William Napier's parents emigrated to the United States when he was five years old. From 1895 he lived in Brooklyn and came into contact with some of the best chess players of the country. He had his first successes with simultaneous games, among other things winning in December 1894 versus the acting United States Chess ChampionJackson Whipps Showalter. At the beginning of 1896 he, despite his young age, became a member of the Brooklyn Chess Club and won the club championship later that year, at the age of 15. In the same year he defeated the later grandmasterFrank James Marshall in a match, winning 7:1 with 3 draws. 1897 saw him win a tournament game against ex-world champion Wilhelm Steinitz.
At the beginning of 1899 Napier traveled to Europe, in order to study music there, and visited the chess clubs of London, Paris and Berlin. In 1900 he returned to the US and established himself in Pittsburgh. There he wrote the chess column of the newspaper Pittsburgh Dispatch. In 1901, he won a master tournament in Buffalo versus Eugene Delmar, placing behind tournament winner Harry Nelson Pillsbury, but still above Marshall. This success encouraged him to participate in the following years in some international master tournaments. He played in Monte Carlo and Hanover in 1902 as well as in Cambridge Springs in 1904. He won none of those tournaments, but in each case received a special prize for brilliantly played games, for example winning the Rothschild Brilliancy Prize for his game against Mikhail Chigorin. In July 1904, he visited Great Britain and won a well-attended tournament in London against Richard Teichmann, Joseph Henry Blackburne and Isidor Gunsberg. Subsequently, he participated in the British championship in Hastings, where he was, because of his English birth, entitled to take part, and won the tournament against Henry Atkins, whom he defeated in the pass fight with 2.5-1.5, to become the first British Chess Federation Champion. Thereafter, Atkins became the most dominant player in the history of the British Championship, winning the next nine championships in which he competed. In 1905 Napier played two matches: against Jacques Mieses the match was undecided (4-4 with 2 draws), against Teichmann he lost 1-5 with 4 draws.
Afterwards Napier withdrew from the international tournament arena. He gained American citizenship in 1908 and began a career at an insurance company, becoming vice president of the Scranton Insurance Company. He married Florence Gillespie (Pillsbury's niece), with whom he later had two daughters. Although he still participated in chess, he played no more important tournaments. When he died at the age of 71, his chess career was nearly forgotten.
His best historical Elo number was 2662. He was, at the time, 11th place in the world.
Laskeredit
Napier called a game he lost to reigning World ChampionEmanuel Lasker at Cambridge Springs 1904 the best of his career. The game showed great tactical skill by both players. Napier was particularly impressed by how Lasker kept his composure in severe time pressure. Lasker said afterwards to his young opponent: "It is your brilliancy, even though I won it."
"Mason had the unique quality of competently simmering through six aching hours, and scintillating in the seventh. Others resembled him, but forgot to scintillate."
"The Pawn move is a capital investment. Every one of the forty-eight should, from the beginning, be spent as if it were one of the last forty-eight apprehensive and responsible dollars between yourself and starvation."
Bibliographyedit
Amenities and background of chess-play. Napier, William Ewart, 1935.
Paul Morphy and the golden age of chess. Napier, William Ewart, 1957. (published posthumously)
Notesedit
^Chessbase.com: Remembering William Ewart Napier: The English-born Wonder of Brooklyn, New York (January 17, 1881 – September 6, 1952)
Napier, the forgotten chessmaster. Hilbert, John S., Caissa edition, Yorklyn, Delaware 1997. ISBN0-939433-51-6
External linksedit
a page detailing Napier's games
some of Hilbert's notes on William Ewart Napier
Edward Winter, The Chess Wit and Wisdom of William Ewart Napier (2002)
comparative analysis of the Lasker-Napier game
fictional story, illustrating Lasker-Napier
January 01, 1970
