The Camaratta Signature Series Luxury Chessmen

Learned to play chess at age 16. First rating, 6 months later, 1825. OTB Master. Abandoned serious OTB play around 1972 due to family and professional pressures. Took up Correspondence chess in 1972. Played in three USCF Absolute Championships (1977, 1978, 1979) and Golden Knights with some success. In the 1977 Absolute, placed 2nd; 1978 Absolute, took 1st place; 1979 Absolute, placed 2nd. Successfully represented the US on the Correspondence Olympic team, played first Board. Correspondence Chess Master. Achieved the ICCF International Master Title. Taught chess in grade schools and adult evening schools. Gave numerous exhibitions in High Schools, prisons and convalescent homes. Formed several chess clubs, most successful was, The Shoreline Chess Club of Madison, CT, in 1980, which is still active. He was active in USCF at the Committee level in the 1980s (Formed the Computer Rating Agency and wrote the procedures, started and wrote the original guidelines for induction to the Hall of Fame. Frank was elected to the Policy Board of the United States Chess Federation as Vice President in 1990, as Treasurer in 1993 and to the Executive board as VP of Finance in 2001. He has also chaired the Correspondence Chess, Ratings, Finance and Life Members Asset committees and is an active chess player. He holds the title of Correspondence Chess International Master (IM) and has a current USCF Rating of 2320. Frank is the founder of the House of Staunton and is widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the Staunton Pattern Chessmen, and developed the Codex for the Jaques of London Chessmen. DeluxeChessSets.com

Jose Raul Capablanca, Biography

Jose Raul Capablanca, of Cuba, was the 3rd World Chess Champion. He was considered to be a true Chess genius, a natural player that spent very little time preparing for his tournament appearances. Throughout his entire Chess career, he suffered fewer than 50 losses. In 1920, reigning World Champion Lasker resigned his title to Capablanca, saying "You have earned the title not by the formality of a challenge, but by your brilliant mastery." Capablanca refused to accept the title, demanding a match with the World Champion so that he could earn the title through victory over the Chessboard. In 1921, Capablanca had his opportunity at Havana 1921 and soundly defeated Lasker 9.0: 5.0, having won 4 games and drew 5. The feat of winning the world title without losing a game to the incumbent was truly remarkable, one that went unequalled for nearly 80 years.
In 1927, Capablanca faced his main rival Alexander Alekhine for the World Championship title in Buenos Aires, Argentina, whom he had soundly defeated earlier that same year at the New York 1927 Tournament. The match lasted 34 games, with Alekhine emerging victorious after having exhibiting great skill and patience. Years later, Alekhine was asked how he was able to defeat the heavily favored Capablanca. A man of no intellectual modesty, he nevertheless responded, "Even now I cannot explain that."
On March 7, 1942, he was happily kibitzing a skittles game at the Manhattan Chess Club in New York when he collapsed from a stroke. He was taken to Mount Sinai hospital, where he died the next morning. Remarkably, the Cuban's former rival, Emanuel Lasker, had died in that very hospital only a year earlier. DeluxeChessSets.com