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Cecil Purdy

January 01, 1970

C.J.S. (Cecil John Seddon) Purdy AM (27 March 1906[1] – 6 November 1979) was an Australian chess player and writer. He was awarded the International Master title in 1951 and the Grandmaster of Correspondence Chess title in 1959. Purdy was the first world correspondence chess champion. He was also an influential chess magazine writer, editor, and publisher.

C. J. S. Purdy
Full nameCecil John Seddon Purdy
CountryAustralia
Born(1906-03-27)27 March 1906
Port Said, Egypt
Died6 November 1979(1979-11-06) (aged 73)
Sydney, Australia
TitleInternational Master (1951)
ICCF Grandmaster (1959)
ICCF World Champion1950–53

Early life edit

Purdy was born in Port Said, Egypt, where his father John Smith Purdy was stationed as a doctor in the Quarantine Service.[2] When he was a child, Purdy moved with his family to New Zealand, and then to Tasmania, Australia, before they settled in Sydney when he was 12, where he was educated at Cranbrook School. While in Tasmania, one of his classmates was future film star Errol Flynn.[3]

Career edit

Purdy began his chess career at age 16. He soon decided to become a full-time chess writer and player. Initially an over-the-board (OTB) player, he soon began to mix OTB play with correspondence play. He was a four-time winner of the Australian Chess Championship, in 1935, 1937, 1949, and 1951. He also won the New Zealand Chess Championship in 1924/25. In Auckland in 1952, Purdy drew a hard-fought match with Ortvin Sarapu, at the time by far the best player in New Zealand. They were thus declared Australasian co-champions.[4]

Purdy won the first two Australian Correspondence Chess Championships, in 1938 and 1945; and the inaugural World Correspondence Chess Championship in 1953.

Purdy founded and edited the magazine Australasian Chess Review (1929–1944), which became Check (1944–45), and finally Chess World (1946–1967). He was described by Bobby Fischer as being a great chess instructor. Some of his writings are still in print. A famous remark of his is "Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf."[5]

In 1976 he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to chess.[6]

Personal life edit

He was married in 1934 to Anne Crakanthorp (1915–2013), the daughter of two-time Australian Chess Champion Spencer Crakanthorp. The marriage produced two children, John (1935–2011) and Diana. John Purdy followed in his father's (and grandfather's) footsteps in winning the Australian Chess Championship in 1955 and 1963. Diana, also a chess player, married leading New Zealand player Frank Hutchings in 1960.[7]

Death edit

On 6 November 1979, Purdy collapsed while playing chess at a tournament at the Chess Centre of New South Wales and died later that day in the Sydney Hospital. He was survived by his wife, daughter and son John, who twice won the Australian Chess Championship.[8]

Published works edit

  • Purdy, C.J.S. (2003). C.J.S. Purdy on the Endgame. Thinker's Press. ISBN 1-888710-03-9. A collection of articles from his chess publications.
  • Purdy, C.J.S. (1972). How Fischer Won: World Chess Championship, 1972. E. J. Dwyer. ISBN 978-0855742089.
  • Purdy, C.J.S. (1950). Guide To Good Chess. Horwitz.
  • Purdy, C.J.S. (1992). Tykodi, Ralph J. (ed.). C.J.S. Purdy's Fine Art of Chess Annotation and Other Thoughts. Thinkers' Press.

References edit

  1. ^ The Times, 26 May 1906, p.1 - As Edward Winter has demonstrated in his article on Purdy, his year of birth was incorrectly given as 1907 in several issues of his magazine Chess World and editions of his Guide to Good Chess, as well as in chess reference books up to the time of his death. The (London) Times (Births announcements) of 26 May 1906, p.1 reports—"PURDY - On the 27th March, 1906, at Port Said, to Emily and J.S. Purdy M.D., F.R.G.S., Surg.-Capt. New Zealand Militia, a son (Cecil John Seddon)"
  2. ^ John Smith Purdy, Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1988
  3. ^ "C.J.S. Purdy" by Edward Winter
  4. ^ Sarapu–Purdy Australasian Championship Match, chessgames.com.
  5. ^ *Purdy, C.J.S. (1950). Guide to Good Chess. p. 71.
  6. ^ "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Mr Cecil John Seddon PURDY". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 1976. Retrieved 21 April 2019. AM (CIVIL DIVISION) AUST DAY 1976
  7. ^ Sarapu, Ortvin (1978). Chess Championships: 25 years of New Zealand Chess Championships 1952-1977. O. Sarapu.
  8. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography - Purdy, Cecil John Seddon (1906–1979)
  • Dunne, Alex (1991). The Complete Guide to Correspondence Chess. Thinker's Press. ISBN 0-938650-52-1.

