Arthur William Feuerstein

[Simon Rogers]

I am sorry to report that Arthur Feuerstein died on the 2nd February 2022, at the age of 86.
Arthur was born on 20th December 1935 and the winner of the first U.S. Armed Forces Chess Championship.
At the age of 21, Arthur Feuerstein won the U.S. Junior Blitz Championship, leaving newcomer Bobby Fischer in a close second place.
The game between them ended in a draw. Arthur had a record of (+1-1=3) against Fischer, with Arthur getting a win against Bobby in the 1956 Greater New York City Open. Arthur Feuerstein finished half a point behind winners Bill Lombardy and Ariel Mengarini.
In 1957, Feuerstein was selected alongside Anthony Saidy and William Lombardy to play in the Fourth World Student Team Chess Championship, where the United States team took fifth place.
The following year, the team was chosen to represent the U.S. again in Varna, where they finished sixth.
In December of 1957 and January of 1958, Feuerstein, now 23, got his first chance to play in a U.S. Championship, placing equal sixth among 14 of the country's best masters. He finished tied with Edmar Mednis and former champion Arnold Denker.
Along the way, he beat James Sherwin, Hans Berliner, Denker and Herbert Seidman. A 14 year old Bobby Fischer won the event, beginning his run of eight championship victories.
Because of his good sportsmanship, Feuerstein secured an interesting place in Fischer trivia.
Bobby's victory against Feuerstein was played some two weeks before the opening round of the event so that Bobby could take his exams at Erasmus High. So it was Fischer's very first win in the U.S. Championship. Bobby then went on to triumph in all eight events he played in. To Feuerstein's credit, Fischer's victory in their last game together only evened their score.
In the 1972 U.S. Invitational Championship "amateur" Arthur Feuerstein drew against GM Pal Benko and won against Al Horowitz.
RIP

[Matt Mackenzie]

So the list of people still alive who played RJF becomes one shorter.

[Nick Ivell]

As it did when Penrose died. Not many left now.

[JustinHorton]

I'm not sure that's right: we've discussed it elsewhere

[Nick Ivell]

More survivors than I thought, certainly, although not all the people mentioned on that thread are still alive.