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James Mason
Mason 
 

Number of games in database: 608
Years covered: 1870 to 1904
Overall record: +214 -189 =198 (52.1%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 7 exhibition games, blitz/rapid, odds games, etc. are excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Ruy Lopez (45) 
    C77 C67 C78 C61 C66
 Giuoco Piano (42) 
    C50 C54 C53
 Queen's Pawn Game (26) 
    D00 D02 A40 A46 D04
 Sicilian (22) 
    B40 B45 B30 B27 B32
 French Defense (22) 
    C11 C01 C13 C00 C14
 Bird's Opening (15) 
    A03 A02
With the Black pieces:
 French Defense (76) 
    C11 C01 C13 C00 C14
 French (49) 
    C11 C13 C00 C10 C12
 Ruy Lopez (39) 
    C65 C67 C80 C77 C61
 Petrov (36) 
    C42 C43
 Queen's Pawn Game (17) 
    D00 A46 D05 D04 D02
 Four Knights (15) 
    C48 C49 C47
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   J Mason vs Winawer, 1882 1-0
   J Mason vs Chigorin, 1889 1-0
   J Mason vs Janowski, 1902 1-0
   J Mason vs NN, 1900 1-0
   J Noa vs J Mason, 1883 0-1
   J Mason vs Englisch, 1882 1/2-1/2
   Chigorin vs J Mason, 1889 0-1
   J Mason vs Wittek, 1882 1-0
   Mackenzie vs J Mason, 1882 1/2-1/2
   Bird vs J Mason, 1875 0-1

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   Bird - Mason 1875/76 (1875)
   4th American Chess Congress, Philadelphia (1876)
   Wiesbaden (1880)
   London (1900)
   3rd DSB Congress, Nuremberg (1883)
   Vienna (1882)
   4th DSB Congress, Hamburg (1885)
   2nd DSB Congress, Berlin (1881)
   London (1883)
   6th American Chess Congress, New York (1889)
   6th BCA Congress, Manchester (1890)
   7th DSB Congress, Dresden (1892)
   London (1899)
   Monte Carlo (1903)
   Hastings (1895)

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   0ZeR0's collected games volume 27 by 0ZeR0
   akiba82's favorite games by mariofrisini
   akiba82's favorite games by akiba82
   New York 1889 by suenteus po 147
   New York 1889 by Mal Un
   London 1883 by suenteus po 147
   London 1883 by JoseTigranTalFischer
   Vienna 1882 by suenteus po 147

GAMES ANNOTATED BY MASON: [what is this?]
   Pillsbury vs Burn, 1895
   Tarrasch vs J Mieses, 1895
   Tinsley vs Tarrasch, 1895
   Tinsley vs Schlechter, 1895


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JAMES MASON
(born Nov-19-1849, died Jan-12-1905, 55 years old) Ireland

[what is this?]

James Mason was born on November 19, 1849 in Kilkenny, Ireland. He was adopted as a child and his name changed; his original name is unknown. He immigrated to the United States in 1861 as a child, and then to England in 1878 as an adult.

While in the United States he won first prizes at the 4th American Chess Congress (4th American Chess Congress (1876)) and then at the New York Clipper tournament. He also won a match against visiting English master Henry Bird (+11 =4 -4). He edited a chess column for Wilkes' Spirit of the Times (1).

According to Chessmetrics, he was the strongest player in the world from August 1877 through June 1878 (2). In 1879 he drew a match (+5 =11 -5) with William Norwood Potter. His best result was at the Vienna (1882) tournament (+17 =12 -5) when he finished third behind the joint winners Wilhelm Steinitz and Simon Winawer. He died in Rochford, Essex, England in 1905.

Reference: (1) Buffalo Globe, August 1st, 1876. Reference: (2) http://www.chessmetrics.com/cm/CM2/...

Wikipedia article: James Mason (chess player)

