And he was... on a 64 squared board!

From page 101 of the March issue of the 1855 'Wiener Schachzeitung'

Yeah, right, a man, that died the same year, that principle of free piston engines was patented - 10 years before an engine build after this principle was shown at a Paris fair in 1867 - and 27 years before the first selfpropelled petrol bicycle was even designed in 1884 - writes about proper motorcycle maintenance?

<
Die stärksten Schachspieler in Pesth sind gegenwärtig, den Grossmeister unseres Spieles natürlich inbegriffen, nach alphabetischer Ordnung die Herren: Erkel, Hirschbaum, Innocent, Kapdebo, Professor Recsy, Rosenthal, Strauss und Hauptmann Tanarky. >

<
The strongest chess player in Pesth are present, the grandmaster of our game, of course, included, according to alphabetical order of the gentlemen: Erkel, Deer Tree, Innocent, Kapdebo, Professor Recsy, Rosenthal, Strauss and captain Tanarky. >

This must be a google translation issue. But I read the GM label as applying to all the named players. Which would make it fairly generously applied(?).

* * * * *

Here's the full passage:

<Aus Pesth erhalten wir die betrübende Mittheilung, dass dort eine bedauerliche Lauheit an die Stelle des einst regen Schacheifers getreten sei, dass überhaupt wenig gespielt, und die Zeit, in welcher «las einst hochberühmte ungarische Triumvirat sein siegreiches Banner entfaltete, längst als der Mythe angehörig betrachtet werde. Herr Szen sei übrigens noch immer thätig, und führe — nicht als primus tnter pares — sondern als unbesiegter Held das Schachscepter. Wenn wir auch annehmen wollen, dass dieses Bild mit zu trüben Farben gemalt ist (und wir können es aus eigener Erfahrung bestätigen, dass Pesth sich auch heute noch bedeutender Schachkräfte zu erfreuen hat), so müssen wir es doch jedenfalls beklagen, dass Niemand sich dort, wie uns brieflich gemeldet wird, die Mühe nimmt, die interessanteren Partieen zu notiren. Es gibt deren gewiss, wie es uns überhaupt scheinen will, dass die Schachzustände der benachbarten Metropole nicht im Allgemeinen, sondern eben nur mit Itücksicht auf die frühere Glanzperiode sich verschlimmert haben. Die stärksten Schachspieler in Pesth sind gegenwärtig, den Grossmeister unseres Spieles natürlich inbegriffen, nach alphabetischer Ordnung die Herren: Erkel, Hirschmann, Innocent, Kapdebo, Professor Recsy, Rosenthal, Strauss und Hauptmann Tanarky.>

<From Pesth we get the distressing communication of that there is a deplorable lukewarmness had taken the place of the formerly bustling Chess zeal that ever played little, and the time in which "las once highly famous Hungarian triumvirate his victorious banner unfurled, long as the myth belonging would be considered. Mr. Scenes is incidentally still active, and lead - not as primus tnter pares - but as the undefeated hero Schachscepter. If we shall suppose that this image is painted with too gloomy colors (and we can confirm it from their own experience that Pesth has to enjoy even more important chess forces even today), so we need it but in any case complain that no one there is , as reported to us by letter, taking the trouble to notiren the more interesting Partieen. There are the certain, as it seems to us ever wants the chess states of the neighboring metropolis have worsened not in general, but just with Itücksicht to the earlier golden age itself. The strongest chess player in Pesth are present, the grandmaster of our game, of course, included, according to alphabetical order of the gentlemen: Erkel, Hirschmann, Innocent, Kapdebo, Professor Recsy, Rosenthal, Strauss and captain Tanarky>

Clearly the google version needs improvement.

