American Chess Congress

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The American Chess Congress was a series of chess tournaments held in the United States, a predecessor to the current U.S. Chess Championship. It had nine editions, the first played in 1857 and the last in 1923.

Contents
American Chess Congresses
# Year City Winner
1 1857 New York Flag of the United States Paul Morphy (United States)
2 1871 Cleveland Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (United States)
3 1874 Chicago Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (United States)
4 1876 Philadelphia Flag of Ireland James Mason (Ireland)
5 1880 New York Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (United States)
Flag of the United States James Grundy (United States)
6 1889 New York Flag of Austria Max Weiss (Austria)
Flag of Russia Mikhail Chigorin (Russia)
7 1904 St. Louis Flag of the United States Frank James Marshall (United States)
8 1921 Atlantic City Flag of France Dawid Janowski (France)
9 1923 Lake Hopatcong Flag of the United States Frank James Marshall (United States)
Flag of the United States Abraham Kupchik (United States)

[edit] First American Chess Congress

The first American Chess Congress, organized by Daniel Willard Fiske and held in New York, October 6 to November 10, 1857, was won by Paul Morphy.[1] It was a knockout tournament in which draws did not count. The top sixteen American players were invited (William Allison, Samuel Robert Calthrop, Daniel Willard Fiske, William James Fuller, Hiram Kennicott, Hubert Knott, Theodor Lichtenhein, Napoleon Marache, Hardman Philips Montgomery, Alexander Beaufort Meek, Paul Morphy, Louis Paulsen, Frederick Perrin, Benjamin Raphael, Charles Henry Stanley, and James Thompson).[2][3][4] First prize was $300. Morphy refused any money, but accepted a silver service consisting of a pitcher, four goblets, and a tray. Morphy’s prize was given to him by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Shown on the right is lithograph of the First American Chess Congress 1857. All members of the congress are shown, also those who didn't play in the main tournament. Top row: Colonel Charles Mead (chairman), George Hammond, Frederic Perrin, Daniel Willard Fiske, Hiram Kennicott, and Hardman Philips Montgomery. Left column: Hubert Knott, Louis Paulsen, and William Allison. Bottom row: Theodore Lichtenhein, James Thompson, Charles Henry Stanley, Alexander Beaufort Meek, Samuel Robert Calthrop, and Napoleon Marache. Right column: William James Fuller, Paul Morphy, and Benjamin Raphael.

First round   Quarterfinals   Semifinals   Final
                           
 Flag of the United States Paul Morphy (USA) +3=0  
 Flag of the United States James Thompson (USA) +0=0      Flag of the United States Paul Morphy (USA) +3=0  
 Flag of the United States William James Appleton Fuller (USA) +2=0    Flag of the United States Alexander Beaufort Meek (USA) +0=0  
 Flag of the United States Alexander Beaufort Meek (USA) +3=0        Flag of the United States Paul Morphy (USA) +3=1  
 Flag of the United States Hubert Knott (USA) +2=2        Flag of the United States Theodor Lichtenhein (USA) +0=1  
 Flag of the United States Frederick Perrin (USA) +3=2      Flag of the United States Frederick Perrin (USA) +0=0
 Flag of the United States Theodor Lichtenhein (USA) +3=0    Flag of the United States Theodor Lichtenhein (USA) +3=0  
 Flag of England Charles Henry Stanley (ENG) +2=0        Flag of the United States Paul Morphy (USA) +5=2
 Flag of the United States Benjamin Raphael (USA) +3=1        Flag of Germany Louis Paulsen (GER) +1=2
 Flag of the United States Hiram Kennicott (USA) +2=1      Flag of the United States Benjamin Raphael (USA) +3=2  
 Flag of the United States Daniel Fiske (USA) +2=0    Flag of the United States Napoleon Marache (USA) +2=2  
 Flag of the United States Napoleon Marache (USA) +3=0        Flag of the United States Benjamin Raphael (USA) +0=1   Third place
 Flag of the United States Samuel Robert Calthrop (USA) +0=0        Flag of Germany Louis Paulsen (GER) +3=1  
 Flag of Germany Louis Paulsen (GER) +3=0      Flag of Germany Louis Paulsen (GER) +2=0    Flag of the United States Theodor Lichtenhein (USA) +3=0
 Flag of the United States William Allison (USA) +1=0    Flag of the United States Hardman Philips Montgomery (USA) +0=0      Flag of the United States Benjamin Raphael (USA) +0=0
 Flag of the United States Hardman Philips Montgomery (USA) +3=0  

