Samuel Reshevsky, Grand Chessmaster Of The 20th Century (1920)
[Reshevsky, at age eight, defeating several chess masters in France]
Reshevsky was born at Ozorków near Łódź (in Poland). He learned to play chess at age four, and was soon acclaimed as a child prodigy. At age eight he was beating accomplished players with ease, and giving simultaneous exhibitions. In November 1920, his parents moved to the U.S. to make a living exhibiting their child. Reshevsky played thousands of games in exhibitions all over the U.S. He played in the 1922 New York Masters tournament; at that stage he was likely the youngest player to have competed in a strong tournament.
In his youth, Reshevsky did not attend school, and his parents appeared in District Court in Manhattan facing a charge of improper guardianship. However, Julius Rosenwald, wealthy co-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company in Chicago, soon afterwards became Reshevsky's benefactor; Rosenwald guaranteed Reshevsky's future on condition that he would complete his education.[1]
Reshevsky never became a truly professional chess player. He gave up competitive chess for seven years, from 1924 to 1931, to complete his secondary education.[2] He graduated from the University of Chicago in 1934 with a degree in accounting, and supported himself and his family by working as an accountant. His 1941 marriage to Norma Mindick produced three children. Reshevsky was a devout Orthodox Jew and would not play on the Jewish Sabbath; his games were scheduled accordingly.[3].
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