The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1921-05-27
MINNEAPOLIS LOCAL NEWS
Continued from page y
SAMMY" THE SUPER CHESS
PLAYER
Rv r ri Arnold
By B. H. Arnold

day afternoon, Sammy" Rzeczewski,
pronounced Zeshevski), the heralded
"Polish" chess wizard, gave an exhi-
bition of his remarkable powers, when
he played ten expert chess players,
and with very little effort, clicked"
every one of them. This was not
"Sammy's" first 100 per cent victory,
for he has played and clicked" some
of the world renowned chess players
in England, Poland, Russia and the
United States. In the Twin Cities he
played 60 games with the most skilled
and experienced players, including
Dare Barkuloo, the state champion,
without single defeat. Out of the
sixty games he won IS, and drew 5.
This record is unparalleled in the his
tory of chess playing, and Sammy is
only eight and half years old.
Sammy was quite happy through
his stay in the Twin Cities, and only
one thing tended to upset him some
what. He could not understand why
the newspapers insisted on calling him
"Polish." cit is true" he said, 81
was born in Poland, but had to run
away from there. The Poles don't
treat Jews very well and was always
afraid of them. I used to hide when
I saw Polish boy or even a Polish
policeman coming. When l get old
enough I am going to be an American.
I like the Americans very much"
Sammy was born near LODI, Poland,
not quite nine years ago. His father,
a pious orthodox Jew, was in the linen
business and Jared fairly well until
the war broke out, when conditions
made him give up his business. To
while away his leisure time the elder
Mr.. Rzeczewski played chess with his
cronies. The youngster watched his
middle-aged parent assiduously, but
his interest in the games did not go
beyond his love to upset the boards.
His father was obliged to punish him
on many occasions for his mischievous
pranks, but it seemed to do little good.
AS a last resort, in his desire for a
peaceful game, the father decided to
teach him the moves, hoping that he
would thus arouse the boys interest in
the game. The "trick" worked. After
two lessons, Sammy, who was then
five years old, insisted on playing with
his father and, to the amazement of
all who watched him play, he won
every game he played. The news trav-
eled quickly and before six months
passed Sammy challenged and beat
the champion chess players of Poland.
After the armistice, it occurred to
father Rzeczewski that it might not
be bad plan to take the boy on
tour and exhibit him as chess cham
pion. So Sammy, with his father and
mother, toured Europe, meeting all
corners in Bulgaria, Vienna, Berlin,
Constantinople and finally Paris.
Sammie was unbeaten and won nine
medals. They then decided to come to
America. Sammy's experiences have
thus far been repeated in this coun-
try. In a number of tournaments,
where he usually played twenty
games simultaneously, he has defeat
ed all but three or four of his op-
ponents. Those he did not win result
ed in draws. He lost none.
Aside from his phenomenal chess
playing, there seems to be nothing
extraordinary about the lad. He is
much like any other youngster of
eight or nine. His head is a little
flat at the top and wide above the
ears, while his chin is small and point
ed. His ewes are small, bright. and