The North Central Open was at one time the tournament championship for Region VI of the USCF. It has since become linked with the name of IM William Martz, and known by the name of the William Martz Memorial North Central Open, and now simply the Martz Memorial. When it was the Region VI championship, it travelled around Region VI from state to state, after that it settled down to a long run in Milwaukee. Now it is moved around the state by the Wisconsin Chess Association as one of the largest travelling tournaments in the WCA.

Master Greg DeFotis won the 1970 North Central Open with an unbeaten score of 6.5 points (out of 7). DeFotis won on tiebreaks over Dr. Orest Popovych, who also finished with 6.5. DeFotis led all the way, only getting nicked for a draw in the final round by Andrew Karklins.

Minnesota Master Curt Brasket took the 1959 edition of the North Central Open with an unbeaten score of 6.5 points. Hans Berliner was right behind Brasket for most of the way, but the draw in their last round encounter sealed the tournament for Brasket.

Berliner had also gone undefeated, giving up the last round draw to Brasket and another draw in the fourth round to Kirby. Young Martin Harrow from Indiana put together another stellar performance to go with his finish in the Western Open earlier in 1959, scoring 6 points and going undefeated, yielding only a couple of draws, to O'Keefe in the fourth round and Kirby in the sixth.

Once again in the Venetian Room of the Hotel Astor; it was the fifth time the tournament had been held here. This time it was won outright by Benko, who was having a very good year this year.

This tournament was held over the Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 29 to Dec 1. Former French champion Stephen Popel, living in Detroit, tied with former US Junior champion Charles Kalme of Philadelphia for the lead (Popel winning on tiebreak) with Donald Byrne, Lajos Szedlacsek, and Curt Brasket finishing up just a half point back. Bobby Fischer played, and failed to win, finishing in 6^th place. In a couple months time Fischer was to win the US Championship; in fact, this was the last US tournament Fischer played in that he failed to win.

In 1931, a match was played for the State Championship between the defending champion, Harold Knutson, and challenger Robert Reel. The match was ten games long, best score wins, with a 5-5 draw going to the defending champion. Knutson won the match, 5½-3½.

LAPHAM PARK, MILWAUKEE WI, FEB 10-11, 1934: Two firsts happened in the state championship this year.

For the first time there was an entry from LaCrosse, joining eight other players (including four recognized masters) to battle for the title of State Champion. And for the first time the Ernest Reel Trophy left Milwaukee at the end of the event.