Chess History And Reminiscences
took place at Simpson's, and Mr. H. T. Buckle writer and author,
the best amateur at this time, came forth first. This was two years
before the first world's International Chess Tournament of 1851,
was held in London, of which the Prince Consort was patron, since
then thirty-four National Tournaments and forty-eight country
meetings, and twenty University matches between Oxford and
Cambridge have taken place.
It is now reasonably estimated that there are quite five hundred
clubs, and institutions where chess is practiced and cultivated,
and near one hundred and fifty chess columns, and both press
notice and chess clubs are continually on the increase.
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THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
Simpson's renowned establishment was opened by Mr. Samuel
Ries on its present site 100 and 101 Strand in 1828. It was soon
found to afford the most admirable facilities for the quiet and
comfortable enjoyment of chess, and hence became greatly
appreciated and proportionately patronized, and has always been
regarded by the best and most impartial friends of chess with
sentiments of extraordinary partiality.
Its influence on the practice and development of chess has been
of a very remarkable character, and of the first and highest
importance, and notwithstanding the migration of some of its
members on the occasions of the formation of the ill-fated
Westminster and West End Chess Clubs in 1867 and 1875, and
again on the institution of the present British Chess Club in
1885, its popularity is maintained to this day.
The chess events, anecdotes, and reminiscences of Simpson's
must ever form a most interesting chapter in the English or
National history of chess for the Nineteenth century, and is
intimately linked with that of the whole chess world. As the
arena of the finest and most brilliant chess play Simpson's still
stands, and has ever done so, pre-eminently first, from the time of
A. McDonnell of Belfast, and L. de La Bourdonnais of Paris, and
their first appearance there in 1828 and 1829 to the present day,
and it is there (and there alone) that can still be witnessed in
this country a competition or tournament open to all comers
conceived in the spirit of pure enthusiasm only, and it is to
Simpson's that lovers of the game must still resort if they wish
to see really fine contests between the recognized greatest
players. It was here that H. T. Buckle, the writer and author in
1849 gained leading honours in the first tournament ever held on
British soil, or so far as is known, on any soil. About this time
it was that the school of young players with some of whose games
the public have become familiarized and pleased in later years,
begun to radiate, educate, and progress. Bird as a boy, became a
favourite opponent of Mr. Buckle, so early as 1846. Boden soon
followed, and by the year 1851, both had, it was supposed, reached
about the force of Mr. Buckle, and were hailed with welcome as
British chess representatives of the highest class, and at this
period and for a quarter of a century afterwards no games were
watched with greater interest than those in the love contests
between Boden and Bird, and no names are more familiarly associated
with Divan chess play. The former has departed this life, but the
latter still plays, having within the past year or two, twice
secured first prize in Simpson's Tournaments, and first position in
1889 and third in 1890, though his forte is rather for rapid and
lively play, which he cultivates now rather more than in his younger
days, otherwise his style of 1848 and 1852 compared with 1873, 1889
and 1892 remains the same in its characteristic features. Bird's
games with Anderssen in 1852 (his best performance), with those
against Morphy in 1858, Steinitz in 1866, and Wisker (British
Champion) in 1873, rank among the most notable encounters at
Simpson's. Among the most recent events of the greatest interest at
Simpson's have been the visit of Dr. Tarrasch, of Nuremberg,
after his great International victory at Manchester, the splendid
performance of young Loman the Dutch Champion in Simpson's
Spring Tournament (following his grand City of London successes
and that in Holland). The recent games of Blackburne and Bird,
and Lasker and Bird have been other events of popular
chess interest.
To return to old times, (to boyhood days), it was during the
years 1844 to 1850 that English ascendancy in chess first became
universally recognized. As noticed in the History of Chess
elsewhere the supremacy of chess in past ages back to the Sixth
century, when Persia (as well as China received chess from India)
has alternately rested with Arabia, Spain, Italy and France,
while the question of the hour now is whether Germany or England is
best entitled to claim possession of the chess sceptre. The famous
series of contests in 1834 at the old Westminster Chess Club in
Bedford Street, Covent Garden, between McDonnell and de La
Bourdonnais may certainly be regarded as the inauguration of
the spirited matches between individuals and representatives,
both International and National, which have since become so
popular. The following was the result of this great conflict,
La Bourdonnais won 41, McDonnell 29, and there were 13 drawn.
The Evans attack, which had been invented by Capt. W. D. Evans
in 1830, was played 23 times: the attack won 15, the defence 5,
and 3 were drawn. These memorable contests are generally
considered to have given the first great impetus to International
chess competition which became further cemented and consolidated
by the match between the Champions of England and France,
Staunton and St. Amant in 1843, and the first World's Tournament
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