Alexander Kevitz

Alexander Kevitz (September 1, 1902 – October 24, 1981) was an American chess master. Kevitz also played correspondence chess, and was a creative chess analyst and theoretician. He was a pharmacist by profession.

Early life Kevitz was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Cornell University in 1923. He later earned degrees in law and pharmacy from Brooklyn College of Pharmacy. His professional career was that of a pharmacist.

Major chess results Kevitz defeated world champion José Raúl Capablanca in a simultaneous display at New York City 1924, and defeated former world champion Emanuel Lasker in a 1928 simultaneous, also in New York. He won the Manhattan Chess Club Championship six times: in 1929, 1936, 1946, 1955, 1974, and 1977 (according to other sources: in 1929, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1946, 1947, and 1955, and also in 1927, 1932, 1934, 1955, 1975, and 1977). From the 1920s through the 1950s, the top section of Manhattan C.C. Championship was usually at the level of a strong International tournament. Kevitz also represented the Manhattan Club in the "Metropolitan Chess League".

Kevitz made his international debut at Bradley Beach 1929, with 4/9 for 8th place; world champion Alexander Alekhine won. Kevitz scored 7/11 at New York City 1931 for 3rd place, as José Raúl Capablanca won. In the 16th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1932, Kevitz scored 9/13 for 2nd place, behind Reuben Fine. In the 17th Marshall Chess Club Championship 1933-34, Kevitz scored 8/11, tied 2nd-3rd, again behind Fine. In the United States Chess Championship, New York 1936, Kevitz scored 7.5/15 for 8th place, as Samuel Reshevsky won. In the team match, USA vs USSR at Moscow 1946, Kevitz made the best American result with 1.5/2 against Igor Bondarevsky.

On the first official United States Chess Federation rating list, July 31, 1950, Kevitz ranked third at 2610, behind only Reuben Fine and Samuel Reshevsky.

In his later years, Kevitz was active in correspondence chess, often playing under the pseudonym 'Palmer Phar' (he worked at Palmer Pharmacy).

Theoretical contributions

Kevitz was respected by his chess rivals as an original player, thinker, and analyst. He was active in tournament play until age 78 in 1980, the year before his death.