Game Of The Week
By Matt Grinberg
Whitaker, though eventually awarded the International Master title by FIDE, is known not so much for what he did at the chessboard as for one singular thing he did away from the chessboard. I first heard of him when "Chess Life & Review" ran a cover story about him in the December 1969 issue. The story recognized his becoming a FIDE IM. The story not only mentioned the IM title but also Whitaker's many major tournament wins in the 1920's and 30's, including winning the National Chess Federation Tournament in 1927. But there were a couple of things about the story that were odd. First, the "article" was a letter written by Whitaker himself. Second, he had won the IM title more than 4 years earlier.
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| Chess Life & Review - December 1969 |
At the time, Whitaker lived in Washington, D.C. In 1970, my family moved to the Washington area. As I got to know the chess community there, I found out about the other side of Whitaker. He was originally a lawyer by trade; but not a lawyer who practiced with integrity. In fact, his story reminds me of present day lawyer, Michael Avenati, only Whitaker was worse.
Whitaker's first brush with the law came in 1921. He was arrested in a scheme to defraud car insurance companies. Due to the arrest, he was unable to appear at the U.S. Chess Championship match he had scheduled with Frank Marshall the following year. He served two years in Federal prison upon conviction and was disbarred.
You might think he would have learned from that, but in 1932 was again arrested on an insurance fraud charge in Florida. He skipped bail and headed north where he hooked up with another seedy character, Gaston Means, an ex DOJ agent. About the same time, the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby took place. As the investigators were having trouble tracking down the kidnappers, let alone rescuing the baby, Whitaker and Means came up with a "bright" idea.
They claimed to be representing the kidnappers and approached Evalyn McLean, publisher of the Washington Post, with an offer to obtain the release of the baby if she would give them $104,000 to be paid to the kidnappers as ransom. Mrs. McLean paid, but the baby was not released.
If Whitaker and Means had any sense, they would have disappeared with the money. But noooo, they went back for seconds asking for an additional $35,000. Mrs. McLean, instead of paying up a second time, called the FBI. Whitaker and Means were both arrested and sent to prison.
All together, Whitaker served 7 stints in prison. He eventually got out and stayed out of trouble, while taking up chess again, but not at the level he had played in the 20's and 30's. He was an active player almost until his death in 1972.
Whitaker's game below was played against Jackson W. Showalter at the 1915 Western Championship, the equivalent of today's U.S. Open Championship. Showalter had been U.S. Chess Champion several times between 1891, when he won the title in a match with Max Judd, and 1909, when he lost the title in a match with Frank J. Marshall. In those days, before there was a national chess organization, the championship was decided in a match when the recognized champion accepted a challenge from another player. During that period, Showalter played 10 matches for the U.S. Championship, winning 5 and losing 5. In only two of those matches did the title NOT change hands.
The circumstances of the game were quite exciting. Each had won seven straight games and they were tied for first. With just three rounds to go in the 11 player round robin event, this looked to be the decisive game of the tournament. Showalter seems to think that all he has to do is play a solid game and eventually his brash young opponent will go astray. He is brought back to reality by Whitaker's 21st move!
Whitaker, Norman T. - Showalter, Jackson W., 1-0
Western Championship, Round 9
Excelsior, Minnesota, 8/20/1915
Ruy Lopez Opening
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6
6. Re1
6... b5 7. Bb3 Be7
8. a4
8... b4 9. a5 O-O 10. d3 Rb8 11. Bc4!?
11... Nd7!?
12. Be3 Bf6 13. Nbd2 Nd4 14. Nf1 Nc5 15. c3!?
15... Nde6 16. Ng3 g6?!
17. d4! Nd7 18. Qd2 exd4
19. cxd4 Qe7?
20. Bh6 Rd8 21. Nf5!
21... gxf5!?
22. exf5 Ne5?
23. dxe5 dxe5
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| White to move |
24. fxe6 Bxe6 25. Qe2 Bf5?
26. Nxe5
Aftermath: This win put Whitaker a point ahead of second place Showalter with two rounds to go. Showalter went on to win his last two games, taking first just half a point ahead of Whitaker, who only scored a draw his last two games and then went on to his life of crime.
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