Introduction

This was a match between the German Richard Teichmann and the Anglo-American British Champion William Napier.

In February 1905, Napier went to Glasgow, Scotland, to play Teichmann who had been barred from the 1904 British Championship on the grounds of nationality. Although Teichmann had resided in Britain since 1892 as a German citizen he was deemed to be ineligible.

"The Champion of England, who had only last month gained his laurels by defeating Mr Henry Atkins at Hastings (British Championship - ed), was immediately asked to play a match by Mr R. Teichmann. Mr Napier accepted the challenge, and a match of five games up at the Glasgow Chess Club was commenced yesterday." (1)

"It was natural enough that Napier after besting Henry Atkins in the tie match for the British championship should be challenged by Teichmann who was excluded from the Federation Tournament by reason of foreign birth. Napier speedily consented to play, but unexpected difficulties presented themselves in the choice of meeting in London. Again a provincial club came to the rescue, and a most interesting contest between these famous masters commenced last week at Glasgow.

Napier's record is well known. He is a very young man and since his arrival in England last autumn he must have been almost satiated with victory. In the National tournament at the City of London Chess Club he came out first, half a point above Teichmann; but in the Rice Gambit tournament at the London Criterion Teichmann, a master of much experience, whose health has not always permitted him to do full justice to his powers, was well ahead." (2)

Teichmann's health problem at this time was his eyesight. He was blind in one eye and suffered periodically from problems with his remaining eye.

Conditions

The match was for five games up, draws not counting, was for a stake of £50, presented by Mr F. G. Naumann, president of the British Chess Federation. Glasgow Chess Club guaranteed a further sum to both masters. The £50 purse would be worth about £6,100 or $7,900 in 2020. For an approximate comparison, the average annual British earnings in 1908 were £70 (3)

Background

Play started on 14 February and by 4th March Teichmann had emerged victorious with a score of +5, -1, =5.

Napier had tied for first in the inaugural British Championship held in August 1904 and then had won the play-off in January 1905 against Henry Atkins.

The match was apparently first intended to be played in London but this fell through (4). Teichmann had strong connections with the Glasgow Club for whom he had provided coaching in 1901 - 1902.

"The expected interesting match between Napier and Teichmann commenced this week at Glasgow. The match was the outcome of an offer made by Mr F. G. Naumann, the president of the British Chess Federation, to provide a purse for a trial of skill between the first champion of the Federation and Mr Teichmann.

The energy required to provide these two players with hospitality to play their match seems to have been too much effort or a strain for any club in England. The players, therefore, accepted the proffered hospitality of the Glasgow chess players, with whom Teichmann has always been a favourite, to play their match there." (5)

Teichmann

"Of Mr Teichmann, need only said that he occupies a position the front rank living masters chess and that his style of play is bright, and all times scholarly. It is a chess education to lose few games him, and nothing can do an amateur more good! He is "all-round" master of chess, a fine theoretician, and one of the greatest authorities the problem art, being a clever composer, and a remarkably quick solver the most complex positions. As regards "Chess Openings," Mr Teichmann is a walking edition the "German Handbook" - which "Handbook," it may be mentioned, is the most voluminous treatise.

In blindfold-playing his grip of positions is as accurate as it is comprehensive. A certain English chess editor, during Teichmann's recent match with Mr Francis Lee, wrote:

"There can little doubt that Teichmann is the strongest player now living England. If anyone has doubts on the point, he need only play over any of the games by the master, and these doubts will be removed."

This is high praise, superlative indeed, but it close to the truth, if eliminate the consideration of Dr Emanuel Lasker. Mr Teichmann has, by the way, many of the characteristics the great champion, and has made a name for himself as a deep analyst, and erudite annotator of games. The pages of the "British Chess Magazine" contain many annotations from his pen and these will always found instructive and thoroughly reliable. Needless to say. Mr Lee was defeated in the match above referred to." (6)

Napier

William Napier had sprung to attention by crushing Frank Marshall by 8½ to 2½.

In July 1904, Napier competed in the City of London Chess Club's National Tournament, where he shaded out Richard Teichmann by half a point to win first prize.

Napier then tied for first the British Championship held in August 1904 and then won the play-off in January 1905 against Henry Atkins.

Progress of the match

"Much interest has been taken in this match at Glasgow Chess Club by West of Scotland amateurs, the games having been keenly followed by numerous spectators. Both masters have shown novel lines of play in the openings, and the chess has been as sparkling possible in such contest, and generally of great educative value to the onlookers." (7)

Napier had White in the odd-numbered games. After an early blunder in Game 1, Napier was behind for the rest of the match. When two points down, Napier rallied and took the fifth game. Four draws then ensued, but Teichmann then won Games 10 and 11 to take the match.

In this match, Napier had an unfortunate tendency to blunder early in the game. Napier lost three games as White in less than 25 moves.

          1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Napier    0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0  0 3½
Teichmann 1 ½ 1 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1  1 7½

Progressive score

          1 2  3  4  5  6 7  8 9  10 11
Napier    0 ½  ½  ½  1½ 2 2½ 3 3½ 3½ 3½ 
Teichmann 1 1½ 2½ 3½ 3½ 4 4½ 5 5½ 6½ 7½

The Games
.

