Chess History And Reminiscences
more than three-fourths are devoted to foreign players; that
apportioned, by the author, to panegyric of his present colleague,
Zukertort and to sneers, and personalities bordering on
vituperation of his past friend, the World's Champion, Steinitz,
being about equally balanced.
To the English Chess Masters mentioned, four in number,
Blackburne, Burn, Bird, and Mackenzie, the space allotted is less
than a fifth of that given to four foreign Masters, Zukertort,
Steinitz, Rosenthal, and Lowenthal. The writer himself also
figuring somewhat conspicuously.
The reason for the introduction, and at such length, of the
name of the distinguished Hungarian player, Lowenthal, into an
article presumably by title intended for living Masters, is not at
all apparent--he died in 1876. Anderssen, far more successful
if not far greater as a chess-player considered by many, including
the writer of this article, as King of all chess-players, who lived
till 1879, is not even mentioned. The selection may seem to
have been made for effect, and for the purpose of reproducing
certain too oft repeated jokes and quaint notions commonly
attributed to Lowenthal; that highly agreeable and justly popular
gentleman having apparently been regarded (if the expression
may be permitted) as a very convenient peg on which to hang
some funny sayings and ideas.
Horwitz, who died in 1884, is also in the article, supplying
further pleasantry. There will not be wanting, however, many
chess-players who will consider a description of Anderssen's play,
and great Championship and Tournament Victories of 1851, 1862,
and 1870 of at least equal interest.
Rosenthal of Paris, next to Steinitz and Zukertort, absorbs the
largest space among living players, more in fact than all the
British Masters combined; here again supposed witticisms and
pleasantries open up at the expense of the volatile and amiable
Polish player; no other plausible explanation appears to offer
for the prominency and length of space devoted to Rosenthal.
The name of a much greater though more demure Master,
happily still in the flesh, Von Heydebrand Der Lasa, considered
by many, including Morphy, as the finest chess-player of his
time, and certainly one of the most distinguished of foreign
writers, is not even mentioned.
The Prussian Masters are entirely omitted; Paulsen, most
modest and distinguished, certainly, one of the greatest players
and not second to any but Blackburne as a blindfold artist, why
is he forgotten? Bardeleben, winner of the Vizayanagram
All-comers' Tournament, Criterion, London, 1883, is another
unaccountable omission. Where is the incomparable Schallopp, the
present Prussian champion? His welcome visits from Berlin,
and performances unsurpassed for brilliancy at Hereford in 1885,
as well as London and Nottingham this year, are still pleasurably
remembered by us all. The absence of Paulsen, Bardeleben,
Schallopp, and Riemann, all living Masters of the highest
excellence, has the effect of excluding Prussia altogether, and
makes a portentous void, as it would do in any article on chess.
Tchigorin of St. Petersburg would probably, at the present
time, be equal favourite against any player in the world except
perhaps Steinitz. Though behind the Champion in Tournament
record, the young Russian player has been successful against him
in three out of four individual contests.
Tchigorin is leader of the Russian Chess Committee in the
St. Petersburg Chess Club now conducting the telegraph match
against the British Chess Club. His absence from a list of the
greatest living Masters is a grave oversight, and this most likely
is accidental; the omission of the only great Russian chess
representative, we have had the honour of welcoming to our Chess
Circle, could hardly have been intended.
Coming to players of the past in our own country, Great
Britain is made to occupy a very far back seat, and in this
respect at least Russia, Prussia, and England, through their
representatives, may join in mutual sympathy and condolence.
There can be no jealousy where all are ignored! We are
tempted to ask, "What can be thought or said of an article which,
professing to portray and describe Chess Masters, devotes near a
page to Lowenthal and more to Rosenthal, yet not a line to
Staunton or to Buckle?" Can the Reviewer have forgotten that
Staunton and Lowenthal were contemporary; if not, what can be
the explanation of such an omission?
Howard Staunton's name is certainly not second to any,
however illustrious, ever known in chess, he will ever be
remembered as the greatest chess-player of his day; and was
the most vigorous and entertaining of chess writers. Having
witnessed his play during 1845 to 1849, when he was still in full
force, deep impressions remain with us of his extraordinary
powers of combination, his soundness and accuracy. Although
comparison of chess-players, who lived or were in practice at
different times appear of little use or value, we yet have been
tempted once more to compare Staunton's, Anderssen's, Morphy's
and Steinitz's best games without arriving at any conclusion
except that Anderssen's style still appears more inventive and
finer than any other, while Steinitz is pre-eminent for care and
patience.
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