LIST OF NEW JERSEY CHAMPIONS FROM THE 19TH CENTURY TO WORLD WAR II
BY PETE TAMBURRO
1886
First meeting of the New Jersey Chess Association, February 23rd. Edward Casper Stokes, of Millville, later governor of NJ, was NJ’s first official chess champion.
1887
Edward Casper Stokes, Millville
1888
R.B. Keyes, Plainfield
1889
C. L. Murphy
1890
R.B. Keyes of Plainfield and N. Hymes of Newark were co-champions. May have been playoff with Keyes winning.
1891
Either S.L. Lissner or A. Vorath…still working on this, Probably Vorath.
1892
S. Lissner, Hoboken
1893
N. Hymes, Newark
1894
L. Sternberg, Newark
1895
A. Vorath and C. Hymes (playoff, result unknown) or H. Stapfer (conflicting reports)
1896
L. Sternberg, Newark
1897
Dr. B. Herstein of Elizabeth (played in Bayonne, 64 players)
1898
B. Herstein, H. Stapfer
1899
H. E. Higgins
1900
First meeting of the New Jersey Chess Association, February 23rd. Edward Casper Stokes, of Millville, later governor of NJ, was NJ’s first official chess champion.
1901
Dr. Herstein
1902
Dr. B. Herstein
1903
George J. Benner
1905
Dr. B. Herstein
1906
E.M. Roche or Jean Gunzelman (conflicting reports)
1907
Gustav Koehler, E.N. Olly
1908
E.N. Olly
1909
G. H. Koehler
1910
Driscoll
1911
Unknown
1912
J.H. Stapfer of Hoboken and D.W. Field of Hackensack
1913
T.F. Hattfield of Hoboken and C. H. Armstrong of East Orange
1914
F. Sager defeated C.E. Armstrong 2-1 in Newark
1915
E.E. Cobb of Paterson
1916
M.W. Schor of Newark
1917
Otto G. Horster
1918
W. Rissmiller of Paterson, 8.5-1.5 (an unusual number of games, generally less played)
1919
M.W. Shor
1920
Unknown
1921
J.W. Brunnemer
1922
J.W. Brunnemer
1923
J.W. Brunnemer and C.H. Armstrong (playoff result unknown, but mentioned)
1924
J.W. Brunnemer and Jack Cohen (playoff result unknown, but mentioned)
1925 - 1933
J.W. Brunnemer (or Brunnemar in some citations.) This era is a mystery; however, Brunnemer was clearly the best player of this time. Still looking for information here. The next bit of news was from the 1935 World Almanac. See next entry.
1934
Bill Ruth of Camden defeated Harold Pump of East Orange, 4-1.
1935
Unknown
1936
Unknown
1937
Unknown
1938
Harold Burdge (South Jersey champ) defeated Edgar McCormick (North Jersey Champ) 3.5-0.5
1939
Harold Burdge (inconclusive as 1939 match went into 1940!)
1940
J. DuBois was leading J.D. Neuss 2.5-1.5, no further knowledge.