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9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig (1894) Tarrasch entered the 9th German Chess Association Congress under the pseudonym "Altmann", played strongly throughout and won with a round to spare. It was his fourth consecutive first prize. In the three prior events, he had lost only one game, although here he would lose three. An important novelty, which aroused little comment at the time, was the introduction of chess clocks using knobs to stop one clockwork mechanism and start the other. Until then tumbling pendulum clocks had been used. The new clocks were "superior to and cheaper than our own", said Leopold Hoffer. At the beginning of the second week, von Scheve, who was suffering from insomnia, withdrew. The rules of the tournament were that if a player had played more than half of his games, his score should stand and his remaining games be forfeited, but otherwise his whole score should be cancelled. This gave the committee difficulties because von Scheve had completed seven games and had three adjourned games. It decided that the unfinished would be considered as lost on time, and therefore von Scheve had completed half the possible number of games. Most of the players accepted this because they were not adversely affected, but Mieses postponed his game against Schiffers to protest, unsuccessfully. This game was still unplayed at the end of the tournament, and recorded as a draw - according to Kenneth Whyld in the tournament book. Leipzig, German Empire (Saxony), 3-15 September 1894 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Tarrasch X 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 13.5 2 Lipke 1 X = 1 0 1 = = 1 0 1 1 = 1 1 1 1 1 13 3 Teichmann 0 = X 1 1 0 0 = = 1 = 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 4 Blackburne 1 0 0 X = 0 = = 1 1 1 1 = = 1 1 1 1 11.5 5 Walbrodt 0 1 0 = X 1 = = 1 1 = = 1 = 1 1 1 = 11.5 6 Janowsky 0 0 1 1 0 X 1 1 0 1 = 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 10.5 7 Marco 0 = 1 = = 0 X = = 0 = 1 1 1 1 = 1 1 10.5 8 Berger 0 = = = = 0 = X = = = 1 = = = = 1 1 9 9 Schiffers 0 0 = 0 0 1 = = X = = = 1 = 1 1 = 1 9 10 Mieses 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 = = X 0 1 1 = 0 1 1 0 8.5 11 Schlechter 0 0 = 0 = = = = = 1 X 1 = = = 0 = 1 8 12 Baird 0 0 0 0 = 1 0 0 = 0 0 X 1 1 = 1 1 1 7.5 13 Suechting 0 = 0 = 0 1 0 = 0 0 = 0 X = 1 1 0 1 6.5 14 Zinkl = 0 0 = = 0 0 = = = = 0 = X 0 0 1 1 6 15 Mason 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 1 = = 0 1 X 0 1 1 5.5 16 de Weydlich 0 0 0 0 0 0 = = 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 X 0 1 5 17 Seuffert 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 = 0 1 0 0 1 X 0 3 18 von Scheve 0 F F 0 = 0 0 F 0 1 F 0 0 F F F 1 X 2.5 Based on an original collection by User: TheFocus.  page 1 of 6; games 1-25 of 144  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. K De Weydlich vs J Mason 1-0 43 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig A20 English 2. Janowski vs Lipke 0-1 37 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C47 Four Knights 3. P K Seuffert vs J N Berger 0-1 33 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C67 Ruy Lopez 4. Tarrasch vs Schlechter 1-0 40 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C66 Ruy Lopez 5. H Suechting vs A Zinkl ½-½ 59 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C14 French, Classical 6. K A Walbrodt vs Von Scheve   ½-½ 37 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C80 Ruy Lopez, Open 7. J Mieses vs Teichmann 0-1 36 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C13 French 8. J W Baird vs Schiffers   ½-½ 61 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C45 Scotch Game 9. Blackburne vs G Marco   ½-½ 33 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C45 Scotch Game 10. J N Berger vs Tarrasch 0-1 33 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C77 Ruy Lopez 11. A Zinkl vs P K Seuffert 1-0 51 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C82 Ruy Lopez, Open 12. P K Seuffert vs Teichmann   0-1 26 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C13 French 13. Tarrasch vs A Zinkl ½-½ 74 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C82 Ruy Lopez, Open 14. Janowski vs J N Berger 1-0 36 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C67 Ruy Lopez 15. K De Weydlich vs K A Walbrodt   0-1 35 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig A25 English 16. K A Walbrodt vs J Mason   1-0 59 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C77 Ruy Lopez 17. J W Baird vs Lipke 0-1 24 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C50 Giuoco Piano 18. Teichmann vs H Suechting 1-0 36 