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Some children have achied achieved considerable prominence as chess masters. A chess prodigy is a child who can win games against experienced adult players, in come cases even grand masters. Of course, expectations for these children as adults players can be high. Someindeed becaome World Champions, others do not improve as they grow oldr. We are unsure why this is. There are many examples of these children, almost always boys. Here it could be that the came itself attracts boys more than girls, but we suspect more is involved. Unlike sports, size and motor skills are not important. It is likely that it is the same reason that most math prodigies are boys and most science Nobel prises are won by men. Of course in the 19th and early-20th century, women had fewer educational opportunities, but this is no mlonger the case and we continue to see gender firrences in these areas. We also notice quite a few Jews among the chess chils prodigies. Some of the most notable chess prodigies were Paul Morphy (1837–1884) and José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), both of whom won matches against strong adult opponents at the age of 12. Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992), who was giving simultaneous exhibitions against a room full of adult masters at the age of a mere 6 years. Morphy went on to be unofficial World Champion (before the official title existed), Capablanca became the third World Champion, and Reshevsky—while never attaining the title—was amongst the top few players in the world for many decades. Bobby Fisher is one of the most notable among modern players. HBC at this time has little information on the suject, biut there are some useful books. 【Waitzkin】
José won matches against strong adult opponents at the age of 12. Capablanca became the third World Champion.
Norwegian boy Magnus Carlsen (1990- ) is one of the child prodigies that continued to hone their skills as he got older. He is the current World Champion of Norway. He learned to play chess at the age of 8 years. He became an International Master at the age of 13 years. He became the second-youngest grandmaster in chess history at (13 years, 3 months), behind Sergey Karjakin (2004). He became the youngest player ever to qualify for the Candidates (2005).
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was born in Chicago (1943). His father Gerhardth Fischer was born in Berlin, Germany (1909) and emigrated to America. He was a biophysicist. Some speculate that his real father was a Hungarian Jew named Nemenyi. His mother was Regina Wender was an American citizen of Polish Jewish descent. She was born in Switzerland and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Bobby renounced Judaism and became upset if anyone called him Jewish. His parents separated when Bobby was only 2 years old. Regina had custody of Bobby and his older sister Joan who was 7 years old at the time. Their mother was a qualified registered Nurse and wanted to take a Master's Degree at New York University in Nursing Education. She decided to move to Brooklyn. It is there that Bobby began to play chess. There was no tradition of chess in the famikly. Bobby and Joan received a chess set as a gift (1949). All they had to go on was instructions that came with the set. Bobby as a 6-year-old was fascinated with the game and his abilitity to deal with his complexities. His mother became worried about his obsession with the game. She is quoted as saying, "Bobby isn't interested in anybody unless they play Chess and there just aren't many children who like it." He won the World Chess Championship (1972). He declined to defend it (1975). He widely considered to be one of the most talented chess players of all time. Desspite disappearing from competitive play, he continues to be one of the world's best known chess players.
Paul Charles Morphy (1837–84) was an American chess player. He is considered to have been the greatest chess master of his era and an unofficial World Chess Champion, before the official title existed. He became known as "The Pride and Sorrow of Chess" because he had a brilliant chess career as achild and youth, but retired from the game while still quite young. Bobby Fischer ranked him among the ten greatest players of all time, and described him as 'perhaps the most accurate player who ever lived'. Paul was born in New Orleans
, Lousianam in to a wealthy and distinguished family. He learned to play chess by simply watching games between his father and uncle. His family quickly recognized the boy's abilities and encouraged him to play at family gatherings. By the age of 9 years he was sen as one of the best players in the city. Paul was winning matches against strong adult opponents at the age of 12. He even defeated visiting Hungarian master Johann Löwenthal in a three game match. Morphy went on to win matches in New York and Europe, but then stopped playing.ioobe unofficial World Champion
Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992) was giving simultaneous exhibitions against a room full of adult masters at the age of a mere 6 years., and Reshevsky—while never attaining the title—was amongst the top few players in the world for many decades. Reshevsky was born at Ozorków near Łódź in eastern Poland. His parents were Jewish.
He learned to play chess at the age of 4 years. He was soon acclaimed as a child prodigy. At age 8 years he was beating many accomplished players with ease and giving simultaneous exhibitions against a room full of adult opponentsd. Reshevsky in 1920 at age 8 years was giving a simultaneous chess exhibition in France.
In November 1920,His parents moved to the United States to make a living by publicly exhibiting their child's talent (November 1920). This undoubtedly saved Smuel's and their lives. Reshevsky played thousands of games in exhibitions all over the United States. He played in the 1922 New York Masters tournament. He is believed to be the youngest-ever player to have competed in a strong tournament. Samuel's parents werefocused on making a living and did not send him to school. This apparently was fine in Poland, butbcaused a problem in America. His parents appeared in the District Court in Manhattan facing a charge of improper guardianship. Julius Rosenwald, wealthy co-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company in Chicago, soon afterwards became Reshevsky's benefactor. He guaranteed Reshevsky's future on the condition that he would complete his education. Reshevsky never became a truly professional chess player. He gave up most competitive chess for 7 years (1924-31). During this time he did successfully competing in occasional events. Reshevsky graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in accounting (1934). He supported himself and his family by working as an accountant. He srttlked in New York City and lived there or in its suburbs for the rst of his life. He marriaed Norma Mindick (1941). They had three children. A devout Orthodox Jew, Reshevsky would not play on the Jewish Sabbath. His games were thus scheduled accordingly.
Waitzkin, Fred. Searching for Bobby Fischer: The World of Chess Observed by the Father of a Child Prodigy (New York : Random House, 1988), 226p.
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