Cecil Purdy

C. J. S. Purdy
C. J. S. Purdy
Full name	Cecil John Seddon Purdy
Country	Australia
Born	27 March 1906; Port Said,Egypt
Died	6 November 1979(aged 73); Sydney,Australia
Title	International Master(1951); ICCF Grandmaster(1959)
ICCF World Champion	1950–53

C.J.S. (Cecil John Seddon) PurdyAM(27 March 1906^[1]– 6 November 1979) was an Australianchessplayer and writer. He was awarded theInternational Mastertitle in 1951 and theGrandmaster of Correspondence Chesstitle in 1959. Purdy was the firstworld correspondence chess champion.He was also an influential chess magazine writer, editor, and publisher.

Early life

Purdy was born inPort Said, Egypt,where his fatherJohn Smith Purdywas stationed as a doctor in theQuarantine Service.^[2]When he was a child, Purdy moved with his family toNew Zealand,and then toTasmania,Australia,before they settled inSydneywhen he was 12, where he was educated atCranbrook School.While in Tasmania, one of his classmates was future film starErrol Flynn.^[3]

Career

Purdy began his chess career at age 16. He soon decided to become a full-time chess writer and player. Initially an over-the-board (OTB) player, he soon began to mix OTB play withcorrespondence play.He was a four-time winner of theAustralian Chess Championship,in 1935, 1937, 1949, and 1951. He also won theNew Zealand Chess Championshipin 1924/25. InAucklandin 1952, Purdy drew a hard-fought match withOrtvin Sarapu,at the time by far the best player in New Zealand. They were thus declaredAustralasianco-champions.^[4]

Purdy won the first twoAustralian Correspondence Chess Championships,in 1938 and 1945; and the inaugural World Correspondence Chess Championship in 1953.

Purdy founded and edited the magazineAustralasian Chess Review(1929–1944), which becameCheck(1944–45), and finallyChess World(1946–1967). He was described byBobby Fischeras being a great chess instructor. Some of his writings are still in print. A famous remark of his is "Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf."^[5]

In 1976 he was awarded theOrder of Australiafor services to chess.^[6]

Personal life

He was married in 1934 to Anne Crakanthorp (1915–2013), the daughter of two-time Australian Chess ChampionSpencer Crakanthorp.The marriage produced two children, John (1935–2011) and Diana.John Purdyfollowed in his father's (and grandfather's) footsteps in winning the Australian Chess Championship in 1955 and 1963. Diana, also a chess player, married leadingNew Zealandplayer Frank Hutchings in 1960.^[7]

Death

On 6 November 1979, Purdy collapsed while playing chess at a tournament at the Chess Centre ofNew South Walesand died later that day in theSydney Hospital.He was survived by his wife, daughter and son John, who twice won theAustralian Chess Championship.^[8]

Published works

Purdy, C.J.S. (2003).C.J.S. Purdy on the Endgame.Thinker's Press.ISBN 1-888710-03-9.A collection of articles from his chess publications.
Purdy, C.J.S. (1972).How Fischer Won: World Chess Championship, 1972.E. J. Dwyer.ISBN 978-0855742089.
Purdy, C.J.S. (1950).Guide To Good Chess.Horwitz.
Purdy, C.J.S. (1992). Tykodi, Ralph J. (ed.).C.J.S. Purdy's Fine Art of Chess Annotation and Other Thoughts.Thinkers' Press.

References

^The Times, 26 May 1906, p.1 - As Edward Winter has demonstrated in his article on Purdy, his year of birth was incorrectly given as 1907 in several issues of his magazineChess Worldand editions of hisGuide to Good Chess,as well as in chess reference books up to the time of his death. The (London) Times (Births announcements) of 26 May 1906, p.1 reports— "PURDY - On the 27th March, 1906, at Port Said, to Emily and J.S. Purdy M.D., F.R.G.S., Surg.-Capt. New Zealand Militia, a son (Cecil John Seddon)"
^John Smith Purdy,Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1988
^"C.J.S. Purdy" by Edward Winter
^Sarapu–Purdy Australasian Championship Match,chessgames.
^*Purdy, C.J.S. (1950).Guide to Good Chess.p. 71.
^"Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Mr Cecil John Seddon PURDY".Australian Honours Database.Canberra, Australia:Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.26 January 1976.Retrieved21 April2019.AM (CIVIL DIVISION) AUST DAY 1976
^Sarapu, Ortvin (1978).Chess Championships: 25 years of New Zealand Chess Championships 1952-1977.O. Sarapu.
^Australian Dictionary of Biography - Purdy, Cecil John Seddon (1906–1979)

Dunne, Alex (1991).The Complete Guide to Correspondence Chess.Thinker's Press.ISBN 0-938650-52-1.

External links

Cecil John Seddon Purdychess games at 365Chess
Cecil Purdyplayer profile and games atChessgames
Purdy, Cecil John Seddon (1906 - 1979),Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition
"C.J.S. Purdy" by Edward Winter
Cecil John Seddon Purdyplayer details atICCF

Preceded by none	World Correspondence Chess Champion 1950–1953	Succeeded by Viacheslav Ragozin

[1] The Times, 26 May 1906, p.1 - As Edward Winter has demonstrated in his article on Purdy, his year of birth was incorrectly given as 1907 in several issues of his magazineChess Worldand editions of hisGuide to Good Chess,as well as in chess reference books up to the time of his death. The (London) Times (Births announcements) of 26 May 1906, p.1 reports— "PURDY - On the 27th March, 1906, at Port Said, to Emily and J.S. Purdy M.D., F.R.G.S., Surg.-Capt. New Zealand Militia, a son (Cecil John Seddon)"

[2] John Smith Purdy,Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1988

[3] "C.J.S. Purdy" by Edward Winter

[4] Sarapu–Purdy Australasian Championship Match,chessgames.

[5] *Purdy, C.J.S. (1950).Guide to Good Chess.p. 71.

[6] "Member of the Order of Australia (AM) entry for Mr Cecil John Seddon PURDY".Australian Honours Database.Canberra, Australia:Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.26 January 1976.Retrieved21 April2019.AM (CIVIL DIVISION) AUST DAY 1976

[7] Sarapu, Ortvin (1978).Chess Championships: 25 years of New Zealand Chess Championships 1952-1977.O. Sarapu.

[8] Australian Dictionary of Biography - Purdy, Cecil John Seddon (1906–1979)

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