Game 1

Tuesday 14th February 1905

"The first game was a Queen's pawn opening of an eventful character. Napier got into a bad position, from which he could not extricate himself without loss, and resigned after 19 moves." (8)

In the first game played on Tuesday, a Q P game, Napier early went wrong in the opening and lost in nineteen moves. The fact that a learned and studious player like Napier can be overthrown in one of the commonest and most practised openings, shows the great possibilities there are in opening play when handled by a master." (9)

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Napier playing aggressively posted his Rook on <h3>, but completely overlooked the strength of <19...R(f)d8>. There is no winning attack on the <h> file and returning the Rook to <e3> runs into <20 ..Nf4>

Game 2

Thursday 16th February 1905

"The second game played on Thursday resulted more evenly. Napier adopted the Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez, and after forty moves the game was drawn." (10)

"The second game was opened by Teichmann with the Ruy Lopez, and a rather tame development on White's part enabled Napier to set up a strong counter-attack. Matters, indeed, looked very promising for a time for the young British champion, but Teichmann defended correctly, and on the thirty-ninth move the game was agreed drawn in a position of hopeless equality." (11)

Game 3

Friday 17th February 1905

"The third game of the match at Glasgow ... was a Queens (pawn) opening, in which Teichmann got a strong counter-attack with <Qa5>, and won in twenty-four moves.

Teichmann defended using the newly fashionable Cambridge Springs Defence to the Queen's Gambit. He had twice practised it at Cambridge Springs (1904), Marshall vs Teichmann, 1904 and Schlechter vs Teichmann, 1904

How he played White in this line can be seen in Teichmann vs O Chajes, 1923

Napier, despite also playing at Cambridge Springs, appears to have been put off balance.

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He played <12.e6?> and after <12...Bxe6> <13.Be5?> which left his game in ruins after <13...Nb3>.

Game 4

Saturday 18th February 1905

The fourth game, another Ruy Lopez, with the Berlin defence, was lost by Napier in thirty-two moves." (13)

Game 5

Monday 20th February, resumed Tuesday 21st February 1905.

"The fifth game of the match began on Monday. Napier, with a Queen's opening, obtained for the first time an advantage. The game was adjourned after 52 moves. Play was resumed yesterday evening, and Napier scored his first victory in 72 moves." (14)

"In the fifth game, a Queen's opening, Napier for the first time established a superiority. Teichmann refused to avail himself of drawing chances and lost." (15)

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With <63...Kg3?> Teichmann lost; taking the Bishop should have drawn.

Game 6

Thursday 23rd February 1905.

"The sixth game of this match at Glasgow was a Ruy Lopez, again defended by Napier with <3...Nf6>. Teichmann played a spirited game and gave up a piece for an attack. Napier gave the piece back, and with bishops of opposite colours remaining the game was drawn." (16)

The opening could also be described as a Four Knights game in which Teichmann expertly played an extremely sharp line of defence. A year later, Rudolf Spielmann , despite his great combinational powers, misplayed and lost in a mere 16 moves in this variation, in P Leonhardt vs Spielmann, 1906

The position after eight moves stood as:

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After only 23 moves the game was drawn. Napier could have played on being a pawn up in an opposite coloured Bishop's ending but with the pawn protected on <c7>. Instead, despite his two-point deficit in the match, he apparently decided that it would be waste of his strength to test his opponent any further.

Game 7

Saturday 25th February 1905.

"The seventh game of the match was opened by Napier with some novel variations of the Queen's pawn game. The innovation did not result very well, but a draw was the outcome of a critical ending. Score: Teichmann. 3. Napier 1, drawn 3." (17)

Napier played the Exchange Queen's Gambit with an early <f4> to create a Stonewall pawn structure.

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Teichmann played cleverly and energetically, with <9...Ng4> 10. 0-0 f6! and soon had the initiative. Napier was on the defensive for the whole of the game and had to fight hard for a draw.

Game 8

Tuesday 28th February 1905.

"The eighth game of the match was played at the Athenaeum, Glasgow, yesterday evening. Teichmann, playing the Ruy Lopez, obtained a slight advantage in position, but with care, Napier equalised matters, and a draw resulted in 30 moves. Scores: Teichmann, 3 wins; Napier, 1." (18)

Napier played the old Steinitz Defence to the Ruy Lopez in an unusual and passive manner with an early <Kh8>.

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Teichmann had early pressure but decided to exchange off into a drawn game and the players shook hands after 29 moves.

Game 9

Thursday 2nd March 1905 (assumed from the previous order of the match)

" a correctly played game, and useful specimen for textbooks." (19)

After three successive draws, Napier needed to secure a win and chose to play the King's Gambit. Teichmann declined the gambit and Napier employed Rezso Charousek 's rarely seen variation with <3.Qf3>. The resulting position left little opportunity for either player and both played solidly towards an expected draw after 30 moves.

Game 10

Friday 3rd March 1905.

