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Noted Chess Champ Will Exhibit Here Wed, Jan 8, 1947 – 9 · The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, California) · Newspapers.com
The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California Wednesday, January 08, 1947 - Page 9 — Noted Chess Champ Will Exhibit Here — S.R. Included in Nationwide Tour — George Koltanowski, recognized as the world's blindfold chess champion, will give an exhibition in Santa Rosa the evening of February 24, it was learned yesterday.
In a letter to Thomas Shoemaker, Santa Rosa chess enthusiast, Koltanowski, who is now in Colombia, South America, confirmed an earlier announcement that he will include Santa Rosa in his 1947 tour of the United States.
He will demonstrate his ability to play blindfolded and simultaneous games. Location of the exhibition was not announced.
The 43-year-old Koltanowski is a native of Antwerp, Belgium, where he learned to play chess from hsi father at the age of 14 years. He was educated in Belgian schools and now speaks and reads seven languages. Since coming to the United States he has become an American citizen.
In 1937 he broke all existing records for simultaneous blindfold in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 34 games, winning 24 and drawing 10 without a single loss.
During a tour of Switzerland he established a record of playing 10 games blindfolded for 26 consecutive days for a winning average of 94 per cent.
He has made six successful American tours and is the author of many humorous chess articles and several books.
His achievements include victories in Antwerp in 1934, in Barcelona in 1935; six times champion of Belgium; playing 160 times simultaneously in Antwerp in 1932 to win 135, draw 18, and lose but 7; participating for 13 consecutive years in the Hastings Christmas Congress and entering England's famous Margato Tournament four times.
He has been accorded recognition by Bob Riply in his “Believe It or Not” feature.