Last updated: 2021-02-16 06:42:04

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 25; games 1-25 of 608  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Mason vs F Brenzinger 0-1601870Brooklyn Chess Club TournamentC51 Evans Gambit
2. P Merian vs Mason 1-0431870Casual gameC51 Evans Gambit
3. E McCutcheon vs Mason  1-0161872Cafe International, Casual gameC39 King's Gambit Accepted
4. P Richardson vs Mason 1-0201873Casual gameC52 Evans Gambit
5. Mason vs F Perrin 1-0231873Casual gameC55 Two Knights Defense
6. Mason vs G Reichhelm ½-½561874Philadelphia m1C42 Petrov Defense
7. G Reichhelm vs Mason 1-0571874Philadelphia m1C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
8. Mason vs D Martinez  0-1511874Philadelphia, First MatchB06 Robatsch
9. D Martinez vs Mason 1-0461874Philadelphia, First MatchC84 Ruy Lopez, Closed
10. Mason vs D Martinez 1-0251874Philadelphia, First MatchC25 Vienna
11. D Martinez vs Mason  0-1361874Philadelphia, First MatchC65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense
12. D Martinez vs Mason 1-0381875Third MatchC42 Petrov Defense
13. Mason vs D Martinez  ½-½561875Philadelphia, Second MatchC25 Vienna
14. Mason vs D Martinez  0-1481875Philadelphia, Second MatchC66 Ruy Lopez
15. Mason vs Bird 1-0321875offhand gameC25 Vienna
16. Mason vs Bird  0-1411875Casual gameC61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
17. Bird vs Mason  0-1191875Casual gameC52 Evans Gambit
18. Mason vs Bird 0-1321875Bird - Mason 1875/76C33 King's Gambit Accepted
19. Bird vs Mason ½-½1181875Bird - Mason 1875/76C53 Giuoco Piano
20. Bird vs Mason  0-1511875Bird - Mason 1875/76C77 Ruy Lopez
21. Mason vs Bird 1-0631875Bird - Mason 1875/76C25 Vienna
22. Mason vs Bird  ½-½391875Bird - Mason 1875/76C61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense
23. Bird vs Mason 0-1481875Bird - Mason 1875/76C43 Petrov, Modern Attack
24. Mason vs Bird 0-1621875Bird - Mason 1875/76C31 King's Gambit Declined, Falkbeer Counter Gambit
25. Bird vs Mason ½-½711875Bird - Mason 1875/76C42 Petrov Defense
 page 1 of 25; games 1-25 of 608  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Mason wins | Mason loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jan-05-04  Calli: A somewhat mysterious character, no one is sure of his real name. They are sure it's not James Mason.
Feb-10-04  capanegra: Calli, can you tell us anything more about this character, date of birth, decease, etc? Why was he so mysterious, and how do they know his name wasn’t real? I’ve always felt curious about the profile of this man.
Feb-10-04  capanegra: Thanks.
May-17-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: "The only thing we knew for sure about Henry Porter is that his name wasn't Henry Porter..." - Bob Dylan. But apparently it is Patrick O'Dwyer.
One of my favourite players. His best games are world-class. I am surprised that the sample of his ganes at this site has more losses than wins - but he was known to drink too much.
May-17-04  Calli: A nice bit of detective work, deducing the name from baptism records, but, as the article says, "we are still short of absolute final proof".
Jun-16-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: Romanovsky thought James Mason was the best chess player ever, apparently. http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hans4...
Jul-03-04  James Knight: Whats the deal with chess players in America? Must they all get drunk or go crazy?
Jul-04-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: <James Knight> Sir, are you saying we're drunk and/or crazy because we play chess, or else US chessplayers are drunk and/or crazy because we're American? Hold on, hic, my other half wants to say something while he's still sober:

BLUBELA, BLUBELA, TIMMY!!

Happy Fourth of July to all drunk crazy American chessplayers! tpstar

Jul-04-04  iron maiden: Lol, same to you. What about us sober ones?
Sep-04-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: If Mason had been able to pass a pub the way he could pass a pawn, he would have been world champion.
Sep-04-04  akiba82: As far as Mason's notable games goes, a much better choice than his game with Noa from London 1883 would be his game with black against Paulsen from Vienna 1882. This was a strategical masterpiece.
Mar-05-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Here are some "must win" positions from Mason's games: http://www.wtharvey.com/maso.html
Mar-05-05  Mate Hunter: Mason's most played opening with white is one of my favourite openings; Bernstein Variantion (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Qb3 d5) and Aitken Variantion (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nxe4 8.O-O Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bxc3 10.Ba3) give grave consequences on black's king.
Mar-05-05  akiba82: <WTHarvey> Great site, well done.
Mar-05-05  Calli: There is a new very nice site on Mason. http://www.cojodajast.freeler.nl/

Many of games have the contemporary annotations. Excellent and ambitious job translating much of it.

Mar-05-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: Here is another candidate for Mason's notable games:

J Mason vs Janowski, 1901

The final combination is a little like his famous victory over Winawer, though not quite so pretty.

Mar-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I would like to use Mason's page to wish all hibernian chessplayers a sound and electrifying St Parick's Day.

To all poor and distressed brethren,
Wheresoever they may be,
On the land, the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their suffering,
And a safe return to their native land,
If they so desire.

Mar-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Good Evening: And a toast to some of my favorite writers--James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, and Samuel Beckett.

"Stately, plump Buck Mulligan..."
"And is man any the less destroying himself for all this boasted brain of his?" "Nothing to be done."

This last would be a fitting epitaph to some of my games.

Mar-17-05  capanegra: <An Englishman> Good taste. Not at all bad, especially for an Englishman! ;)

I would add to your list Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, and my number one Irish hero: Jonathan Swift.

"When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him"

Mar-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  offramp: I am with you on the Swift; but Joyce is a close second.
Mar-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  An Englishman: Dear capanegra: Great writers all, and let's not forget the great artists as well. I've seen the Ardagh Chalice and the Book of Kells up close.

I would also offer "A Modest Proposal" that lots of English have good taste--after all, didn't they steal Shaw and Wilde and pretend they were their own? After all, we cannot overemphasize the importance of being earnest.

Jul-04-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  tpstar: An annual toast to that grand icon of American culture James Mason who so proudly exemplifies our three key virtues: chess, insanity, and alcoholism.

Happy Fourth of July, gang! (Timmy.)

Jul-04-05  James Tiberius Kirk: Whoose he?
Jul-04-05  James Tiberius Kirk: Whoose he?
Are you talking about the English actor who played Rommel?
Nov-19-06  BIDMONFA: James Mason

MASON, James
http://www.bidmonfa.com/mason_james...
_

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