London, England (24 November 1868-10 March 1869)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wins Place/Prize
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1 Blackburne •• 1 0 1 1 1 ½1 1 1 1 + 9* 1st £11 11s
2 de Vere 0 •• ½1 1 1 1 ½1 1 1 1 + 9 2nd £10 10s
3 MacDonnell 1 ½0 •• 0 × 1 0 ½1 1 1 1 6
4 Owen 0 0 1 •• ½0 0 1 1 1 1 1 6
5 Wormald 0 0 × ½1 •• ½1 1 1 × + + 6
6 Bird 0 0 0 1 ½0 •• ½1 1 0 + + 5
7 Wisker ½0 ½0 1 0 0 ½0 •• 0 1 1 + 4
8 Hampton 0 0 ½0 0 0 0 1 •• 1 1 + 4
9 Lord 0 0 0 0 × 1 0 0 •• 1 1 3
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10 Cuthbertson 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 •• 0 (withdrew)
11 Skipworth - - 0 0 - - - - 0 1 •• (withdrew)
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× denotes an unplayed game with no result.
* Blackburne won the single game play-off.
Introduction
British Chess Association:—The annual meeting of this association which is held alternately in London and in the provinces, and which usually lasts for about a week, was commenced last night with an important preliminary meeting at the rooms of the St. George's Chess Club, King-street, St. James's. Among the members present were Lord Lyttelton, Messrs. H. Mongredien, H. Waite, G. W. Medley, — Hampton, J. Blackburne, Steinetz (sic), C. de Vere, H. C. Stewart, — Selfe, E. Bird, and Rev. W. Wayte. Lord Lyttelton, the president, took the chair, and opened the proceedings by reading a letter from the Earl of Dartrey, in Ireland, expressing regret at being unable to be present. Lord Lyttelton congratulated the association upon the interest shown by the numerous entries, and by the full attendance at this meeting at a period of the year when there are usually not many in town. This year's meeting promised to be more successful than any previous one. Many prizes of importance had been announced, and great interest attached to the Mongredien prize. It is expected that the whole of the play for the various prizes will be concluded in three or four weeks. It was announced that play would commence to-day at twelve o'clock at the London, St. George's, and Westminster Chess Clubs, and at Simpson's Divan, at each of which places notices will appear of the arrangements for each day throughout the contest. (1)
The Grand Challenge Cup, open to British players only. A Cup of the value of £50, now held by Mr. de Vere, whose property it will become if won by him on this occasion. Entrance £1 1s., and £10 10s. added by the Association. The Entrances to go with the Cup, and the £10 10s. to be handed to the player making the second best score. (2)
Rules
Rules and Regulations to be observed by Players in the Tournaments.(3)
1. In the contest for the Grand Challenge Cup the maximum time to be allowed each player for making his moves shall be two hours for twenty moves; and in the other contests two hours for thirty moves, antagonists being at liberty to restrict the time still further, should they agree to do so.
2. The time occupied over the moves shall be measured by sand-glasses, one for each player. When it is a player's turn to move, his sand-glass shall be set running, and shall continue so until he shall have completed his move, when it shall be stopped, and his opponent's glass set running in the same manner; and so on to the end of the game.
3. The game shall be divided into periods of twenty moves, or of thirty moves, according to the term of the contest, commencing with the first move on each side. Should a player not have made twenty moves, or, as the case may be, thirty moves, within two hours, or the corresponding number of moves within four hours, and so on, he shall forfeit the game.
4. The games shall be played out at a sitting, no adjournment shall take place, and no player shall leave the room without the consent of his opponent, except for a reasonable time for refreshment. Any player analyzing an interrupted game by moving the pieces, either by himself or with others, shall forfeit the game.
5. Combatants paired off shall agree upon the hour at which their next game shall commence, such agreement to be entered in a book to be kept for that purpose. Should a player not appear within one hour of the appointed time, he shall forfeit the sum of five shillings. At the expiration of the hour his sand-glass shall be set running, and the time thus lost shall be considered as wasted by him. Should he have only thirty minutes or less time left, in which to make his first twenty moves, or thirty moves, according to the case, he shall then be allowed to make his first forty moves, or sixty moves, in two hours, plus this remaining time. In any case he must complete forty moves, or sixty moves, within four hours of his glass being set running. Should he not make his appearance within five hours of the appointed time, he shall forfeit the game. Should neither player appear within five hours of the appointed time, each shall forfeit the sum of one pound.
