Anglo-American cable chess matches

The Anglo-American cable chess matches were a series of yearly chess matches between teams from the United States and Great Britain conducted over transatlantic cable from 1896 to 1911, except for the three-year gap of 1904 to 1906 when no matches were held. This series was closely contested, with each team winning six matches and one match being drawn. The individual game total over the series was also even (+39 −39 =50). The series ended when Great Britain won their third consecutive match, thereby earning permanent custody of the silver cup provided by Sir George Newnes.[1] There were other cable matches held in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but this series is the most well-known.

Prominent players from both sides of the Atlantic would participate over the years. Some who played for Great Britain included Joseph Blackburne, Amos Burn, Henry Bird, Henry Atkins, Horatio Caro, James Mason, Frederick Yates, Sir George Thomas, and Thomas Lawrence. Some who played for the United States included Harry Pillsbury, Jackson Showalter, Frank Marshall, Albert Hodges, Eugene Delmar, and John Barry.

Background

Hooper and Whyld call the first half of the 19th century the "golden age" of correspondence chess.[1] With travel difficult and expensive, chess clubs began to play games with distant clubs by mail. Examples of early matches were between Edinburgh and London from 1824–1828 and between Paris and various other cities in the 1830s and 1840s. Individual correspondence chess did not become popular until postage rates declined to more affordable levels.

Development of the electrical telegraph made a new technology available to chess clubs. The first known match by telegraph was between Washington and Baltimore in 1844. Other early matches were Liverpool versus Dublin in 1861, Liverpool versus Calcutta in 1880–1881,[1] London versus Petersburg in 1886–1887, Petersburg versus Paris in 1894–1895, and Petersburg versus Vienna in 1898–1899.[2] These matches were not played in one session, but were conducted over a longer time period as in chess played via mail.

The first attempt at a same-session cable match and the direct predecessor of the Anglo-American series was a match between the British Chess Club and the Manhattan Chess Club on 9 March 1895. Only one of the ten games concluded by the time the London hall was required to close, a draw being agreed. Emanuel Lasker, charged with adjudicating unfinished games, suggested draws on the nine remaining boards and this was acceptable to both clubs.[3]

The matches

Drawing on experience with the 1895 cable match played by the Manhattan club, the Brooklyn Chess Club organized the first Anglo-American chess match. Participation was restricted to native citizens, and play was held for two four-hour sessions per day over two days. The time limit was 20 moves per hour. The Brooklyn club suggested eight players per team and the British club preferred ten players per team. The first match in 1896 used eight players per team, but all subsequent matches used ten players per team. As before, Emanuel Lasker would adjudicate any unfinished games, although over the course of the series adjudication would not be required until the tenth match of the series. Sir George Newnes was president of the British Chess Club and he provided the silver cup that would go to the winning team until the next match.[4] Negotiation of conditions were substantially complete by the end of 1895,[5] but the match itself would not take place until the spring of 1896.

1896 match

Principals in the 1896 international chess cable match along with the $800 Sir George Newnes Cup

The first match of the series was held 13–14 March 1896. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. The United States team won by a single game.[6]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyBlackburneGB
2ShowalterBurnUS
3BurilleBirdUS
4BarryTinsleyUS
5HymesLocockdraw
6HodgesMillsdraw
7DelmarAtkinsdraw
8BairdJacksonGB
TotalUS

1897 match

The 1897 match was held 12–13 February 1897. The British team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on the even-numbered boards. The British team won by a single game, tying the series at one match each.[7]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyBlackburnedraw
2ShowalterLocockUS
3BurilleAtkinsGB
4BarryLawrenceUS
5HymesMillsdraw
6HodgesBellinghamdraw
7DelmarBlakeUS
8HelmsJacksonGB
9TeedColeGB
10McCutcheonJacobsGB
TotalGB

1898 match

United States Team of the 1898 match (left) and setup of the match (right). Source: American Chess Magazine March 1898