"Victory of Teichmann. The score at three to one in favour of Teichmann, fewer than four successive draws occurred in this match. The spell was at last broken on Friday in the tenth game, a Lopez, which Napier defended with <a6>, followed by <c5>. Napier committed an oversight, and he resigned on the 35th move." (20)

In this game, Teichmann marched his King to victory on <f6>! Unlike Game 8, Napier showed his aggressive intentions as Black by playing an early <f5> thrust in the Ruy Lopez. Napier was outplayed in this game.

Game 11

Saturday 4th March 1905.

"In the eleventh and final game, played on Saturday, Napier risked a gambit. Teichmann, with a Falkbeer defence, obtained a strong counter-attack, and won the game and the match." (21)

Teichmann accepted Napier's second King's Gambit of the match with the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit. Napier misplayed the opening and his King was left vulnerable in the centre. Teichmann soon won two pawns and pursued his opponent's hapless King to <c4> whereupon Napier resigned.

"During his Scotch visit Mr Napier has made many friends in Glasgow, and Mr Logan, on behalf of the Glasgow Club, made a neat little speech on the conclusion of the match, expressing the pleasure Mr Napier's presence had afforded the members. Mr Teichmann remains in Glasgow for another fortnight." (22)

Contemporary reaction

The commentators of the time had generally expected Teichmann to win, but not by such a margin. Indeed, there was perplexity as to why Napier, who was undoubtedly a powerful and accomplished player, should have been so badly beaten.

"The Teichmann-Napier match ended badly for the British champion ... This result gives Teichmann strong claim be considered the best player now resident in England. The same time Napier was clearly not at his best, and the loss of the two first games seems have quite discouraged him." (23)

"If it may not be taken as altogether unexpected that Teichmann should have won the match, it will be a surprise that should have achieved so decided a victory; that is to say, judging by the figures. But those who have read the games will admit that Napier, for some reason which we do not know, must have been quite out of form. He not only seems to have been unable to make an effort (of which he is fully capable), but he committed oversights from which his published games are generally free." (24)

"We think it is only fair, however, to say that Mr Napier, like so many other young players, does not realise the fact that there are limits of a physical nature which should deter anyone from trying to play too much chess in so short a space of time as he has tried to do. The winner has given us very fine proot of his powers. To defeat a first-class player by such overwhelming score is a great feat, which forcibly points to the suggestion that Teichmann may perhaps make a better opponent for Marshall than Janowski has done." (see Janowski - Marshall, 2nd Match (1905)) (25)

"Without the least desire to diminish the merit of decisive a victory, is nevertheless felt that a better stand was expected to be made Napier, who won two tournaments last summer in very good style." (26)

"Bon Voyage to Napier who is returning to the United States! This brilliant young master has had some astonishing successes since he came to these shores last summer. Indeed, there has only been one serious check to his victorious career his defeat in his match at Glasgow with Teichmann, against whom he failed to chew anything like his true form.

His victories in the National Tournament at the City of London Chess Club and at the Hastings Federation Congress will be remembered, while the next winner of the British Amateur Cup will prize it the more became of the name of Napier last inscribed thereon. Napier will probably not play in the Ostend Tournament, but we shall doubtless hear much of him in future in Master chess and may perhaps be able to congratulate him personally someday on further victories." (27)

Notes

(1). "Sheffield Daily Telegraph" Wednesday 15th February 1905, page 12.

(2). "Woolwich Gazette", Friday 24th February 1905, page 6.

(3). https://www.parliament.uk/business/...

(4). "Bristol Times and Mirror", Saturday 4th February 1905, page 11.

(5). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 18th February 1905, page 12.

(6). "Linlithgowshire Gazette", Friday 22nd November 1901, page 7.

(7). "Falkirk Herald", Wednesday 1st March 1905, page 8.

(8). "Sheffield Daily Telegraph" Wednesday 15th February 1905, page 12.

(9). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 18th February 1905, page 12.

(10). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 18th February 1905, page 12.

(11). "Woolwich Gazette", Friday 24th February 1905, page 6.

(12). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 25th February 1905, page 12.

(13). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 25th February 1905, page 12.

(14). "Sheffield Evening Telegraph", Wednesday 22nd February 1905, page 4.

(15). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 25th February 1905, page 12.

(16). "Sheffield Daily Telegraph" Friday 24th February 1905, page 11.

(17). "Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer", Monday 27th February 1905.

(18). "Sheffield Daily Telegraph" Wednesday 1st March 1905, page 9.

(19). "Northern Whig", Thursday 9th March 1905, page 3.

(20). "Sheffield Daily Telegraph", Monday 6th March 1905, page 11.

(21). "Lancashire Evening Post", Monday 6th March 1905, page 5.

(22). "Falkirk Herald", Wednesday 8th March 1905, page 8.

(23). "London Daily News", Saturday 11 March 1905, page 11.

(24). "The Field", Saturday 11th March 1905, page 32.

(25). "Pall Mall Gazette", Saturday 11th March 1905, page 12.

(26). "London Evening Standard", Tuesday 7th March 1905, page 9.

(27). "Woolwich Gazette", Friday 12 May 1905, page 7.

Original collection and text by User: Chessical.

Games 1,2,5,6,7,8,9 and 11 were submitted to the Database to complete the match record.