Introduction

This was an exhibition match between the world champion Emanuel Lasker and David Janowski. The openings were prearranged as the Evans' Gambit (Evans Gambit (C52)) and the Bishop's Gambit (King's Gambit Accepted (C33)), obviously in expectation of combative play.

Janowski arrived in Manchester on Monday 9th December and that evening accompanied Lasker to a 16-board simultaneous display in Sale on 9th December. Janowski "remained an onlooker during the performance, received a hearty welcome from the members of the club..." (1)

This two-game match took place from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th December 1901, in Manchester, England. It was sponsored and administered by the Manchester Chess Club, and took place at their premises at 6, Bank Street. This would be the second match Lasker had played in Manchester - Lasker - Miniati (1890)

Lasker

Despite being world champion, between 1901 and 1907 Lasker played little professional chess. He took part in two tournaments - Cambridge Springs (1904) and Trenton Falls 1906 (a Rice Gambit tournament with three minor masters) and contested two exhibition matches. This was the first of these two matches, the second being a six-game exhibition match featuring the Rice Gambit against Mikhail Chigorin in 1903 which Lasker lost (+1 -2 =3).

At the end of 1901, Lasker was in Manchester as he had secured a temporary post as an assistant lectureship at Owens College (which was part of the University of Manchester). (2) He stated that he would be unable to play at Monte Carlo (1902) due to his new appointment. (3)

" His academic achievements particularly his dissertation and his Theory of Modules and Ideals (1905) should have been a sufficient basis for him to be offered a professorship at a good university. In Germany, however, he lacked a "Habilitation" (a qualification to lecture -ed.) while in England and the United States many academic posts were primarily lectureships with a large teaching load and with little time for research and travel... (4)

It appears that Lasker was supplementing his income by actively undertaking simultaneous displays in December 1901. The newspapers reported two local displays: a 22- board display in Burnley on 3rd December (5), a 16-board display in Sale (6) on 9th December and on 23rd December a 40-board display in Paris (7).

Janowski

Janowski was making his first tour of England. After a lukewarm reception in London, Janowski gave simultaneous displays in Birmingham and Liverpool; he then spent two weeks in Manchester where he gave further simultaneous displays. (8) He does not seem to have enjoyed the experience:

M. Janowski is young and enthusiastic, and certainly one of the finest players in the world...M. Janowski nurses, we are told, some grudge against England, and ridicules English clubs and English players unsparingly... (9)

The period 1898-1914 was Janowski's most successful portion of his career. At the time of this match, he was 33 years old. Edo Chess shows him entering the top ten in 1896 and being 5th in 1902 (10) and Chessmetrics has the same assessment. (11)

Match organization

"An interesting impromptu contest of two games between Dr. E.Lasker and Mons. D. Janowski was promoted by and played under the auspices of the Manchester Chess Club on December 11th and 12th. The second game actually finished on the 13th, there being a little bit of play left on the 12th, at 10:30. A certain sum was guaranteed to the players by the committee of the club, and all the arrangements were left in the hands of Mr. J Burgess (president), Mr. Rhodes Marriot (vice-president), Mr. W.D.Bailey (hon. sec) and Mr. Fineberg.

Notwithstanding that there was very little time at the disposal of the sub-committee to make and carry out their arrangements, the novel and interesting encounter proved a great success both financially and otherwise. Double the amount of the guarantee was raised and divided equally between the renowned masters.

Both games were of a highly entertaining character, some fine play being shown by both exponents, Lasker maintaining his great reputation by winning the first and drawing the second game, although having had no serious chess for twelve months or more, whilst Janowski by his really fine play in the second game added considerably to his laurels.

The moves of both games were recorded on a couple of wall boards, one of which was kindly lent by the Liverpool Chess Club. On the second day of the match the players, along with the sub-committee and some of the patrons, were photographed, but not as successfully as one could have wished (the light being bad). (12)

The match attracted the notable attendance of the Lord Mayor Sir James Hoy and affluent patronage.