The third match was held 18–19 March 1898. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. The British team won the match by a single game, taking the lead in the series two matches to one, and positioning themselves to end the series and take permanent possession of the Newnes cup should they win the 1899 match for three consecutive match wins.[8] The British players were at the Grand Hall of the Hotel Cecil in London, along with Leopold Hoffer serving as the umpire for the American team.[9] The American players were at the Academy of Music in Brooklyn, with Isaac Rice serving as umpire for the British team.[9] World Champion Emanuel Lasker was the adjudicator, and for the third time Baron Albert von Rothschild was the referee.[9] The moves were transmitted by the Commercial Cable Company.[9]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1Harry PillsburyJoseph Henry Blackburnedraw
2Jackson ShowalterAmos BurnUS
3J. F. BarryHoratio CaroUS
4Edward HymesHenry Ernest Atkinsdraw
5Albert HodgesG. E. BellinghamUS
6Eugene DelmarD. Y. MillsGB
7David Graham BairdC. D. Locockdraw
8F. K. YoungE. M. JacksonGB
9A. K. RobinsonHerbert JacobsGB
10J. A. GalbreathHerbert William TrenchardGB
TotalGB

1899 match

The 1899 match was held 11–12 March 1899. The British team had white on odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on even-numbered boards. The United States team won by a margin of two games, tying the series at two matches each.[10]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyBlackburneGB
2ShowalterAtkinsUS
3BarryLawrenceUS
4HodgesJacksonUS
5HymesMillsdraw
6VoigtJacobsdraw
7JohnstonLocockdraw
8MarshallWainwrightdraw
9NewmanBellinghamdraw
10BairdTrencharddraw
Total64US

1900 match

The 1900 match was held 23–24 March 1900. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. The United States team won by a margin of two games and they now led the British team three matches to two. The United States team was also in position to end the series and win permanent custody of the Newnes cup should they win the 1901 match.[11]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyBlackburnedraw
2ShowalterLeedraw
3BarryAtkinsUS
4HodgesBellinghamUS
5HymesMillsdraw
6VoigtLawrenceUS
7MarshallJacksonGB
8BamptonJacobsGB
9NewmanWarddraw
10DelmarTrenchardUS
Total64US

1901 match

The 1901 match was held 19–20 April 1901. The British team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on the even-numbered boards. The match was tied at five games each. As the United States team did not win three consecutive matches, the series was not ended.[12]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyBlackburneUS
2ShowalterMasonGB
3BarryLeedraw
4HodgesMillsdraw
5HymesAtkinsUS
6VoigtBellinghamdraw
7MarshallWardGB
8BamptonJacksondraw
9NewmanJacobsUS
10HowellMichellGB
Total55draw

1902 match

The 1902 match was held 14–15 March 1902. Harry Pillsbury and Frank Marshall were in Europe to play at Monte Carlo, so they traveled to London to play their games in person. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. The United States team won by a single game.[13]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyLawrencedraw
2BarryMasondraw
3MarshallAtkinsGB
4HodgesLeeUS
5HymesMillsdraw
6VoigtBellinghamdraw
7DelmarTrenchardGB
8NewmanBlakedraw
9HowellMichellUS
10HelmsGirdlestoneUS
TotalUS

1903 match

The 1903 match was held 3–4 April 1903. The British team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on the even-numbered boards. Harry Pillsbury and Frank Marshall were in Europe to play at Monte Carlo, so they traveled to London to play their games in person. The United States team won by a margin of one game. With two consecutive match wins, the United States team could take permanent possession of the Newnes cup and end the series by winning the next match.[14]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1PillsburyLawrencedraw
2BarryBlackburneUS
3HodgesMillsdraw
4MarshallAtkinsUS
5HymesBellinghamGB
6VoigtTrenchardUS
7NewmanMichellGB
8DelmarJacobsdraw
9HowellGunstonGB
10HelmsHookeUS
TotalUS

1904-1906

No matches were held during these years due to other demand for cable traffic and technical difficulties. In 1904 the Russo-Japanese war broke out a few weeks before the planned date of the cable match, and demand for war news made the cable match impractical.[15] In 1905, two of the transatlantic cables broke, one the night before the match was to begin.[16] Cable companies, initially less concerned about partially absorbing the costs of transmission during the slow period at the end of a week, became more reluctant to participate with increased demand for cable traffic.[17] The series was not reestablished until 1907.

