The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-05 00:00:00

INTERNATIONAL CHESS CONGRESS.

Yesterday, the fifth day of these public perform-
ances at St. James's-hall was one of the most inte-
resting of the series. Great curiosity and sympatby
were excited among our own countrymen towards
Mr. Blackburne, who had undertaken a similar task
to that which Herr Paulsen performed on Wednes-
day so successfully, namely, playing blindfolded
against ten different players simultaneously. Mr.
Blackburne is quite a young man, who, until a
comparatively recent date, was altogether nn-
acquainted with chess. He has obtained already
a considerable reputation, especially at Manchester,
where he last year played a similar blindfold match
most successfully, and he is likely to prove himself
competent, ere long, to raise the character of Bri-
tish chess-players among our continental neigh-
bours. He is not yet fully able to hold his own
against their veteran professionals, as is proved by
his play in the grand tournament now daily pro-
ceeding, and in which he has not only lost to
Anderssen, who has conquered in almost every in-
stance, but he has also been beaten by Mr. Deacon,
Mr. Hannah, Rev. Mr. M'Donnel, and Mr. Robey.
But as if in some slight way to compensate him for
this ill-success fickle Dame Fortune smiled upon
his efforts in his game with the Rev. J. Owen (the
only gentleman who in this contest has as yet
triumphed over Anderssen), whom he vanquished
rather easily, as also Herr Steinitz, one of the most
accomplished players of the time. Mr. Blackburne's
blindfold match yesterday was against the ten fol-
lowing gentlemen :

1. Lord Ravensworth.
2. H. T. Young, Esq.
3. W. J. Evelyn, Esq.
4. A. S. Pigott, Esq.
5. H. B. Parminter, Esq.
6. Walter Chinnery, Esq.
7. J. F. Gillam, Esq.
8. Rimington Wilson, Esq.
9. A. G. Howard, Esq.
10. A. G. Puller, Esq.

The match commenced at a quarter•past one, and
was carried on with untiring energy, under the
observation of a large number of persons who were
assembled to note its progress. Abcut seven o'clock
Mr. Pigott, against whom Mr. Blackburne had
played the king's gambit, resigned, after a clever
struggle. Half an hour afterwards Mr. Young, who
had adopted Phillidor's defence, was allowed to draw,
as was also subsequently Lord Ravensworth, against
whom Mr. Blackburne had tried the Sicilian open-
ing. About half-past nine Mr. Evelyn resigned,
and the match was c3ntinued for some time after
without decisive results. Eventually Mr. R. Wilson's
game was withdrawn. Mr. Parminter and Mr. Gil-
lam won. Mr. A. G. Howard and Mr. Puller resigned.
These are results which, coupled with the man-
ner in which they were brought about, will do much
to establish Mr. Blackburne's reputation as the most
promising of young English chess players.

It should be mentioned that Mr. Blackburne is
infinitely more expeditious in his blindfold play
than Herr Paulsen, and that he exhibited much
acuteness in some of his calculations. For instance,
in one game the moves had not been made upon the
board as they should have been, but the mistake was
not discovered until a move was notified to Mr.
Blackburne which did not correspond with his cal-
culations, and he immediately said it was impossible,
for that the piece named was not upon the square
mentioned. Upon reference to the written score he
was shown to be right, and the error was corrected.
The Grand Tournament was advanced by three
games, each of more than ordinary interest. Mr.
Barnes lost to Mr. Paulsen, Signor Dubois lost to
Herr Anderssen, and the Rev. Mr. Owen played an
extremely fine game with Mr. M'Donnel. Of
these games that between Anderssen and Dubois
was, however, the most brilliant, indeed it may be
considered one of the gems of the Congress. Herr
Anderasen had the move, and played the bishop's
gambit, which Signor Dubois defended irregularly.
Anderasen played with great spirit, and a boldness
that apparently almost amounted to temerity,
but by a splendid dash he succeeded about the
15th move in capturing a bishop. The game through-
, out was of the character best described by the word
"slashing," and was watched with great interest by
a crowd of distinguished amateurs. It lasted little
more than an hour, Signor Dubois, finding his po-
sition quite hopeless, resigning at the 25th move.

The match between Mr. Barnes and Mr. Paulsen
was a good specimen of a steady game. Mr. Barnes
had the move, opening with king's bishop's pawn
two—an irregular and defensive opening, but con-
sistent with the favourite theory of this skilful ama-
teur, that the defence of chess is stronger than the
attack. The attack lasted upwards of four hours,
but Paulsen having gained a pawn ultimately com-
pelled his antagonist to succumb.
The game between the Rev, Mr. Owen and the
Rev. Mr. M'Donnel was one that will long be re-
membered in chess circles. Both gentlemen brought

to the contest reputation and skill of the highest
order, both were Englishmen, and both were in
such a position at the tournament that a defeat
would seriously affect their chances of a prize. The
game commenced at 2 o'clock. Mr. Owen had the
move, and opened with his favourite Sicilian open-
ing, playing pawn to Q.B. 4. Mr. M'Donnell also
adopted a close game, playing pawn to K.B. 4.
Each player knowing the other's strength, and re-
membering how much depended on the contest, ad-
vanced to the battle with great wariness and pru-
dence. Indeed for some time the game was cautious
almost to heaviness, the advantage being slightly on
the side of Mr. Owen, M'Donnel's left flank being
rather weakened and exposed, whilst Mr. 0 wen'e
base of operations was preserved intact. At length
M'Donnel began to feel his strength, and made a
bold charge with his advanced gnat d of pawns,well
covered by his queen in reserve and by a distant bnt
skirmishing bishop. The charge was successful in
materially strengthening M'Donnel's position, and
enabled him to perform a beautiful manoeuvre, by
which, through the sacrifice of a knight, he gained
an advantageous exchange. From this moment he
held the victory in his hands,hut it was not until the
54th move that Mr. Owen, who never resigns whilst
there is even a shadow of a hope, was so far over-
powered that he could no longer maintain the fight.
The battle occupied seven hours, the time being
chiefly taken up by Mr Owen, who consumed
nearly an hour to one move. The announcement
of .M‘Donnel's victory was received with
some ap-
plause. Anderssen lost
In the handicap tournament Herr
a game to Mr. Lamb, giving that gentleman a
knight.
To-day (Saturday) the great match by telegraph
between Paris and
London will take place in St.
James's Hall.
_______