David Isaacson in 1960

David Isaacson competed twice in the Durban championships, becoming the joint winner both in 1963 and in 1964. At the time he was one of South Africa's best players, having been selected for the South African chess Olympiad team in 1958 and in 1964. In the 1963 event, which was an unusual double round-robin, he beat co-winner Gerald Boulle twice, but a late loss to John Blackburn saw them tie on 8/10. I'm not sure why a playoff was not held between Boulle and Isaacson in 1963. Much the same happened in 1964, when he slipped up vs back-marker Stanley Brooks, this time resulting in a triple tie on 5½/7. This was the first time a triple tie occurred in the club's championship (the second such tie occurred in 2008). No playoff was held as Isaacson left for overseas in August, before playing in the Tel Aviv Olympiad in November 1964.

Isaacson was originally from Western Province, and twice won the Western Province Junior championships. He qualified as a doctor at the University of Cape Town, and was a regular contestant in the Cape Town championship. He also played in the South African championships on a number of occasions.