The first Chess Defector
-
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
The first Chess Defector
In an obituary from 1996 Bernard Cafferty claims a future British player was the "first chess defector".
I was curious about this claim.
You can easily work out who BC was talking about.
Do you agree with him?
I was curious about this claim.
You can easily work out who BC was talking about.
Do you agree with him?
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 21315
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm
Re: The first Chess Defector
Back in 1944 or 1945, this player is likely to have been regarded by the Soviet Union as a defector, traitor even.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedir_Bohatyrchuk
Keres nearly made it to Sweden in 1945, one wonders how the Soviet Union would have wanted to treat him had he succeeded.
-
- Posts: 5237
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
- Location: Millom, Cumbria
Re: The first Chess Defector
Cenek Kottnauer, I presume?
A few players left the Eastern bloc at around the time he did, so dunno about "earliest". But certainly early.
A few players left the Eastern bloc at around the time he did, so dunno about "earliest". But certainly early.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
-
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Re: The first Chess Defector
Yes, Čeněk Kottnauer who defected from Czechoslovakia via Switzerland to England in 1953.Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:08 pmCenek Kottnauer, I presume?
A few players left the Eastern bloc at around the time he did, so dunno about "earliest". But certainly early.
He became a British citizen on 16th December 1960 when he obtained naturalisation certificate BNA64338 (according to the National Archives).
Of course, all of this depends on the definition of defector. A few German players "left" Germany in the 1930s and came to England. I presume that the German authorities made no attempt to stop them.
The OED states that "the desertion of one's country or cause in favour of an opposing one." is grounds to be labelled a defector.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 1945
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:36 pm
Re: The first Chess Defector
I would have thought that several players at the 8th Olympiad Buenos Aires 1939 who failed to return might fit into the category of defectors.
-
- Posts: 2321
- Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 8:46 pm
- Location: Dublin, Ireland
Re: The first Chess Defector
I hardly think Cenek would have viewed himself as a defector and certainly not as somebody who deserted his country in favour of an opposing one.
If he was political at all (I don't recall we discussed politics but he may have been when he was younger), probably he would have viewed his country (Czechoslovakia) as being under occupation by the Russians?
When I knew him (in the 1970s) he was working as a hotel inspector for Charles Forte.
Of course Leonard would have known him much earlier than me and perhaps can throw light on this matter.
If he was political at all (I don't recall we discussed politics but he may have been when he was younger), probably he would have viewed his country (Czechoslovakia) as being under occupation by the Russians?
When I knew him (in the 1970s) he was working as a hotel inspector for Charles Forte.
Of course Leonard would have known him much earlier than me and perhaps can throw light on this matter.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com
Historian and FIDE Arbiter
Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com
-
- Posts: 1838
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2011 12:16 am
Re: The first Chess Defector
I would have thought that players at 1914 who failed to return might fit into the category of defectors.
-
- Posts: 54
- Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2017 1:26 am
Re: The first Chess Defector
The third (online) edition of the OED defines 'defector' as:John Upham wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:59 pmThe OED states that "the desertion of one's country or cause in favour of an opposing one." is grounds to be labelled a defector.
It is presumably this "later use" that was intended by Bernard Cafferty. So simply moving from one country to another, e.g. after or during the First World War - or to escape fascism - probably shouldn't count. The term would seem to be clearly ideologically loaded, and I doubt if many people would have used it as a self-description.A person who defects from a person, party, organization, or cause; (in later use) spec. one who abandons a communist country in order to settle in a non-communist country, or vice versa.
-
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Re: The first Chess Defector
For the avoidance of doubt here are BCs words :
"Čeněk Kottnauer, the Czech/British IM, and the first chess defector died..."
"Čeněk Kottnauer, the Czech/British IM, and the first chess defector died..."
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 5833
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm
Re: The first Chess Defector
Alexander Alekhine?
-
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
Re: The first Chess Defector
What are your grounds for suggesting defection rather than emigrating or some other description?
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
-
- Posts: 5237
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
- Location: Millom, Cumbria
Re: The first Chess Defector
Had he made it to Sweden (especially having his family with him) the Soviets would surely have had little choice but to accept this. By that time they (and Stalin) were fixated upon winning the world title as a symbol of national prestige.Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑Mon Feb 08, 2021 4:43 pm
Back in 1944 or 1945, this player is likely to have been regarded by the Soviet Union as a defector, traitor even.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedir_Bohatyrchuk
Keres nearly made it to Sweden in 1945, one wonders how the Soviet Union would have wanted to treat him had he succeeded.
ISTR that FB was discussed in some detail at this forum some years ago now. It appears he got up to some at least "morally questionable" stuff.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
-
- Posts: 5833
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm
Re: The first Chess Defector
"What are your grounds for suggesting defection rather than emigrating or some other description?"
I'm only asking the question. Allegedly, he had permission to leave Russia, but decided not to return. As was said earlier, how do you define "defector"?
I'm only asking the question. Allegedly, he had permission to leave Russia, but decided not to return. As was said earlier, how do you define "defector"?
-
- Posts: 336
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:37 pm
Re: The first Chess Defector
My feeling is that the difference between emigration and defection is bound up with what would happen to you if you went back while the same people were still in charge.