Nicolai Jasnogrodsky

Who was Nicolai Jasnogrodsky?

Nicolai Jasnogrodsky was a Russian–born American chess master.

Jasnogrodsky started to play competitive chess around 1885 in Vienna, and moved to England in the 1880s. He tied for 4-5th at Amsterdam 1889, and in 1890 earned the title of chess master at Amsterdam.

Jasnogrodsky became part of the chess fraternity of the Simpson's-in-the-Strand by 1891 and made a name for himself as a skilled simultaneous and blindfold player. In London tournaments he took 10th and tied for 4-5th in 1891, and took 8th in 1892. He drew a match with Bird at London 1893.

In the summer of 1893 Jasnogrodsky came to the United States, attracted by the announcements of the Columbian Chess Congress. He arrived in New York on an Arizona steamship on August 11. The Congress was not held due to the lack of sufficient funds, but Jasnogrodsky, like other masters, remained in the New World. He participated in the Impromptu International Tournament where he finished 12th.

He won the New York State Championship in late 1896, and also tied for 10-11th at New York 1894, lost a match to Eugene Delmar at New York 1895, won against Manuel Marquez Sterling in 1895, lost to David Graham Baird in 1895, and drew a match with Frank James Marshall at New York 1898.