The New York herald., 1876-01-28
THE COMING CHESS CONGRESS
PAST TOURNAMENTS AND THE PROJECTED CEN
TEKNIAI, GATHRRINd.


TERNIAL GATHERING.
The proposition tor grand international Chess Con-
gress TO be held Philadelphia during the centennial
year occasioned from its nrst the
peasurable antcipauons TO all classes OF the chess
community Admirers and well-wishers 10 the game
in the United States and Europe manifested from tho
decided willingness to assist in promoting the
OF the undertaking and the hearty and jealous
response and warm support which have been accorded
the Philadelphia Chess Club and its friends, under
whose auspices the congress is contemplated appear to
render suitable organization the main thing necessary
10 carry the arrangements for securing gathering
Of unprecedented interest and importance the his
tory Of chess.
TOURNAMENTS
The experience Of past tournaments proves how
much depends the cordial cooperation OF all inter-
ested in welfare OF the game. The great exhibition
tournament held in London in 1851 undoubtedly
great success, but owing unfortunate differences
which between the leading clubs of London,
a want OF unanimity prevailed which TO certain ex
tent prevented the congress from attaining the impor
originally hoped for aud expected Notwth-
standing the drawbacks arising from these dssensons
and the fact that the raising Of the funds and conduct
Of the tournament remained In the hands OF one club
alone-the ST. Georges-the programme Of the COM
ittee brought together very satisfactory assemblage
Of chess admirers, together with major
ity OF the finest players in the world
There present the 26th OF May 1851, when tho
tourney commenced, szen the Hungarian, whose
chance OF gaining the FIRST prize considered equal
TO that OF any competitor the list Kiesentzky,
from Paris scarcely less renowned; Lowenthal or
Pesth but at the time Just arrived from America
sidered equally formidable; Andersen, from Breslau
Aayet and Horwitz, from other parts Of Germany
Jaenisch, from Russia, with staunton, Buckle, Boden
Bird Kennedy, Lowe and Williams. representative
English players The absence Of the celebrated scholar
and author, Won Hydebrand der LAza, and Mr.. Coch-
rane wer6 Subjects for regret but on the whole hc
attendance brilliant and viii long remembered
The committee appointed for arranging and conducting
the tournament composed OF the Duke Of MARI.
borough, Right Hon. Lord Cremorne, Lord Arthur
Hay, Hon. H. ]. LiddeI, Sir Charles Marshall,
C. r. Talbot, NJ p; NJ. wyvill, NJ P. B. Smith, NJ. p
j. Mines Gasken, NJ. P. A Fonblanque, the author;
H. Saunton the holder OF the English chess sceptre
Captain Kennedy; Il. I. Buckle the world-renowned
author Of The History of Civilzaton;" W. Lewis the
eminent author, the tntor of MacDonnel and the rival
of Deschappeles and H. G. Galley.
THE MONEY RECEIVED
The committee received in subscriptions about
So 0O0 or this 81 500 distributed in prizes,
the remainder being absorbed in expenses In this
connection it well to mention that much disappoint
ment at the delay of several months which took
place before of the book Of the tournament
and the committee of theforthcoming congress win
wen to shnn Tins error, for there can be doubt
that a guarantee Of prompt appearance Of
the games properly annotated, will add to the
popularity OF the tourney, attract many subscriptions
aud cor sequenty materially augment the funds the
disposal the committee. Revertlng 10 the
ment itself il commenced the 26th Of May 1851
and was continued daily until finished In all Isl
apa aved he he nd
the hrst prize of 81 900; Mr. Wyyll the
ond OF $3.50 while the six others gained in order
by Williams Stannton, Szen, Kennedy Horwitz and
Mucklow There also provincial tournament
the chief prize in which by Mr.. Boden, and
some matches arranged by the committee 1t was
unfortunate that some OF the finest players as Lowenha
and Keserzy placed hors du combat in the hrst
round, and much surprise was expressed at the easy
defeat OF MIR. Staunton by Herr Andersen Whether
the former at his best was ever the equal OF the
profound German tactician is matter OF opinion, but
generally conceded that at the time he played be-
low the strength that he had exhibited in his matches
with 81 Amant and HorwitZ Although the tourna-
ment Of 1851 may be said have possessed special
from being the first occasion when the idea of
bringing Of chess together from all parts OF tho
world FIRST entertained IL may be interesting and
THE FIRST AMERICAN coxGREsa !.
Although the Americans took part IN the London
tournament the proceedings there did fail to at
and interest in the United States
in 1857 an American Chess Congress convened in
New York, and the committee OF that gathering
alluded with satisfaction 10 the stimulus gwen
| chess by the tournament London.
and hoped that their effort would be equally successful
The congress became an accomplished fact and the
spirited gentlemen who naugurated and carried 1t out
TO most successful issue were amply rewarded, for
only the meeting replete with every
respect but IL will be remembered having
the means OF bringing to notice the most perfect
master of chess combination known Paul
Morphy who the first prize scoring five games 70
against Pausen, the gamer of the second prize In
the succeeding year S5o Morphy electrified the chess
world The marvellous precision Of his play vanQusn
Ing all competitors in America, England and France,
includng anderson the victor In London years
previously, and hitherto undeieated, who gained but
games against scored by the young American
The President OF the Committee OF Management
Hon A b. Meek, OF Alabama and among the promi-
nent men connected with II were Mr.. Albert K Gal
latin, Professor D. W. Fiske, Robert Z Dodge, Denis
Julien, s Helbuth Colonel Charles d. Mead, James
Thompson and others, of this city Professor Agnel Of
West Point Professors Allen and Vethake and Dr.
Lewis Of Philadelphia, and many other gentlemen Of
social and professional emnence from different
of the country
The next tournament of importance was that held in
England, in 1861 under the auspices Of the British
Chess Association Al this gathering Of chess noabi
Professor Andersen, of the Breslau University,
the first prize; Lewis Pausen the second and tho
others we're gained by Rev. Mr. owen Rev NE Macdon
ncl, Signor Dubois and Herr Steinltz in the order
named At the same meeting handicap tournament
was also played the brst prize In which was won BY
Captain G. H. Mckenzie, who, in the retirementt is
TO be hoped only temPorary-of Morphy, IS considered
the champion OF American chess
TOURNAMENT
Of 1867 comes next in order, and OF considerable
significance from the support extended to 1t by the Em
of combination disclosed by Kolisch which, in the
opinion OF good judges, place him on level with
ANDERSEN. The late monarch only encouraged the
congress- but presented valuable work OF the
chie prize The Committee OF Management consisted
Of Prince Murat Count de Casabianca, NJ Devinck
and NJ Lequesne The contest elected very
ine play, and resulted in NJ kolisch gaining
the trophy presented by the Emperor, valuable vase,
while winawere Stelnuz and Neumann won re-
Fpectively the second third and fourth prizes. At
the Problem Tournament Mr.. Samuel Lloyd, Of New
York, gained the second prize
BADKs BADEN TOURNAMENT.
Merely mentioning tho tournament held At Baden
Baden at which the hrst prize by ANDERSEN.
and The meeting al Dundee Scotland, where Neumann
and Stenitx carried on the honors, TO the
highly interesting aud important tournament held In
Vienna during the summer Of the year 1873.
AUSTRIAN GATHERING.
On the occasion OF the Inauguration OF the Austrian
Exposition Herr koisch proposed an International
chess Tournaments at Vienna, and he succeeded In
enlisting the sympathies OF the Emperor and a
memper OF the Rothschild family The Emporor suh