1907 match

The 1907 match was held 22–23 February 1907. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. Howell was in London, so played his game in person. The British team won by a single game.[18]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1MarshallBurndraw
2BarryAtkinsGB
3HodgesLawrencedraw
4VoigtBlackburnedraw
5MorganRichmondGB
6FoxLeedraw
7BamptonWardUS
8WolbrechtHolmesdraw
9HowellMichellUS
10RobinsonWainwrightGB
TotalGB

1908 match

The 1908 match was held 13–14 March 1908. The British team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on the even-numbered boards. The United States team won by a margin of three games. The teams could not agree on a result for two uncompleted games (Blackburne–Hodges and Delmar–Richmond), so for the first time in the series adjudication was required.[19]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1HodgesBlackburnedraw
2VoigtAtkinsdraw
3HelmsLawrencedraw
4DelmarRichmonddraw
5StadelmanWainwrightdraw
6HowellWarddraw
7SchwietzerEnglandUS
8WolbrectMichellUS
9LibairePalmerUS
10RobinsonSergeantdraw
TotalUS

1909 match

The 1909 match was held 26–27 March 1909. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards, and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. One unfinished game required adjudication (Mlotkowski-Sergeant). The British team won by a margin of two games.[20]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1MarshallBlackburneUS
2BarryLawrencedraw
3HodgesWardUS
4VoigtWainwrightUS
5HowellBlakeGB
6HelmsMichellGB
7SchwietzerWahltuchGB
8StadelmanHolmesdraw
9MlotkowskiSergeantGB
10RuthJacobsGB
Total46GB

1910 match

The 1910 match was held 11–12 March 1910. The United States team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the British team had white on the even-numbered boards. There were three unfinished games that required adjudication (Marshall–Blackburne, Wahltuch–Voigt, and Rosenfeld–Thomas). The British team won by a margin of three games. With two consecutive match victories, the British team could end the series and take permanent possession of the Newnes cup with a win in the 1911 match.[21] Sir George Newnes died several months after the 1910 match, so he would not see the completion of the series in 1911.[22]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1MarshallBlackburneUS
2BarryAtkinsGB
3HodgesLawrencedraw
4VoigtWahltuchGB
5WolbrechtYatesGB
6StadelmanWainwrightGB
7SchweitzerWarddraw
8BlackBlakeUS
9RosenfeldThomasGB
10MeyerMichelldraw
TotalGB

1911 match

The 1911 match was held 21–22 April 1911. The British team had white on the odd-numbered boards and the United States team had white on the even-numbered boards. Frank Marshall was in Europe to play at San Sebastian, so he traveled to London to play in person. The British team won by a margin of two games, tying both the match record (+6 -6 =1) and the individual game record (+39 +39 =50). However, by winning three consecutive matches, the British team took permanent possession of the Newnes cup and ended the series. Fox was awarded a special gold medal for the best win by a United States player.[23]

BoardUnited StatesGreat BritainWinner
1MarshallBurnGB
2HodgesAtkinsdraw
3FoxLawrenceUS
4BarryWahltuchGB
5VoigtYatesGB
6BlackRichmondUS
7WalcottWardGB
8MilnesThomasGB
9SchwietzerMichelldraw
10MeyerColeUS
Total46GB

Team members

British

Joseph Blackburne
MatchesPlayerResultMatchesPlayerResultMatchesPlayerResult
12Henry Atkins+4 −4 =44Amos Burn+1 −2 =11Henry Bird+0 −1 =0
11Joseph Blackburne+2 −4 =54Francis Lee+0 −1 =31Horatio Caro+0 −1 =0
10Thomas Lawrence+0 −4 =64Charles Locock+0 −1 =31Harold Cole+0 −1 =0
8Reginald Michell+3 −3 =24George Wainwright+2 −1 =21Henry Cole+1 −0 =0
8Daniel Mills+1 −0 =73George Richmond+1 −1 =11P R England+0 −1 =0
7George Edward H Bellingham+1 −2 =43Victor Wahltuch+3 −0 =01T B Girdlestone+0 −1 =0
7Herbert Jacobs+4 −1 =22Harry Holmes+0 −0 =21William Gunston+1 −0 =0
7William Ward+2 −2 =32James Mason+1 −0 =11George Hooke+0 −1 =0
6Edward Jackson+4 −1 =12Edward Sergeant+1 −0 =11W C Palmer+0 −1 =0
5Herbert Trenchard+2 −2 =12George Thomas+2 −0 =01Samuel Tinsley+0 −1 =0
4Joseph Blake+1 −2 =12Frederick Yates+2 −0 =0