Here's the original WSZ:

(White to move, game is draw)

click for larger view

8 /2r5/8/1R6/4B3/4K3/8/3k4 w - - 0 1

<Szén position

József Szén discovered the Szén position, a defensive drawing position. The kings are opposite in an L-shape and the weaker side's rook defends on the side of his king that has more room (Benko 2007:99). Szén's position is the most important for over-the-board players. Compared to the Philidor Position, the kings are not opposite each other and the defending rook can prevent checkmate. The position is a draw only if there is enough room for the defending king on the side with the rooks (Nunn 2002:183–84).

An example of this defense being used in a game is this 1982 one between József Pintér and Yuri Razuvayev.[7] After 88 moves, the position had a rook and bishop versus a rook. The diagram shows the position after 101. Kd1!, reaching the Szén position. On the 132nd move, White reached a Szén position for the fourth time. The game was drawn on the 138th move (Benko 2007:98–99).>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_...

I blame the French!

<By the 11th Century, English spelling was merely erratic. Within 400 years, it had become chaotic. The root cause was the arrival of the Normans and a cadre of French scribes who wrote official documents.

<Mongrédien’s opinion of Szén, from page 274 of the June 1888 BCM (an article entitled ‘Chessplayers I Have Known’):

‘With this sturdy Hungarian player I only had a few games during his short visit to London in 1851, and I came off second best. His style was about the slowest, the heaviest, and the most tedious that I ever came across, and the man himself was eccentric, ungenial and dreamy. His great power of abstraction, however, enabled him to concentrate all his attention on the game, and he was great at unravelling the knot of an intricate position.’ >

CN #5573

<THE CHESS TOURNAMENT.

We resume, as far as the pressure for space admits, the extracts from communications on the subject of this assemblage, with which we have been favoured by the most eminent Chess players abroad.

From Mr. Szen, of Pesth.

Pesth, March 8th, 1851.

Honoured Sir,—I must apologize for writing to you in German, as you may not perhaps be sufficiently master of that language to make this out without the help of a translator; but in truth my knowledge of English, which I have been studying only about two months, is insufficient for the purpose. I take the liberty of addressing myself to you as the representative of the present renowned Chess Players of England, and of requesting the favour of your communicating my proposal to the Honourable Committee of the Chess Tournament. Since I left London, I have often called to mind the friendly reception which I met with, and the very pleasant two months that I spent there. Since that period, I have been to a great extent deprived of practice in my favourite game, partly through the press of official business, and partly through a want of firstrate competitors. Hence, although perhaps not a, weaker player than I was in 1837, I have done little in the way of improvement. I do not envy others, however, the knowledge they have acquired, as I know that the acquisition of such knowledge requires much both of labour and perseverance, and I am willing to give superior talent its due honour.

When the news reached me of the approaching Exhibition of the World's Industry, and of the Chess Tournament connected with it, there arose within me an irrepressible desire to tread once more the soil of England, whose inhabitants have already realized such truly noble ideas, that they may with right and justice sing " Rule Britannia." Then awoke in me also my old passion for Chess, and this so strongly, that if the Committee, having regard to my slight reputation, think me worthy of it, I shall consider myself happy and honoured in co-operating according to the best of my abilities in the great World contest. Nothing but a refusal of leave of absence or passport shall prevent me, but that I hope to obtain easily on the ground of former promises. As soon as I have the honour to receive your answer, I will make my application, in order to be able, by the 26th of April, to make known the participation of my humble self in the contest.

Meanwhile I commend myself with the greatest respect to your friendship, and to that of all the gentlemen whom I had the pleasure to meet in London, and to the favour and kindness of the honourable managing Committee, and am with the highest regard,

Your devoted servant, Joseph Szen.
>

<S > Like a long hissing S, like a snake with a problem.

<Z> A 17th century Castillian "J", but without the hoo-hoo. So it's esentially a basso profundo version of Columbo's "One more thing".

<E> This is exactly like the first <U> in <Cthulhu Fthagn>, but a lot deeper.

<N> A double N, in fact, like the Spanish nay-nay.

So his surname in its totality would be

SOOU-ZHAA(MAATING)-OOOOO-NAY-NAY.