William Winter (chess player)

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William Winter (September 11, 1898 – December 18, 1955) was a British chess player. He won the British Open Chess Championship in 1934 and the British Chess Championship in 1935 and 1936. An acolyte of Siegbert Tarrasch, his sound, strategic play enabled him to defeat a number of the world's top players, including David Bronstein, Aron Nimzowitsch and Milan Vidmar. Unfortunately, his health and tactical play were insufficiently strong to enable him to repeat these victories on a consistent basis.

He was a widely respected author of chess books and was a nephew of J. M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Winter was also a Communist; his draw with Mikhail Botvinnik in the last round at Nottingham 1936, in a distinctly favourable position, was regarded very suspiciously (see the game).

Notably, his over-the-board and real-life characters were in stark contrast to each other. Harry Golombek described his play as "classic, scientific and sober; away from the board, he was revolutionary, illogicaly moved by his emotions (he contrived to be both a fervent communist and a staunch patriot) and, more often than not, drunk".

Winter has the distinction of being the only British Champion to have served time in prison (for his political activities). His memoirs were serialised in CHESS magazine in the late 1950s.

Due to the outbreak of World War I, he had to break and then resume his law studies. During his time there, he was the champion of Cambridge University.

Winter played in four olympiads in the years 1930,1931,1933 and 1935.

[edit] Books by Winter

• Chess for Match Players, originally published in 1936 by Lawrence & Wishart; re-published in 1951 by Carroll and Nicholson and in 1965 by Dover Publications.
• Kings of Chess Hardinge Simpole Chess Classics
• The world chess championship : 1951; Botvinnik v. Bronstein. with R. G. Wade , Turnstile Press

Robert Winter is Great Nephew of William Winter and is currently writing a film biography of William Winter. Robert's father was Air Commodore John Winter CBE FRCS was also educated at Cambridge University during WW2. Robert has a collection of JM Barries books and first editions.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

• Golombek, Harry, ed. (1981), The Penguin Encyclopaedia of Chess, Penguin Books, ISBN 978-0140464528  - pg. 509
• Olimpbase - Olympiads and other Team event information

Robert Winter worked for BBC News and has produced programmes for ITV Network through Central Television. His own Grandfather Robert Christie Winter came from Kirremuir, JM Barrie's birthplace. RC Winter later became chairman of Liverpool Grain storage at Liverpool Docks.