Chess: Prodigies, Philosophy and Mathematics

Edward Winter



In 1942 there was a lengthy discussion of scientific, philosophical and practical issues concerning natural ability in chess and the game’s relationship with, in particular, mathematics. The catalyst was an article in the Sunday Dispatch newspaper by Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad (1891-1953) which answered a reader’s question prompted by the death of Capablanca. For his theories and opinions Professor Joad came under fire from CHESS and the BCM, and both magazines devoted much space to a debate which included contributions from G. Abrahams, A. Buschke, E.G.R. Cordingley and H.J.R. Murray, as well as references to Aristotle, Darwin, Edison, Einstein, Molière, Mozart and Poe, alongside some basic rhetoric (e.g. ‘bunk’ and ‘a farrago of nonsense’).

joad

joad

joad

A follow-up feature was published in the next issue:

joad

CHESS reverted to the matter on page 21 of the November 1942 issue:

joad

The coverage in the BCM was even more extensive and started with an editorial on pages 97-98 of the May 1942 issue:

joad

joad

BCM, June 1942, pages 135-136:

joad

joad

BCM, July 1942, pages 145-146:

joad

joad

(Regarding Professor G.H. Hardy see C.N. 5840.)

BCM, September 1942, pages 206-208:

joad

joad

joad

BCM, October 1942, pages 221-222:

joad

joad

BCM, October 1942, page 230:

joad

C.E.M. Joad was an enthusiastic chessplayer, as indicated on pages 106-107 of his book The Testament of Joad (London, 1937):

joad

On page 105 of More Opinions (London, 1946) he wrote:

‘I have never played so many games, and, in particular, so much chess and so much bridge, as I did during the war.’

He discussed both games on pages 113-115:

joad

joad

It will be noted that a number of his points have been carried over from the Sunday Dispatch article and that page 114 of the book has the remark for which he is best known in the chess world today:

‘Chess is one of the noblest inventions of the human mind.’

joad



Latest update: 13 May 2022.


See also Chess Prodigies and Nineteenth-century Chess Prodigies.

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Copyright: Edward Winter. All rights reserved.