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C28 Vienna Game 19. Schlechter vs Janowski ½-½ 72 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C72 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 5.O-O 20. J Mieses vs K De Weydlich   1-0 67 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig A07 King's Indian Attack 21. H Suechting vs Von Scheve   1-0 47 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig B45 Sicilian, Taimanov 22. G Marco vs J W Baird 1-0 45 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C67 Ruy Lopez 23. Blackburne vs Schlechter 1-0 40 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C30 King's Gambit Declined 24. Von Scheve vs J Mieses   1-0 44 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C78 Ruy Lopez 25. Schiffers vs G Marco ½-½ 40 1894 9th DSB Kongress, Leipzig C62 Ruy Lopez, Old Steinitz Defense  page 1 of 6; games 1-25 of 144    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   Jun-02-15    zanzibar: A very nice historical photograph claims to be from this tournament: http://www.kwabc.org/archive/Homepa... Jun-30-16    zanzibar: The tournament write-up should definitely mention that this was the first DSB held after the death of Zwangzig in Jan. of that year. He was a monumental figure in DSB history, and replacing him was a great challenge. Jun-30-16    zanzibar: I'm a bit skeptical about the Altmann story (sorry, but it's my nature). E.g. DSZ v49 (Aug 1894) p256 lists the planned attendees, and Tarrasch is plainly listed. <TheFocus> - what's the source for the Altmann pseudonym? Jun-30-16    zanzibar: Couldn't find any <Altmann>'s mentioned in BCM v14 (1894) either... https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt... (Same for altman) Jun-30-16    zanzibar: A tidbit - De Weydlich was a substitute for Minckwitz, who despite becoming insane prior to the tournament, was listed as a player at start: http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... but suddenly withdrew due to "illness": http://www.chessarch.com/excavation... Jul-01-16    zanzibar: Z-base looks to agree with <Focus>'s xtab... Which is reassuming since we disagree with xtab published in <DSZ v49 (Oct 1894) p282> and <Reichhelm> both. (and did I mention <BCM v14 (1894) p409's xtab as well?). I double-checked the differing games with newspaper reports when I first spotted the disagreements. Then, came here to triple-check. File under- declare a victory whilst ya can (aka quit while you're ahead). Jul-01-16    Paarhufer: <zanzibar: I'm a bit skeptical about the Altmann story> See DWS, 16 September 1894. Jul-01-16    zanzibar: <Paarhufe> Thanks for that ref; it's unfortunately not available on-line (it seems): http://www.chessarch.com/library/li... * * * * * Here's the DSZ info: <DSZ v49 (Aug 1894) p282> (google translate) <From Leipzig. The implication of the forthcoming international tournament in our walls promises to be very active. For the Masters tournament have so far been reported, among others: Ans Germany Dr. Tarrasch, A. Walbrcrdt, J. Mieses, C. v Bardeleben, Th v Scheve, P. Lipke;... from England Blackkurne, Gunsberg, Mason, Teichmann; further Janowski from Paris and J. Berger from Graz. (Over the course of the tournament we will our Revered readers make more communications. D. Red.) <<>>> <Aus Leipzig. Die Betheiligung an dem bevorstehenden internationalen Turnier in unseren Mauern verspricht sehr rege zu werden. Für das Meisterturnier haben sich bis jetzt unter Anderen gemeldet: Ans Deutschland Dr. Tarrasch, A. Walbrcrdt, J. Mieses, C. v. Bardeleben, Th. v. Scheve, P. Lipke; aus England Blackkurne, Gunsberg, Mason, Teichmann; ferner Janowski aus Paris und J. Berger aus Graz. (Ueber den Verlauf des Turniers werden wir unseren verehrten Lesern weitere Mittheilungen machen. D. Red.) > I'm pretty sure this is on the very last page of the Aug 1894 issue. Now, there is mention of an <Altmann> in a couple of places in the DSZ: DSZ v49 (Sep 1894) p282 - right after the xtab: <The first prize (800 ℳ) thus won Dr. S. Tarrasch, who had taken part under thorn pseudonym "Altmann" in the tournament Dr. Tarrasch has now received the first prize in an international tournament for the fourth time. He was at the Vertheüung the prices nor particularly honored by the award of a laurel wreath.<<>>> <Den ersten Preis (800 dff) gewann demnach Dr. S. Tarrasch, der sich unter dorn Pseudonym „Altmann" an dem Turnier betheiligt hatte. Dr. Tarrasch hat nun zum vierten Male in einem internationalen Turnier den ersten Preis erhalten; er wurde bei der Vertheüung der Preise durch Verleihung eines Lorbeerkranzes noch besonders geehrt.