Evening star., 1935-12-29
(Copyrisht. 1885. by the International
Chess News Service.)

(Copyrisht. 1885. by the International
Chess News ServiceJ
UT OF the mail bag comes
most interesting query.
the reply to which might
~ cause much controversy IN
chess circles the world over. A chess
fan has requested correct enumera-
ton of chess players who have held
the world title. which recently was
won by DR.. Max Euwe Of Amsterdam.
Digging deep into a treasure chest
of chess facts, I CLEAN some surpris-
ing items that I am going TO pass on
to the chessists for what they are
worth.
The game of chess antedates the
birth of Christ by mere 1000 years,
according to Egyptian archeologists.
OF course, there were champs in the
days of the pharoahs, but when the
vast Library of Alexandra was de-
stroyed, along went the chess records
and no writer has revived them TO
my knowledge.
Rome had everything, even chess.
I suppose Nero played chess when ne
was weary of his fiddling At least
the famous archeologist. Atol Boeth-
ius, once wrote me a letter in Latin,
describing that in certain parts OF
the Eternal City chess players en-
joyed the privilege Of suffrage merely
because they were chess players. Just
imagine asking a Dixie darky to per-
form the Evans gambit before he
cast his vote for Hoover. Yes. sir. In
the good old days. Horatius. the gal
lant knight OF the bridge, no doubt
walked up to the Roman polls and
cast his shell after he produced his
tax receipt showing he was a chess
player in good standing.
Many De Facto Champs.
IN THE dark ages when the Roman
civilization did a fade-out, chess
champions were SO numerous that
every country claimed the grand
champion, and it was customary for
the leading players Of one nation to
travel here and there, contesting for
local honors.
To this era we attribute some odd
and amusing games, but most Of the
bouts read like fiction. Dame Rumor
afirms the oft-repeated tale that q
Pope, jealous Of the chess skill Of a
fellow priest, condemned the un-
fortunate man to prison until he
convinced the Pope he was the better
player by consistently losing games
to his highness, as they played in the
cell of the shrewd monk.
Charlemagne was chess player.
Napoleon never would admit defeat
on the chess board. Invariably he
would sweep the men from the board
when he saw the tide of victory obey
ing the commands Of his opponent.
But the real champions of the
Middle Ages were the Spanish Bishop
Ruy Lopez de Segura, Andre D. Phili-
dor, De Labourdonnais. Saint Amant;
and during the middle Of the nine
teenth century host OF national
chess champions came into promin-
ence. However, there is no record of
an official world title. They were
champions de facto, champions in fact,
but not in right-de jure. as the
lawyers say.
Howard Staunton claimed the world
title when the North and South were
trying to decide the slavery question.
The English Staunton never consented
to engage with young Paul Morphy,
the American champion, who defeated
all the great chess masters of Europe
before he was 81 years old. Young
Morphy claimed the world title, and
his many friends supported his right
full claim.
Prof. Adolph ANDERSEN, q German,
was defeated by Morphy, but when
the latter returned to the United
States and renounced chess for the
pursuit and practice of law, the Ger
man professor entered the lists and
was declared unbeatable until VIII
helm Steinitz trounced him In several
notable contests.