On This Day in History: Brilliant U.S. Chess Champion F. J. Marshall Plays 105 Games Simultaneously – On Mar 21, 1916

MessageToEagle.com –  On March 21, 1916, Frank James Marshall (1877-1944) played 105 boards simultaneously during an exhibition held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

It was a world record at the time and Marshall was the first master to play more than 100 games.

Marshall was the first American to defeat a Soviet player in an international tournament in New York, 1924. He reigned as U.S. Champion for 30 years.

He was best known for his great tactical skill. One aspect of this was the “Marshall swindle,” or just plain ”swindle” , which is not a kind of cheating or a contravening of the rules of the game. It has to do with an extremely clever move or combination that turns the tables on the opponent.

Frank Marshall often played a game in a lazy or relaxed style that ceded his opponent the advantage. Yet, counter to expectation, the United States champion from 1909 to 1936 didn’t lose all of these. Just when he appeared to be in a totally lost position, he would summon up a marvelous tactical flight of fancy to smash his unaware opponent.

Frank James Marshall (1877-1944) was born of British-Scottish parentage on the west side of Manhattan (8th Avenue and 50th Street) in New York City. His father, Alfred, was in the flour business and moved to Montreal when Frank was 8 years old.

Frank began playing chess at the age of 10 in Montreal, being taught by his father. In six months, Frank was on equal terms with his father in chess. By age 11, Frank was able to beat his father in chess consistently. His father then introduced Frank to the Hope Coffee House in Montreal to play stronger competition.

At age 12, Marshall beat the best player of the Hope Coffee house, in whose back room chess and checkers was being played. In 1890 (age 13), he joined the Montreal Chess Club, and was soon one of the leading chess players in Montreal. In 1892 (age 14), Marshall made his real debut in the chess world on the occasion of a visit to a French café with his father by defeating the best player there on even terms, a feat that electrified the spectators.

In 1936 after holding the U.S. championship title for 27 years. Frank Marshall of New York City was one of the strongest players in the world. He founded the famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City and encouraged many young players.

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