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TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Berlin Tournament

Rezso Charousek13.5/18(+11 -2 =5)[games]
David Janowski11.5/18(+8 -3 =7)[games]
Carl Walbrodt11/16(+8 -2 =6)[games]
Joseph Blackburne11/17(+7 -2 =8)[games]
Carl Schlechter10.5/18(+5 -2 =11)[games]
Georg Marco10.5/18(+7 -4 =7)[games]
Amos Burn10/17(+8 -5 =4)[games]
Semyon Alapin9.5/17(+6 -4 =7)[games]
Mikhail Chigorin8.5/17(+6 -6 =5)[games]
Horatio Caro8/16(+4 -4 =8)[games]
Emmanuel Schiffers8/17(+5 -6 =6)[games]
Wilhelm Cohn7.5/18(+6 -9 =3)[games]
Simon Winawer7.5/18(+6 -9 =3)[games]
Johannes Metger7/17(+4 -7 =6)[games]
Hugo Suechting7/18(+4 -8 =6)[games]
Richard Teichmann6.5/17(+4 -8 =5)[games]
Berthold Englisch5.5/10(+2 -1 =7)[games]
Adolf Zinkl4.5/17(+3 -11 =3)[games]
Adolf Albin2/15(+1 -12 =2)[games]
Curt von Bardeleben0.5/1(+0 -0 =1)[games]

Chessgames.com Chess Event Description
Berlin (1897)

Berlin, Germany (13 September-4 October 1897)

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Score Place/Prizes —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 1 Charousek • 0 ½ 1 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 13½ 1st 2000ℳ 2 Walbrodt 1 • 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 0 ½ + 1 + 13 2nd 1500ℳ 3 Blackburne ½ 0 • ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 + 1 1 12 3rd 1000ℳ 4 Janowski 0 ½ ½ • 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 ½ 1 1 11½ 4th 600ℳ 5 Burn 1 0 ½ 0 • ½ 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 ½ 0 + 1 ½ 11 5th 400ℳ 6 Alapin 0 0 ½ ½ ½ • 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 + 1 1 10½ 6th-8th 106ℳ 66₰ 7 Marco ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 0 • 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 1 10½ 6th-8th 106ℳ 66₰ 8 Schlechter ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 • ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 10½ 6th-8th 106ℳ 66₰ 9 Caro 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ • ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 0 + ½ + 10 10 Chigorin 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 1 0 ½ • ½ 0 0 1 ½ 1 + 1 1 9½ 11 Schiffers 0 1 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ • 1 0 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 + 9 100ℳ* 12 Metger ½ 0 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 0 0 1 0 • 1 0 1 + + 0 ½ 8½ 13 Cohn 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 ½ ½ 1 1 0 • 0 0 1 1 ½ 1 7½ 14 Winawer 0 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 1 • 1 ½ 0 1 1 7½ 15 Suechting 0 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 1 0 • 1 ½ 0 1 7 16 Teichmann 0 ½ 0 1 1 0 0 ½ 1 0 1 - 0 ½ 0 • ½ ½ 0 6½ 17 Englisch ½ - - ½ - - ½ ½ - - ½ - 0 1 ½ ½ • - 1 5½ 18 Zinkl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 0 1 ½ + • 1 5½ 19 Albin 0 - 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 - 0 - ½ 0 0 0 1 0 0 • 2 —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 20 von Bardeleben - - - - - - - - - - - ½ - - - - - - - (withdrew) —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Unplayed games: + for a win, = for a draw, - for a loss. Format: Round Robin, draws scored ½. Time Control: 30 moves first two hours then 15 move per hour. * Special prize for best score against the place prize winners.


Introduction
"Es sind vorläufig acht Preise ausgesetzt: 1. Preis 2000ℳ; 2. Preis 1500ℳ; 3. Preis 1000ℳ; 4. Preis 600ℳ; 5. Preis 400ℳ; 6. Preis 200ℳ; Sonderpreis für den besten Erfolg gegen die Preisträger 100ℳ; Sonderpreis für die schönste Partie 300ℳ (gestiftet von Herrn Baron Albert v. Rothschild). Vermehrung und Erhöhung der Preise vorbehalten."(1)

