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Biography
Spencer Crakanthorp, (17 February 1885 in Sydney, Australia – 1 August 1936) was a chess player and Australian Chess Champion in 1923−24, 1925−26, 1926 and 1927. He was the father-in-law of chess master Cecil Purdy who married Anna Purdy (née Crakanthorp). Anna was a strong A Grade chess player in her own right. He was also grandfather to another chess master, Cecil's son John Purdy. Furthermore, Crakanthrop's granddaughter Anna Hutchings (née Purdy) married Frank Huntchings - winner of the 1953 New Zealand junior chess championship while his father (Lawrence Crakanthorp) (1857-1929) was ranked world no 188 in the 1902 historical world rating list. Therefore, the Crakanthorp-Purdy family can be recognized as one of the greatest chess dynasties ever.