Samuel Gonotsky, born: 1902, died: 4/5/1929, Age: 27 - Brooklyn, New York

Samuel Gonotsky was born in the Russian Empire "Poland" in 1902 (month and day unknown), emigrated to the United States, 1906; died in Hurley Hospital, Flint Michigan on April 5, 1929, from Pleural Tuberculosis. Sam was a leading American checkers, or English draughts, player in the Two-Move Era (1863–1929). He was an important figure in the then famous Brooklyn Checker Club in the mid 1920s along with Louis Ginsburg and became the American Champion in 1924 when he defeated Alfred "Alf" Jordan in the National Tournament.  He also matched himself against a supposed automaton machine, Ajeeb, owned by Hattie Elmore which he later directed in matches.  He is considered to be possibly the best "crossboard player" and the best US player of the 1920s. Sam was the  Hotel Alamac, New York City, February 28 - March 10, 1927. Samuel Gonotsky died 26 days after the tournament. Sam Gonotsky - Wikipedia  |  Sam Gonotsky (1902-1929) - Find a Grave Memorial  |  Lawrence Journal-World, May 14, 1924 Lawrence Journal-World - Google News Archive Search

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