In 1897, during the 70th anniversary of the Berliner Schachgesellschaft, twenty chess masters were invited to particpate in an international round robin event. Despite being the only international master tournament organized for the year, there were a few noticable absences, including the world champion Emanuel Lasker, former world champion Wilhelm Steinitz, Germany's strongest player Siegbert Tarrasch, and the strongest chess master of the Americas Harry Nelson Pillsbury. However, several notable chess masters were in attendance making it the one great event to follow for the year. Of note were Mikhail Chigorin, Joseph Henry Blackburne, Simon Winawer, David Janowski, and Carl Schlechter. Also included were Rudolf Charousek, who had tied Chigorin for first at Budapest the previous year, and Carl Walbrodt who was brought in as a last minute replacement for Arnold Schottlaender. Curt von Bardeleben was forced to withdraw after a short draw in the first round to Johannes Metger. His game was cancelled. Berthold Englisch also withdrew after round eleven, thus forfeiting the rest of his games. The participants played in the Architektenhaus from September 13th to October 4th. Though Blackburne lead for most of the event, the final rounds of the tournament belonged to Charousek and Walbrodt. Charousek finished with a nine game winning streak and clear first place. Walbrodt, though an alternate, had the best tournament performance of his life, achieving clear second in the strong field. Charousek won 2000 Marks for his victory and Walbrodt earned 1500 for the silver. Despite the young men's success in the exhausting event, both would die within just a few years of the completion of this tournament.

"During the tournament it was announced that M. L. Caro, of London, had added a seventh prize of 120 marks."(2)

Brilliancy Prizes
"Aus Berlin. Im vorjahrigen internationalen Meisterturnier war auch ein von Baron Albert Rothschild gestifteter Preis von 300ℳ für die schönste Partie zu erringen. Hierüber hatten die Herren Dr. Tarrasch, Albert Heyde und H. Ranneforth zu entscheiden. Der Preis wurde nun zur Hälfte an Johannes Metger, für die gegen Süchting gewonnene Partie, und zur Hälfte an Adolf Zinkl, für die gegen Metger gewonnene Partie, verabfolgt."(3)

Meteger won 150ℳ for H Suechting vs J Metger, 1897 (Rothschild prize)
Zinkl won 150ℳ for A Zinkl vs J Metger, 1897 (Rothschild prize)

Sources
(1) Deutsche Schachzeitung, v52 n8, August 1897, p249
(2) American Chess Magazine, v1, p259
(3) Deutsche Schachzeitung, v53 n7, July 1898, p220

Credit
Original collection: Game Collection: Berlin 1897, by User: suenteus po 147.

 page 1 of 7; games 1-25 of 160  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Burn vs Albin ½-½601897BerlinA07 King's Indian Attack
2. H Caro vs Winawer  ½-½691897BerlinD02 Queen's Pawn Game
3. Chigorin vs Schiffers ½-½501897BerlinC51 Evans Gambit
4. Janowski vs Englisch ½-½591897BerlinC82 Ruy Lopez, Open
5. G Marco vs W Cohn 1-0411897BerlinC83 Ruy Lopez, Open
6. H Suechting vs Schlechter ½-½461897BerlinC51 Evans Gambit
7. Teichmann vs Blackburne 0-1691897BerlinC71 Ruy Lopez
8. Walbrodt vs Charousek 1-0421897BerlinC49 Four Knights
9. A Zinkl vs Alapin  0-1511897BerlinD31 Queen's Gambit Declined
10. J Metger vs von Bardeleben  ½-½141897BerlinC82 Ruy Lopez, Open
11. Alapin vs Janowski  ½-½511897BerlinC49 Four Knights
12. Albin vs J Metger ½-½871897BerlinC01 French, Exchange
13. Blackburne vs W Cohn 1-0301897BerlinC10 French
14. Burn vs H Suechting  ½-½521897BerlinD55 Queen's Gambit Declined
15. H Caro vs Chigorin  ½-½731897BerlinD02 Queen's Pawn Game
16. Charousek vs G Marco  ½-½461897BerlinC50 Giuoco Piano
17. Schiffers vs Schlechter  ½-½221897BerlinC77 Ruy Lopez
18. Winawer vs Teichmann ½-½581897BerlinC67 Ruy Lopez
19. A Zinkl vs Walbrodt  0-1431897BerlinC11 French
20. Chigorin vs A Zinkl 1-0311897BerlinA07 King's Indian Attack
21. W Cohn vs Schiffers  1-0531897BerlinC50 Giuoco Piano
22. Janowski vs Winawer 1-0481897BerlinC67 Ruy Lopez
23. G Marco vs Albin 1-0521897BerlinC11 French
24. J Metger vs Alapin ½-½211897BerlinC60 Ruy Lopez
25. Schlechter vs Charousek  ½-½441897BerlinC48 Four Knights
 page 1 of 7; games 1-25 of 160  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
Nov-29-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: I understand there was another, smaller international tourney held in Berlin in January 1897, that also featured Charousek. Does anyone have more details?
Nov-29-14
Premium Chessgames Member
  Stonehenge: Here they have some info:

http://www.edochess.ca/tournaments/...

