A potted biography.
Canadian champion in 1899, 1904, and 1906.
North West Champion in 1899, 1900, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906
Originally from Iceland, Magnus Smith has usually been thought of as a Winnipeg or Manitoba player because that’s where he lived at the time of his most notable successes, but as Stephen Wright indicated in a recent article in BCCF E-MAIL BULLETIN #346 he was also a resident of Vancouver for several years.
Myron Samsin (In from the Cold: The Life and Chess of Magnus Smith http://www.chesscafe.com/text/skittles322.pdf behind paywall)indicates that Magnus was born in Raudhamel. Iceland as Magnus Magnusson, in 1869. Immigrated to Manitoba in 1885. Moved to B.C in the fall of 1889.
Wright makes a strong case that Magnus improved dramatically from beginner to championship calibre during his time in British Columbia.
Moved back to Winnipeg in late August 1898.
In 1899, Harry Nelson Pillsbury came to Winnipeg to play a simultaneous exhibition, Magnus defeated him in fifty-six moves.
In 1907, Magnus defeated Emmanuel Lasker in a simultaneous exhibition iin Winnipeg. He later joined the staff of Lasker’s Chess Magazine in New York. He joined the Brooklyn Chess Club, and won the club’s championship in 1908. Also, in 1908 Smith, W.E. Napier, and Charles Nugent started a publication, The Chess Weekly. In January of 1911,National Masters Tournament in New York. He finished with 5
He switched to the Manhattan Club in 1912 and won its championship in 1912 and 1913.
He eventually moved to Titusville, PA. He passed away on September 12, 1934