05 January 2023

Chess at Trump Tower

While I was researching the latest post on my World Championship blog, 1994 Sanghi-Nagar (January 2023), I rediscovered a photo published in Chess Life, September 1994. The photo was one of several ('Photographs by Bill Hook and Kevin Dyke') that illustrated the tournament report by GM Patrick Wolff titled, 'Kamsky Crushes Kramnik, Advances to Semi Final in Spain'.

The Wolff article started,

The Intel World Chess Championship Quarterfinal Matches, organized under the auspices of the Professional Chess Association, and held at Trump Tower in New York City from June 7-18, was without doubt the most important chess event in America since the World Chess Championship between Kasparov and Karpov in 1990. Four matches were played, featuring the seven qualifiers from the Groningen qualifying tournament held in Holland in December 1993, plus GM Nigel Short of England, the loser of the World Championship match held in London in September-October 1993.

For the results of the matches, see my page 1994-95 PCA Candidates Matches (m-w.com). There I noted,

Quarterfinal matches; New York, VI, 1994 • The Intel World Chess Championship Quarterfinal Matches were organized by the PCA and held at the Trump Tower in New York City. The matches were opened by Donald Trump, an American real estate and casino developer.

Donald Trump is no stranger to chess. For another recent example, see Wayback to Smartchess (November 2022; '"Best Wishes!" - D.T.').

No comments: