The Central New Jersey Home News New Brunswick, New Jersey Sunday, January 14, 1968 - Page 9
Expert or Wood Pusher--This Chess Club Has Room for You
(Caption: Warming Up—Jerry Kirzner (left) president of the East Brunswick Chess Club, sharpens his skill for coming club championship against Sid Nevens, vice president. Looking on is Mike Polito, club secretary.)
EAST BRUNSWICK—“The interest in chess in New Jersey has grown greatly in the past five years,” according to Jerry Kirzner, president of the East Brunswick Chess Club, “and our club has helped promote its growth.”
In 1962 the club started with six members and has grown to more than 60—making it one of the biggest units in New Jersey. Throughout the United States there are some 20 million chess fans.
The growth of the East Brunswick club is not surprising, because something is always going on there. They've had some of the nation's top chess players visit and play in simultaneous matches against several club members. Among them have been grandmaster Pal Benko, runner-up to Bobby Fischer in the last U.S. championship, and grandmaster Nick Rossolimo, who holds the U.S. Open title.
Besides that the club has 10 second chess tournaments and there is always a club ladder tournament in progress so that members can continually improve their games by playing different opponents.
“What people like about our club,” says Kirzner, “is that we have players of varying abilities — from experts to just plain wood pushers. And we've always welcomed beginners, from ages 8 to 80.”
The annual club championship, a Swiss five-round tournament, is scheduled to begin on Jan. 24. Anyone joining the club before that date can participate.
The group meets at VFW Post 133 headquarters on Cranbury Road, on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Its sponsored by the East Brunswick Recreation Commission.