Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-25
MASTERS OF CHESS.
Men OF Brains Who VIII Probably Play
in the Manchester Tournament.

From the New York Sun. August %.
Chess masters of all nations will meet to-
morrow in Manchester. England, in order to
settle the championship of the world as far as
tournament play is concerned. The fact
that since 1883 these contests have taken place
almost annually shows that there must have
been great increase in the popularity of the
royal game. While lot has been written
about the merits of the men of brain who do
battle over the checkered board. while the
styles of these respective masters have been
repeatedly referred to in the press, and while
one or the other has been proclaimed as the
champion OF the world very little is known
about them privately and individually. Who
are these men? Are they exclusively devoted
to chess? Is chess profession? What are they
in private life? and 80 on. All these questions
occasionally occur to the outsider. An at
tempt will be made to satisfy the curiosity
of those not initiated in the mysteries of chess
men.
The foremost of all chess players and one who
has enjoyed during career of twenty-five
years reputation of being the greatest living
expert is undoubtedly Mr.. William Steinitz 1t
is not generally known that this master played
his first match against the famous German mas
ter Andersen, just twenty-five years ago, and
since then he has beaten all corners in matches
This gentleman IS a player and writer by pro-
analyst he has no equal. while his works OH
chess are being purchased by chess players all
over the world. He is an Austrian by birth.
and his mother language therefore is German
His books and magazines are, however, all
written in English.
Mr.. Gunsberg is also a professional PLAYER
and chess journalist As mere boy he was
exhibited as a chess wonder i'll Paris and Lon
don. When a man he devoted himself almost
exclusively to chess, but he made his debut as
tsafa lAnt -
and Defense League" in London Since he
achieved several victories by winning inter-
national tournaments he has become player
and writer on chess only.
Capt Mackenzie was an officer in the English
volunteer force and also In the American army.
or late years he entered the arena of profess
sonal chess players. Max Judd is dry goods
merchant, Z. Delmar notary, Lipschutz a
compositor, Maj. Hanham a retired officer of
the United States army and the other American
masters of the first rank are all amateurs.
The Spanish school, which, strange to say
has its strongest representatives in Havana is
free Of professionalism. Golmayo is a Judge,
Vasduez is the Mexican consul resident in the
Cuban capital, Ponce is a rich merchant Ka-
verjal is the inspector of the excise Office in
Havana and Moliiner, the life and soul of the
Havana Club, is a planter.
Taubenhaus. Rosenthal and Goetz are the
principal professional players in Paris, while
De Ia Riviere poses as the most renowned
french amateur.
The German school is a mixed composition.
Harmonist is a ballet master at the ROYAL
Opera House in Berlin, Schallopp is the super
intendcnt Of the stenOgraphers in the German
rechstag, Laisker Is a student of mathematics
| at the university in Berlin, Dr. Tarrasch. n
well-known physician in Munich; Hydebrandt
Van der Lasa, the greatest living theorist of the
game and author Of the famous hand book. was
formerly Prussian ambassador at the Danish
court; the Paulsens are landed proprietors. and
Won Bardelebeu is the son of well-to- do noble
man.
England has the greatest number OF pro-
fessionals and also the greatest number of dis
tnguished amateurs Besides Gunsberg there
are the veterans, Bird and Blackburne. The
former was one Of the best known accountants
in London, but there is not anything certain
about Blackburne as to whether or not he ever
followed any calhng but chess Mortimer is
dramatic author and former editor of the Lon
don Figaro. Lee was stock broker on the
London exchange. Mason had also some con-
nection with the Property and Defence
League" while Hoffer, the secretary of the
British Chess Association, is a chess writer by
profession. Among the English amateurs are
George Newnes, MI the Revs. Owen. Rankeu.
Skipw orth, Thorold and a host Of other we'll,
known players who follow various callings and
who look upon the game Of chess as q noble
pastime only.