THE CALIFORNIA CHESS REPORTER (Vol. V, No. 5) January 1956

JOHN PURDY: The young Australian champion came to California last November on his way home after competing in the World's Junior Championship and in some British tournaments. The young man from Down Under, son of C.S. Purdy, Australian chess editor and world's correspondence chess champion, made an immediate hit with California and California made a hit with him.

Purdy's trip from New York, where he only appeared at chess clubs briefly, was punctuated by an overnight stay at the Chicago airport, where he found himself without funds - so he walked several miles to the home of Montgomery Major, whom he waked up at two A.M. in order to borrow ten dollars!

John then flew to Los Angeles, where he was the house guest of the late Herman Steiner. His first simultaneous was November 11 in Hollywood, where he won 10 of 16, losing to Kyle Forrest, Morris Gordon, Richard Sanford, George F. Goehler and David Elliott and drawing with Bruse Margolin. On November 13 he was the guest of the Lincoln Park Chess and Checker Club of Long Beach, where he took on 18 opponents, winning 12, losing to K. Reissmann, J. Read, J. Doan and J. Mitchell and drawing against A. Pachrik and J. Smith. On the following Tuesday, November 15, John was the guest of Dudley H. Hosea of San Diego, where he met 28 players, results not announced. (So by this time John had a few dollars in his pockets.)

John was the house guest of the editor of THE REPORTER in northern California, where he gave two exhibitions: on November 22 he clobbered seven members of the Golden Gate club with clocks, drawing one game with Casey Logwood; the next night he ran up against stiff opposition at the Mechanics' Institute, losing to Ed Fawcett, Gil Ramirez, Dave Peizer, Casey Logwood, Horst Bullwinkel, Karl Bopp, C. Brussell and Victor Bloomfield and drawing with Charles Svalberg, Kurt Bendit and Oliver Wreden, out of 17 players.

Purdy went home the next day a very tired but happy young man. He retained warm memories of his brief stay in the Golden State, and left Californians with friendly affection for this breezy youngster with his frank and engaging ways.