Further reading edit

  • J. Hammond and R Jamieson, C.J.S. Purdy: His Life, His Games and His Writings, Belmont Printing Co. Melbourne 1982
  • C.J.S.Purdy, Frank Hutchings and Kevin Harrison, How Purdy Won: The Correspondence Chess Career of a World Champion, Castle Books 1983, ISBN 0-7255-1439-6

External links edit

  • Cecil John Seddon Purdy chess games at 365Chess.com
  • Cecil Purdy player profile and games at Chessgames.com
  • Purdy, Cecil John Seddon (1906 - 1979), Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition
  • "C.J.S. Purdy" by Edward Winter
  • Cecil John Seddon Purdy player details at ICCF
Preceded by
none
 World Correspondence Chess Champion
1950–1953 		Succeeded by

January 01, 1970
cecil, purdy, cecil, john, seddon, purdy, march, 1906, november, 1979, australian, chess, player, writer, awarded, international, master, title, 1951, grandmaster, correspondence, chess, title, 1959, purdy, first, world, correspondence, chess, champion, also, . C J S Cecil John Seddon Purdy AM 27 March 1906 1 6 November 1979 was an Australian chess player and writer He was awarded the International Master title in 1951 and the Grandmaster of Correspondence Chess title in 1959 Purdy was the first world correspondence chess champion He was also an influential chess magazine writer editor and publisher C J S PurdyFull nameCecil John Seddon PurdyCountryAustraliaBorn 1906 03 27 27 March 1906Port Said EgyptDied6 November 1979 1979 11 06 aged 73 Sydney AustraliaTitleInternational Master 1951 ICCF Grandmaster 1959 ICCF World Champion1950 53 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 3 1 Death 4 Published works 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life editPurdy was born in Port Said Egypt where his father John Smith Purdy was stationed as a doctor in the Quarantine Service 2 When he was a child Purdy moved with his family to New Zealand and then to Tasmania Australia before they settled in Sydney when he was 12 where he was educated at Cranbrook School While in Tasmania one of his classmates was future film star Errol Flynn 3 Career editPurdy began his chess career at age 16 He soon decided to become a full time chess writer and player Initially an over the board OTB player he soon began to mix OTB play with correspondence play He was a four time winner of the Australian Chess Championship in 1935 1937 1949 and 1951 He also won the New Zealand Chess Championship in 1924 25 In Auckland in 1952 Purdy drew a hard fought match with Ortvin Sarapu at the time by far the best player in New Zealand They were thus declared Australasian co champions 4 Purdy won the first two Australian Correspondence Chess Championships in 1938 and 1945 and the inaugural World Correspondence Chess Championship in 1953 Purdy founded and edited the magazine Australasian Chess Review 1929 1944 which became Check 1944 45 and finally Chess World 1946 1967 He was described by Bobby Fischer as being a great chess instructor Some of his writings are still in print A famous remark of his is Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf 5 In 1976 he was awarded the Order of Australia for services to chess 6 Personal life editHe was married in 1934 to Anne Crakanthorp 1915 2013 the daughter of two time Australian Chess Champion Spencer Crakanthorp The marriage produced two children John 1935 2011 and Diana John Purdy followed in his father s and grandfather s footsteps in winning the Australian Chess Championship in 1955 and 1963 Diana also a chess player married leading New Zealand player Frank Hutchings in 1960 7 Death edit On 6 November 1979 Purdy collapsed while playing chess at a tournament at the Chess Centre of New South Wales and died later that day in the Sydney Hospital He was survived by his wife daughter and son John who twice won the Australian Chess Championship 8 Published works editPurdy C J S 2003 C J S Purdy on the Endgame Thinker s Press ISBN 1 888710 03 9 A collection of articles from his chess publications Purdy C J S 1972 How Fischer Won World Chess Championship 1972 E J Dwyer ISBN 978 0855742089 Purdy C J S 1950 Guide To Good Chess Horwitz Purdy C J S 1992 Tykodi Ralph J ed C J S Purdy s Fine Art of Chess Annotation and Other Thoughts Thinkers Press References edit The Times 26 May 1906 p 1 As Edward Winter has demonstrated in his article on Purdy his year of birth was incorrectly given as 1907 in several issues of his magazine Chess World and editions of his Guide to Good Chess as well as in chess reference books up to the time of his death The London Times Births announcements of 26 May 1906 p 1 reports PURDY On the 27th March 1906 at Port Said to Emily and J S Purdy M D F R G S Surg Capt New Zealand Militia a son Cecil John Seddon John Smith Purdy Australian Dictionary of Biography 1988 C J S Purdy by Edward Winter Sarapu Purdy Australasian Championship Match chessgames com Purdy C J S 1950 Guide to Good Chess p 71 Member of the Order of Australia AM entry for Mr Cecil John Seddon PURDY Australian Honours Database Canberra Australia Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 26 January 1976 Retrieved 21 April 2019 AM CIVIL DIVISION AUST DAY 1976 Sarapu Ortvin 1978 Chess Championships 25 years of New Zealand Chess Championships 1952 1977 O Sarapu Australian Dictionary of Biography Purdy Cecil John Seddon 1906 1979 This section includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this section by introducing more precise citations April 2019 Learn how and when to remove this message Dunne Alex 1991 The Complete Guide to Correspondence Chess Thinker s Press ISBN 0 938650 52 1 Further reading editJ Hammond and R Jamieson C J S Purdy His Life His Games and His Writings Belmont Printing Co Melbourne 1982 C J S Purdy Frank Hutchings and Kevin Harrison How Purdy Won The Correspondence Chess Career of a World Champion Castle Books 1983 ISBN 0 7255 1439 6External links editCecil John Seddon Purdy chess games at 365Chess com Cecil Purdy player profile and games at Chessgames com Purdy Cecil John Seddon 1906 1979 Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition C J S Purdy by Edward Winter Cecil John Seddon Purdy player details at ICCF Preceded bynone World Correspondence Chess Champion1950 1953 Succeeded by nbsp Viacheslav Ragozin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cecil Purdy amp oldid 1214992803, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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