"The two games played between M. Janowski and Dr. E. Lasker were watched by many interested spectators. There were four kinds of tickets given out, namely, patrons' tickets from 7s. 6d. (£32.82/$38 in 2022 value) upwards, tickets at 5s. (£21.45/$25), 2s. 6d. (£10.73/$12.50), and even 1s. (£.4.20/$4.90) tickets and all kinds of tickets found ready takers." (13)(14)

"THE MATCH BETWEEN DR. E. LASKER AND M. JANOWSKI. of which an announcement has previously been made will take place today and tomorrow (Thursday), at the rooms of the Manchester C. C, 6, Bank-Street. A committee, consisting of Messrs. J. Burgess, president, R. Marriott, the Northern Champion, and vice-president, W. D. Bailey, hon. secretary, and H. M. Fineberg, all of M.C.C, kindly took all arrangements into their hands. The cordial support of all leading Manchester chess amateurs has been given to the matter, and the Lord Mayor of Manchester has graciously consented to assist at the opening of the second game. Play will take place each day from 3—5 and 7—10 p.m. The two players have agreed to open with the Evans' Gambit or the Bishop's Gambit, lots to be drawn to determine which of the two openings is to be chosen." (15)

Progress of the match

Janowski had White in the first game.

          1 2 
Lasker    1 ½ 1½
Janowski  0 ½  ½

"CHESS IN MANCHESTER. WORLD'S CHAMPION AGAINST THE CHAMPION OF FRANCE. Yesterday afternoon, at the rooms of the Manchester Chess Club, Bank-street, a grand exhibition match commenced between Dr. E. Lasher, chess champion of the world, and M. D. Janowski, chess champion of France. There were not many present at the opening, but the assembly included six members of the Manchester Ladies' Chess Club. Mons.

Janowski won the toss, and opened with the Evans' gambit, an unusual opening for masters of the game. It was not until four o'clock that Dr. Lasker made headway. Then the game seemed to be in his favour. Up to five o'clock, however, it was pretty even, appeared to the spectator that had the advantage On the resumption of play at seven o'clock, M. Janowski seemed to lose still more ground, but subsequently, the game became more intricate, and a draw seemed imminent. Towards 9 o'clock queens were exchanged, but at ten o'clock Lakser had a rook and three pawns to his opponent's rook and one pawn. That being a losing ending, Janowski resigned at five minutes past ten." (16)

Game Two

"CHESS. EXHIBITION GAME AT THE MANCHESTER CHESS CLUB. The second match between Dr. E. Lasker and M. Janowski, chess champion of France, was played at the Manchester Chess Club yesterday.

The opening adopted was the Bishop's Gambit, and M. Janowski the second player adopted the customary course of surrendering the gambit pawn. Dr. Lasker succeeded in obtaining the better position and ultimately came out of a series of exchanges with the gain of a pawn. At this point, M. Janowski, being pressed for time, had to make several moves in rapid succession, and his 29th move he gave his opponent the opportunity of winning a rook for a knight. Dr. Lasker, in endeavouring to secure further advantage, gave black an opportunity to sacrifice his queen for two pieces, and the result was that he remained with two rooks, a bishop, and five pawns, against queen, rook, and six pawns. In the fine play that followed Janowski recovered his lost ground, and after a series of exchanges was left with a rook and two pawns against rook and one pawn.

At half-past ten, Dr. Lasker suggested that a draw should be agreed upon, but M. Janowski having, as he said, got into form and was anxious to proceed, and it was arranged for the players to meet again this afternoon and finish the game. The complete score will be published in the " Evening News," with notes by Dr. E. Lasker." (17)

Notes

(1). "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 18th December 1901, p.5.

(2). "Cheltenham Examiner", (Cheltenham, UK), 1st January 1902 and "New York Clipper", (New York, USA) 20th December 1902, p.946.

(3) "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 11th December 1901, p.4.

(4). As per Dr. Joachim Rosenthal in "Emanuel Lasker- Vol 1, Struggle and Victories: World Chess Champion For 27 Years", Edited by Richard Forster, Michael Negele, and Raj Tischbierek, Exzelsior Verlag, Berlin, 2018, chapter 5.

(5). "Manchester Courier", (Manchester UK) 5th December 1901 p.7.

(6). "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 18th December 1901, p.5.

(7). "Manchester Evening News, (Manchester UK), 26th December 1901, p.4.

(8). "The British Chess Magazine", December 1901 p.492.

(9). "Leicester Chronicle", (Leicester UK), 25th October 1902, p.3.

(10). http://www.edochess.ca/players/p487...

(11). http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/...

(12). "The British Chess Magazine", January 1902, p.29.

(13). "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 18th December 1901.

(14) Historic currency values - see https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/mon...

(15). "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 11th December 1901.

(16). "Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser", (Manchester UK), 12th December 1901.

(17). "Manchester Evening News", (Manchester UK), 13th December 1901.

Original collection and text by User: Chessical