6. In the contest for the Challenge Cup the privilege of moving first shall be so arranged that each player shall exercise it against one-half of his antagonists.
7. Each player shall be bound to play five games per week, failing which, the committee will decide what penalty shall be inflicted.
8. The second player in each game shall furnish to the secretary or manager a copy of the same within a reasonable time after its termination, under a penalty of ten shillings.
9. The games being the property of the association, none shall be published or given for publication, without the consent of the managing committee.
10. All fines shall be paid to the funds of the association.
11. All disputes shall be referred to the managing committee, whose decision shall be final. The committee reserve to themselves the power to modify any of the foregoing regulations.
Summary
The contest for the grand challenge cup, which began some months back at the biennial meeting of the British Chess Association, has been continued ever since—terminating, however on Wednesday last. There were 11 competitors, amongst whom were some of the best English players. The final struggle took place between Mr. Blackburne and Mr. de Vere. The latter gentleman, it will be remembered, won the cup and championship at the previous London meeting, but had to win it a second time ere it could become his property. The contest between Messrs. Blackburne and de Vere was exceedingly close, and created great interest in the chess world. Each had won of nearly all other competitors, and when they met, after months of play, on Tuesday last, at the London Chess Club, to engage in the deciding game, the attendance of members and visitors evinced the curiousity felt as to the result. The game lasted two days, and proved one of the finest of the series. At its conclusion Mr. Blackburne rose up the English chess champion, and was warmly congratulated by his friends. (4)
In this tourney Mr. Blackburne and Mr. de Vere having each scored 9 to 1, had to play another game for the championship, the victory remaining eventually with the former. The following were the scores of the other players:—Mr. MacDonnell won 6 and lost 3; Mr. Owen won 6 and lost 4; Mr. Wormald won 5 and lost 2; Mr. Bird won 5 and lost 4; Mr. Wisker won 4 and lost 6; Mr. W. Hampton won 3 and lost 6; Mr. Lord won 3 and lost 6; Mr. Skipworth won 1 and lost 9 (8 by forfeiture); and Mr. Cuthbertson won 0 and lost 8. (5)
Missing and Forfeit Games
In regards to Cuthbertson and Skipworth:
• "Challenge Cup... Rev. A. Skipworth won of Cuthbertson." (6)
• "Mr. Cuthbertson has lost seven;" (7)
• Skipworth, Won 1, Lost 3. Mr Skipworth resigned in this class, and all the games are consequently scored against him.(8)
• "Mr Skipworth has withdrawn." (9)
• Regarding Cuthbertson, "This competitor, having lost eight games, without scoring one, resigned." (10)(11)
• "Messrs Skipworth and Cutberson (sic) have, we believe, resigned all competition, and may be therefore considered to have lost to the other nine players in every instance." (12)
In regards to Wormald vs MacDonnell and Wormald vs Lord:
"Mr M'Donnell has never played with Mr Wormald, and the latter gentleman and Mr Lord have not contended at all." (13)
Note
Both Harding and Renette give a draw before the decisive de Vere vs Wormald game. This would have been one of last games de Vere played in this event: "The tourney for the English Challenge Cup is now approaching its termination. Mr. De Vere has won of MacDonnell and Bird, but has yet to play Bird as well as Wormald." (14)
Sources
(1) London Morning Post, 1868.11.24, p2
(2) Transactions of the British Chess Association for the Years 1868 and 1869, Lowenthal & Medley, London 1869, pp3-4
(3) London Illustrated Sporting and Theatrical News, 1868.11.28, p4
(4) London Morning Post, 1869.03.12, p5
(5) Transactions of the British Chess Association for the Years 1868 and 1869, Lowenthal & Medley, London 1869, p8
(6) London Illustrated Sporting and Theatrical News, 1868.12.05, p4
(7) London Illustrated Sporting and Theatrical News, 1868.12.26, p5
(8) Chess Players' Quarterly Chronicle, v1 n5, February 1869, p153
(9) Bell's Life in London, 1868.12.26, p7
(10) Illustrated London News, 1869.01.02, p23
(11) Chess World, v4 n11, January 1870, p429 (cross table)
(12) London Field, 1868.12.26, p521
(13) London Field, 1869.03.20, p243
(14) Hazeltine Scrapbook, v48, Glowworm column (est. date 1869.02.09) pdf-p50
Kibitzing
