Evening star., 1934-02-19
ME Chess Review for November
December, 1893, contains an
article entitled Historical
SjdeliQI1tS of American Cham

pions." written by I. Kashdan,
the editor. who has challenged Frank
j. Marshall, present holder. to play a
match for the United States cham
pionship. The article contains state
ments. the accuracy of which we
question.
In the first place, he states that
Paul Morphy never was the Amer
ican chess champion-merely because
there was no such title at the time"
Then he follows it with the assertion:
"As nearly as we can determine by
poring through the records, the first
recognized American chess champion
was Solomon Lipschutz. by virtue Of
his victory in the sixth American
chess congress in 1889"
He seems to have got his data from
Walter Penn Shipley. Philadelphia
chess editor.
think he Is incorrect in both as
sertions, which I shall try to demon
strate. My personal knowledge goes
back TO the second American chess
congress of 1871. I was living in
Cleveland when the congress was held
there, and met Capt. Mackenzie, the
champion, in simultaneous play at
that time.
THE FIRST American chess con-
i greSs Is fully reported In DAN
iel Willard Fiske's printed re-
port, and the first five congresses are
reported at length in Charles A. Gill
berg's Book of the Fifth American
Chess Congress-
On April II. 1857, the, committee
In charge Of the first congress issued
a circular in which 1t was stated
with reference to tho congress. The
actual relative rank Of our foremost
practitioners, at present . matter Of
frequent dispute, would be deter
mined by an unimpeachable critic
rion."
Invitations were addressed to ati
the prominent players in the land
and as a result 16 entered the grand
tournament including Morphy from
New Orleans, Paulsen from Iowa and
local champions from Minnesota
and Connecticut, seven from New
York City, where the congress was
held; Chicago. Brooklyn, Alabama,
Philadelphia and Louisville. The list
included Congressman and future
United States Senator. There were
also 16 players entered In q minor
tournament. These were elimination
tournaments and the final struggle
In the grand tournament was be-
tween Morphy and Paulsen, Morphy
winning first place.
II EFORE leaving New York City for
n home, Morphy offered 10 play
match with members OF the
New York City Chess Club, where the
tournament was held, and concede
each Of them pawn and move for
500. Charles Henry Stanley. who
played in the grand tournament,
played Morphy Q match of seven
games up at the odds mentioned and,
with the score standing Morphy 4,
Stanley 0, drawn /, resigned.
In January. 1858. Morphy issued
0 challenge to the chess amateurs
and professionals Of America, offering
the odds Of pawn and move. This
challenge was not accepted.
The London tournament Of 1851
was intended to settle the champion
ship Of the world, q title held by
Howard Staunton because Of his pre-
vious defeat of st. Amant. Staun-
ton finished in fourth place in that
tournament and was defeated in the
personal encounter by Prof. Ander-
son, the first prize winner, yet Nor
ply, in 1858, issued q challenge to
Staunton and designated him rs the
acknowledged European champion.
I think the foregoing sufficient to
show Morphy's standing as champion.
No one In this country would play
him Q match He was q man Of ex-
treme modesty and courtesy.
l"H second congress was held IN
Cleveland and was intended TO
afford an opportunity Of test
ing the comparative merit Of players
and problem composers from different
parts Of the country" First place
was won by Capt. George H. Mac
kenzie Of New York, as was also the
first place in the third and fifth con-
crosses.
In the report Of the fifth congress,
while describing the second round,
the book Yesen % 0apt NAeknne =