Samuel Reshevsky – The Eternal Prodigy

Samuel Reshevsky (1911–1992) was one of the strongest players in the world for over 30 years. Born in Poland, he emigrated to the USA and became an American chess icon long before Bobby Fischer.

Remarkably, no. He was a professional accountant. He often complained that he could not study openings as deeply as the Soviet professionals because he had a day job and a family to support.

He was a "calculating machine." He lacked deep opening theory, but if he reached a playable middlegame, he could out-calculate almost anyone. He was tenacious in defense and ruthless in grinding out wins.

He played in the 1948 World Championship tournament (finishing equal 3rd) and the 1953 Candidates. He was arguably the best player in the West until Fischer arrived.

At age 8, he toured Europe and the US giving simultaneous exhibitions, defeating strong adult masters. He was the most famous child in the world in 1920.

He dominated American chess for decades, winning the title in 1936, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1969, and 1972.

He defeated Lasker, Capablanca, Alekhine, Euwe, Botvinnik, Smyslov, and Fischer in tournament play—an incredible resume.

He won the Margate tournament ahead of former World Champion Jose Raul Capablanca, famously defeating him in a direct encounter.

He was one of the five players invited to play for the vacant world title. He finished equal 3rd with Keres, proving he was the best non-Soviet player.

He led the USA team to a Gold Medal at the Stockholm Olympiad, cementing America's dominance in the pre-Soviet era.

In the 1955 USA vs USSR match, he defeated the reigning World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik on Board 1.

Reshevsky spent huge amounts of time in the opening. He often had 1 minute to make 15 moves, yet he rarely blundered in these scrambles.

The match was billed as "The Match of the Century" between the old king and the young prince. It ended in controversy, but the play was of the highest level.

An Orthodox Jew, he refused to play on the Sabbath (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown). Tournament schedules were often rearranged just for him.

A solid line in the Nimzo-Indian Defense bears his name, reflecting his preference for solid, pawn-structure-based play.

He finished equal 2nd in the famous Candidates tournament, battling the entire Soviet machine alone.

He maintained that chess was not his only profession, which made his achievements against full-time Soviet pros even more impressive.

At Nottingham 1936, he defeated the former World Champion Emanuel Lasker in a classic game.

He qualified for the Candidates matches in 1968 at the age of 57, losing to Viktor Korchnoi in the quarterfinals.

His style was devoid of "cheap tricks." He won by slowly improving his position until the opponent had no good moves.

In addition to his Closed US Championships, he won the US Open title in 1944.

He was known for his tenacity. Even in bad positions, he would defend perfectly, forcing opponents to work for 80+ moves to beat him.

Before Fischer, his main American rival was Reuben Fine. Their battles for US dominance raised the standard of American chess.

Bobby Fischer, who rarely praised anyone, respected Reshevsky, calling him the strongest player in the world in the mid-1950s.