Mar-06-15
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: <Curt Von Bardeleben, although invited, was forced to withdraw after a short draw in the first round to Johannes Metger.>

Is it known why he withdrew? Seems he didn't play professionally again until 1900.

Jun-17-15  zanzibar: <MissScarlett> so far the best info I have is from <Knowledge v20 Nov 1, 1897 p272> where I found

<The other scores (not counting those of Herren Albin, Englisch, and V. Bardeleben, who retired though ill health at different stages of the tournament>

Since v Bardeleben retired after just one game, his ill-health was probably the most serious.

* * * * *

Other info from the same ref:

<Herr Schiffers obtained a special prize for best score against the prize winners>

And also,

<Immediately after the tournament M. Janowski challenged Herr Walbrodt to a match, but the challenge was not accepted.>

<The next international tournament will be held at Vienna next year, when very valuable prizes will be offered.>

And also this, slightly out of context(?) statement:

<The inventor of the Steinitz Gambit, as the result of a single defeat, has admitted the unsoundness of that interestingly eccentric debut. [...]>

Jun-17-15  Nosnibor: <Zanzibar> Bardeleben`s ill health was not as serious as that of Englisch who died within 16 days of the end of the tournament!Albin defaulted the last round to Walbrodt who was only half a point behind Charousek.However Charousek managed an extremely good last round win over Chigorin to secure first prize.Following Charousek`s success here Janowsky challenged him to a match but this never came about due the onset of Charousek`s fatal illness.
Jun-17-15  zanzibar: I see I forgot to post the link to the <Knowledge> article:

https://books.google.com/books?id=j...

The scoring is off by one (save for one game(?)), as it includes the nullified v Bardeleben games as forfeits.

Jun-17-15  zanzibar: <Nosnibor> Wow, I had no idea. Yes, that's an amazing fact about Englisch that I was completely unaware of. One that definitely should go in the tournament intro.

I have Albin also defaulting on the next-to-last round, R18 and maybe more. I'm in the middle of working it out.

As for Janowski, I think I remember the American press noting that he was somewhat famous for challenging any and all. (I should find the exact quote, maybe later I'll post an update).

Jun-17-15  zanzibar: If the R1 v Bardeleben game had been a win by him, I wouldn't be able to use the <Knowledge - Chess Intelligence> scores to determine who he was paired with in R1. Similarly, if he was paired against Albin or Englisch.

But, comparing Metger's score of 9.0 in the contemporaneous reportage, versus his score of 8.5 here, allows the conclusion that a R1 draw was played between the two.

The colors are uncertain of course.

Jun-17-15  zanzibar: (Of course, one could just look at the Swiss xtab and see Metger has a R1 bye. But that would be far too easy!)
Jan-12-16  zanzibar: Harding mentions this tournament in an erratum to his just published Blackburne book:

<Page 367: We have been informed that the Berlin 1897 tournament was not in fact one of the German federation series but rather the 70th jubilee tournament of the Berlin club.>

http://www.chessmail.com/research/B...

Apparently <CG> got this right in the intro. Hooray!

Feb-14-18  ughaibu: <Germany's strongest player Siegbert Tarrasch>

Are you sure about that?

Feb-14-18  Straclonoor: <Are you sure about that?> Definitely!
Feb-27-18
Premium Chessgames Member
  MissScarlett: <I have saved my favorite bit of old-time chess reporting for last, which comes from, of all places, an obituary column. Even here, we find a hint of scandal attached to a truly blameless victim. The obituary in the New York Times, October 20, 1897 reads in full:

Berthold Englisch Dead

Vienna, Oct. 19. – Berthold Englisch, the well-known chess player, is dead. The cause of death was brain affection.

Englisch withdrew from the recent tournament at Berlin, declaring that his head was not clear. At the time rumor accused him of accepting a bribe from a weak opponent to withdraw, but his death disproves that report.>

http://web.archive.org/web/20070607...

Oct-22-19  Marcelo Bruno: Why didn't Schallopp participate in both Berlin 1897 tournaments?
Nov-16-23  Nosnibor: <Marcelo Bruno> Maybe having lost his last two games against Charousek he did not fancy his chances1

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