> I'm at a certain disadvantage in understanding the original text, having to trust google translate is problematic in these matters. It does seem that the text suggest Tarrasch had entered as Altmann, even though the prior notice would indicate otherwise. In DSZ v48 (Feb 1893) p58 there is this: <From Vienna. With 23, mostly from academics are recruited (rekrutireuden) members has a "Club of chess friends" here up than The meeting place is the Cafe Central the Committee form the masters. (XVII district.):... Stud jur Ad Altmann, M. .. Modern, M. Taussig, S. Steiner, stud. med Haslinger, S. Epstein.<<>>> <Aus Wien. Mit 23, zumeist aus Akademikern sich rekrutieren (rekrutireuden) Mitgliedern hat sich ein „Club der Schachfreunde" hier aufgethan. Das Versammlungslokal ist im Cafe Central (XVII. Bezirk). Den Ausschuss bilden die Herren: stud. jur. Ad. Altmann, M. Modern, M. Taussig, S. Steiner, stud. med. Haslinger, S. Epstein.> * * * * * So, I would like to think that Tarrasch might have used the pseudonym at various other times during his stay in Vienna, but not for the international tournament. The main difficulty, for me, is that if he did enter under the pseudonym, the British press should have made a remark about it in the build-up to the tournament. That's my expectation, admittedly. And if it did use the pseudonym for the international, the big question is why? Most unsatisfying to have no answer to that. Jul-10-16    Paarhufer: <zanziba> Tarrasch played under pseudonym, but chess periodicals and columns ignored this. There were several real chess players named Altmann in Vienna and Munich in those years, and that student was one of them. Apr-22-18    keypusher: I think this link has the picture <zanzibar> referred to in the first post on the page -- the link he posted is no longer good. https://www.kwabc.org/en/newsitem/h... Sep-08-18    ughaibu: Why on Earth did Tarrasch play under a false name? Sep-08-18    MissScarlett: If playing under a pseudonym, it's not normal practice to publicise the reason why. Sep-08-18    ughaibu: Not at the time, no. However, a certain amount of time has elapsed since. Sep-08-18    MissScarlett: Well, be sure to share, when/if you find it. Sep-08-18    ughaibu: Well, if I find it, I'll find it here, by virtue of someone answering the question I posted above. Unless the person answering is on your ignore list, sharing by me would be redundant. So, who is on your ignore list? Sep-08-18    MissScarlett: <Well, if I find it, I'll find it here, by virtue of someone answering the question I posted above.> I'm kindly trying to suggest you won't find it. If nobody cared at the time - since his identity was common knowledge - nobody would have cared later. Sep-08-18    ughaibu: <I'm kindly trying to suggest you won't find it.> Very sweet of you, thanks, and I hope someday I'll be able to return the consideration. <nobody would have cared later> But I care! And it is later!! Jun-21-19    MissScarlett: Taking into accounts all the provisos in the tournament description, it seems there are 2 games missing from the collection - BLACKBURNE - VON SCHEVE and MARCO - VON SCHEVE. I'll submit the Blackburne game. Jun-22-19    MissScarlett: The missing game must be explained thus: <According to the <Standard>, 13 September, Von Scheve "received a telegram early in his game with Marco, and immediately withdrew from the tournament in consequence." This was further clarified in Hoffer's <Field> column on 15 September, which said: <On Monday v. Scheve withdrew from the contest, in consequence of pressing family affairs, and after two consultations in committee and with the competitors, his unplayed games were given as won to each of his opponents, and scored as such in the table. As a matter of course, some of the players were not satisfied; but such incidents occur frequently enough, and cannot be avoided. Matters were, however, soon smoothed over, although Mieses is still very sore on the point, as he was chiefly damaged by v. Scheve's retirement.> Whyld's introduction says that Von Scheve was suffering from insomnia, so perhaps he had arranged for a convenient excuse to be engineered for him.> Tim Harding, <Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography> (McFarland 2015), p.334. The reference is to Whyld's tournament book, <Leipzig 1894> (Nottingham 1982). No contemporary collection appeared but a games' manuscript was 'preserved and passed down to German IM Heinrich Wagner who, before he died, gave Ken Whyld a copy for publication' (p.332). <Whyld> is missing Blackburne vs Von Scheve, 1894, as well as, presumably, the aborted Marco game. Oct-25-20    Chessist: MIESES - SCHIFFERS is missing, too. NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion. 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