For more than a century and a half, people have been defining themselves by way of the United States Chess Championship. The world's oldest national championship remains a unique and exceptional event more than a century and a half after its start.

Begun as a challenge match in 1845, the U.S. Championship has been decided by tournament play for most of its long history. In fact, the First American Chess Congress of 1857 appears to be the first tournament for an American championship in any sport. The idea of a national chess championship, whether decided by match or tournament play, spread abroad--to Germany in 1879, Russia in 1889, Spain 1902, France 1914, Sweden 1917, Yugoslavia 1935 and so on.

Nearly 200 players have competed for the title of U.S. Champion in matches and tournaments held during its first 150 years. The cast of characters included the expected number of bankers and professors, doctors and lawyers, computer programmers--as well as others as diverse as a professional soldier, an inventor, a movie censor, a cattle rancher, and a priest. As the tournament became more professional, it also became more competitive. Today the struggle for the title begins months before the opening ceremony, as players strive to obtain a high rating to win an invitation.

This book is intended to remind all of us what the championship has been--and what it can be.

Specifications:

• NOTE: For a softcover edition of the same book, please view item 7161!
• Author: Soltis / McCormick
• Book Type: Hardback, 1997
• Notation: Algebraic Notation
• Pages: 247