United States

Harry Pillsbury
MatchesPlayerResultMatchesPlayerResultMatchesPlayerResult
13Albert Hodges+5 −0 =84George Schwietzer+1 −1 =21Sidney Johnston+0 −0 =1
12John Barry+6 −3 =33David Baird+0 −1 =21Edward Libaire+1 −0 =0
9Hermann Voigt+3 −2 =53Samuel Bampton+1 −1 =11John McCutcheon+0 −1 =0
9Frank Marshall+3 −4 =23Alfred Robinson+0 −2 =11B F Milnes+0 −1 =0
8Edward Hymes+1 −1 =63Samuel Stadelman+0 −1 =21Stasch Mlotkowski+0 −1 =0
8Harry Pillsbury+1 −2 =53George Wolbrecht+1 −1 =11Mordecai Morgan+0 −1 =0
7Eugene Delmar+2 −2 =32Roy Turnbull Black+2 −0 =01Herbert Rosenfeld+0 −1 =0
6Clarence Howell+2 −3 =12Constant Burille+1 −1 =01William Ruth+0 −1 =0
6Jackson Showalter+4 −1 =12Albert Fox+1 −0 =11Frank Teed+0 −1 =0
5Hermann Helms+2 −2 =12L B Meyer+1 −0 =11George Walcott+0 −1 =0
5Charles Newman+1 −1 =31John Galbreath+0 −1 =01Franklin Young+0 −1 =0

Other Anglo-American cable matches

Between 1899 and 1924, eleven Anglo-American university cable matches were held. As with the national teams, it was an evenly-contested series, with four wins each and three drawn matches. A special cable match between the House of Commons and the House of Representatives held in 1897 was also drawn.[2]

See also

References

  1. Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1984). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  2. Sunnucks, Anne (1970). The encyclopedia of chess. New York: St. Martin's Press.
  3. "Great chess match a draw". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 10 March 1895. p. 10.
  4. "International chess tourney". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 23 February 1896. p. 3.
  5. "Rules of the big match". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 19 November 1895. p. 24.
  6. "America wins the chess cup". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 15 March 1896. p. 7.
  7. "Chess cup goes to England". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 14 February 1897. p. 28.
  8. "British team wins the chess match". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 20 March 1898. p. 10.
  9. "The Cable Match", American Chess Magazine, 1 (10), p. 547, March 1898
  10. "America's team wins the Newnes cup". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 12 March 1899. p. 8.
  11. "Chess trophy won in an exciting finish". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 25 March 1900. p. 8.
  12. "Chess match ends in drawn battle". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 21 April 1901. p. 5.
  13. "America wins chess cable match". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 16 March 1902. p. 40.
  14. "American chess team wins". New York Sun. 5 April 1903. p. 8.
  15. "Cable match off because of war demands". New York Times. 21 February 1904. p. 10.
  16. "From the editorial chair". Lasker's Chess Magazine. 2 (June): 2–3. 1905.
  17. "The cable matches". Lasker's Chess Magazine. 2 (May): 68–69. 1905.
  18. "Americans lose chess match". New York Sun. 24 February 1907. p. 12.
  19. "Americans win chess match". New York Sun. 15 March 1908. p. 9.
  20. "British win chess match". New York Sun. 28 March 1909. p. 7.
  21. "Britons succeed at chess". New York Sun. 13 March 1910. p. 14.
  22. "Sir George Newnes dead". New York Times. 10 June 1910. p. 9.
  23. "English win at chess". New York Tribune. 23 April 1911. p. 11.
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