Comins Mansfield

Although he dealt almost exclusively with his speciality, the two-mover, Comins Mansfield (14.6.1896-28.3.1984) became one of the most important all-time problemists. He came into contact with chess problems at an early age, spent his pocket money to obtain the issues of the British Chess Magazine and came across the Classification of Two-Movers by A. C. White, published in a series of articles in 1910, which captivated him. He published his first composition in 1911 and within two years had already won several first prizes in major tournaments and was already regarded as one of the "greats" - a position he was to hold for almost 70 years. In addition to the contacts he soon made with A. C. White, his friendship with Guy Chandler, who was a few years his senior, had a formative influence on Mansfield's development. 

After leaving school, Mansfield got a job in a tobacco company in 1914, which he remained with until his retirement, interrupted only by a war deployment from 1915 until he was wounded in May 1918, when he became temporarily blind after a poison gas attack and had to spend a year in a clinic to restore his health. His further career cannot be discussed here for reasons of space, but one honour should be mentioned: in 1976 he was made a "Member of the British Empire", an award roughly equivalent to the German Federal Cross of Merit. Did he receive it as an artist/problem composer, or for his work as a functionary? The official explanation was reserved and read: "For services to chess." It remains to be said with admiration that Mansfield proved to be an original and innovative composer over the decades. 

Wikipedia wrote: Comins Mansfield (* 14 June 1896 in Witheridge (North Devon); † 28 March 1984 in Paignton) was an English chess composer.

Chess composition
Mansfield learnt to play chess at the age of nine from his father, who was an active national correspondence chess player. Mansfield published his first tasks at the age of 15. Over the course of 65 years, he composed around 980 two-move pieces. He won more than 100 first prizes. His main merit lay in his contribution to the development of the classical two-mover in the 20th century.

In 1972 he became Grand Master of Chess Composition, one of the first four composers to be awarded this title by FIDE. He was the first British grandmaster ever.

His compositions are characterised by original ideas, strict economy, clarity and expressiveness of thought. A two-move theme bears his name:

A white battery is controlled by two black pieces. If one of them captures itself, the battery can mate by eliminating the other.

The functionary
From 1949 to 1951 Mansfield was President of the British Chess Problem Society (BCPS), from 1963 to 1971 President of the Standing Commission for Chess Composition at FIDE (PCCC).

Private life
His unusual first name, Comins, is a tribute to the good work of two sisters, Miss. Comins, who brought up his father, and goes back to his mother's decision not to use long names.

Comins Mansfield had three children.

Literatur
Alain Campbell White: Ein Genie der Zweibeiner. C. Mansfield. 1936
Comins Mansfield: Abenteuer in der Komposition. 1942
Brian Harley: Das moderne zweizügige Schachproblem. London 1958
Barry Peter Barnes: Comins Mansfield, Schach-Problem eines Großmeisters. British Chess Problem Society, 1976, ISBN 0-905479-00-9