the strongest blitz tournament ever held in South Carolina was won by GM Larry Christiansen with SM Bill Kelleher second, followed by NM Klaus Pohl.  Four of the participants in the Women's Championship also competed--the blitz tournament being held on an off-day.

The following year the USCF approached the Club about hosting the U.S. Women's Championship again.  Thanks to the herculean efforts of chief organizer, Spencer Mathews, the Club was able to do so on short notice.  The 1990 tournament was won by WGM Elena Donaldson with Esther Epstein taking second.
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