william, ewart, napier, other, individuals, same, name, william, napier, disambiguation, january, 1881, east, dulwich, surrey, september, 1952, washington, american, chess, master, english, birth, photo, from, 1901bornjanuary, 1881surrey, englanddiedseptember,. For other individuals of the same name see William Napier disambiguation William Ewart Napier 17 January 1881 in East Dulwich Surrey 6 September 1952 in Washington D C was an American chess master of English birth 1 William Ewart NapierPhoto of William Ewart Napier from 1901BornJanuary 17 1881Surrey EnglandDiedSeptember 6 1952 1952 09 07 aged 71 Washington D C United StatesOccupation s chess master later vice president of insurance companySpouseFlorence GillespieChildrenRuth and one other daughterParent s John and Isabella Collier Napier Contents 1 Life 2 Lasker 3 Quotes 4 Bibliography 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksLife editWilliam Napier s parents emigrated to the United States when he was five years old From 1895 he lived in Brooklyn and came into contact with some of the best chess players of the country He had his first successes with simultaneous games among other things winning in December 1894 versus the acting United States Chess Champion Jackson Whipps Showalter At the beginning of 1896 he despite his young age became a member of the Brooklyn Chess Club and won the club championship later that year at the age of 15 In the same year he defeated the later grandmaster Frank James Marshall in a match winning 7 1 with 3 draws 1897 saw him win a tournament game against ex world champion Wilhelm Steinitz At the beginning of 1899 Napier traveled to Europe in order to study music there and visited the chess clubs of London Paris and Berlin In 1900 he returned to the US and established himself in Pittsburgh There he wrote the chess column of the newspaper Pittsburgh Dispatch In 1901 he won a master tournament in Buffalo versus Eugene Delmar placing behind tournament winner Harry Nelson Pillsbury but still above Marshall This success encouraged him to participate in the following years in some international master tournaments He played in Monte Carlo and Hanover in 1902 as well as in Cambridge Springs in 1904 He won none of those tournaments but in each case received a special prize for brilliantly played games for example winning the Rothschild Brilliancy Prize for his game against Mikhail Chigorin In July 1904 he visited Great Britain and won a well attended tournament in London against Richard Teichmann Joseph Henry Blackburne and Isidor Gunsberg Subsequently he participated in the British championship in Hastings where he was because of his English birth entitled to take part and won the tournament against Henry Atkins whom he defeated in the pass fight with 2 5 1 5 to become the first British Chess Federation Champion Thereafter Atkins became the most dominant player in the history of the British Championship winning the next nine championships in which he competed In 1905 Napier played two matches against Jacques Mieses the match was undecided 4 4 with 2 draws against Teichmann he lost 1 5 with 4 draws Afterwards Napier withdrew from the international tournament arena He gained American citizenship in 1908 and began a career at an insurance company becoming vice president of the Scranton Insurance Company He married Florence Gillespie Pillsbury s niece with whom he later had two daughters Although he still participated in chess he played no more important tournaments When he died at the age of 71 his chess career was nearly forgotten His best historical Elo number was 2662 He was at the time 11th place in the world Lasker editNapier called a game he lost to reigning World Champion Emanuel Lasker at Cambridge Springs 1904 the best of his career The game showed great tactical skill by both players Napier was particularly impressed by how Lasker kept his composure in severe time pressure Lasker said afterwards to his young opponent It is your brilliancy even though I won it Lasker Napier1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nf3 g6 4 d4 cxd4 5 Nxd4 Bg7 6 Be3 d6 7 h3 Nf6 8 g4 O O 9 g5 Ne8 10 h4 Nc7 11 f4 e5 12 Nde2 d5 13 exd5 Nd4 14 Nxd4 Nxd5 15 Nf5 Nxc3 16 Qxd8 Rxd8 17 Ne7 Kh8 18 h5 Re8 19 Bc5 gxh5 20 Bc4 exf4 21 Bxf7 Ne4 22 Bxe8 Bxb2 23 Rb1 Bc3 24 Kf1 Bg4 25 Bxh5 Bxh5 26 Rxh5 Ng3 27 Kg2 Nxh5 28 Rxb7 a5 29 Rb3 Bg7 30 Rh3 Ng3 31 Kf3 Ra6 32 Kxf4 Ne2 33 Kf5 Nc3 34 a3 Na4 35 Be3 1 0 2 Quotes edit Mason had the unique quality of competently simmering through six aching hours and scintillating in the seventh Others resembled him but forgot to scintillate The Pawn move is a capital investment Every one of the forty eight should from the beginning be spent as if it were one of the last forty eight apprehensive and responsible dollars between yourself and starvation Bibliography editAmenities and background of chess play Napier William Ewart 1935 Paul Morphy and the golden age of chess Napier William Ewart 1957 published posthumously Notes edit Chessbase com Remembering William Ewart Napier The English born Wonder of Brooklyn New York January 17 1881 September 6 1952 Lasker Napier Cambridge Springs 1904References editNapier the forgotten chessmaster Hilbert John S Caissa edition Yorklyn Delaware 1997 ISBN 0 939433 51 6External links edita page detailing Napier s games some of Hilbert s notes on William Ewart Napier Edward Winter The Chess Wit and Wisdom of William Ewart Napier 2002 comparative analysis of the Lasker Napier game fictional story illustrating Lasker Napier Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ewart Napier amp oldid 1185316712, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