[edit] Second American Chess Congress

The second American Chess Congress was held in Cleveland in December 4-15, 1871 and won by George Henry Mackenzie. The first prize was $100 (~$1,500 today) and the total prize fund was $290 (~$5,000 today). The entry fee was $10 ($150 today). It was a double round robin tournament with a time limit of 12 moves an hour. Draw games were replayed. There were nine players (George Henry Mackenzie, Henry Hosmer, Frederick Elder, Max Judd, Preston Ware, Harsen Darwin Smith, Henry Harding, A. Johnston, and William Houghton). With the retirement of Morphy, this tournament was generally intended to recognize the best player in the United States.[5]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total wins
1 Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (USA) xxxx 1½0 ½10 11 11 11 1½1 11 11 14
2 Flag of the United States Henry Hosmer (USA) 0½1 xxxx 11 1½1 00 01 11 11 11 12
3 Flag of the United States Frederick Elder (USA) ½01 00 xxxx 01 ½½01 11 11 11 11 11
4 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) 00 0½0 10 xxxx 11 10 ½11 ½11 11 10
5 Flag of the United States Preston Ware (USA) 00 11 ½½10 00 xxxx 01 10 11 11 9
6 Flag of the United States Harsen Darwin Smith (USA) 00 10 00 01 10 xxxx 11 11 11 9
7 Flag of the United States Henry Harding (USA) 0½0 00 00 ½00 01 00 xxxx 01 11 4
8 Flag of the United States A. Johnston (USA) 00 00 00 ½00 00 00 10 xxxx 11 3
9 Flag of the United States William Houghton (USA) 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 xxxx 0

[edit] Third American Chess Congress

The third American Chess Congress was held in Chicago in July 7-16, 1874 and won by Mackenzie. There were eight players (Mackenzie, Hosmer, Judd, Bock, Elder, Perrin, Congdon, and Kennicott) and they had to pay a $20 entry fee. first place prize was $225. The tournament was again round robin, but for the first time draws were not replayed. The time control was 15 moves per hour. Elder and Kennicott withdraw before completing half their games, but their scores still counted.[6]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total wins
1 Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (USA) xx 10 1½ 11 -- 11 11 11 10½
2 Flag of the United States Henry Hosmer (USA) 01 xx 10 11 -- 11 11 11 10
3 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) 0½ 01 xx 1½ -- 11 11 -- 7
4 Flag of the United States Frederick Bock (USA) 00 00 0½ xx 1½ 11 1½ -- 5½
5 Flag of the United States Frederic Elder (USA) -- -- -- 0½ xx 01 11 -- 3½
6 Flag of the United States Frederick Perrin (USA) 00 00 00 00 10 xx 10 -- 2
7 Flag of the United States James Adams Congdon (USA) 00 00 00 0½ 00 01 xx -- 1½
8 Flag of the United States Hiram Kennicott (USA) 00 00 -- -- -- -- -- xx 0

[edit] Fourth American Chess Congress

The fourth American Chess Congress (called the American Centennial Championship) was held in Philadelphia in August 17-31, 1876 and won by James Mason. There were nine players (Mason, Judd, Davidson, Henry Bird, Elson, Roberts, Ware, Barbour, and Martinez). The entry fee was $20. First place was $300. Never intended to recognize the best player in America, this tournament was geared towards attracting foreign masters, and to awarding the Governor Garland Silver Cup, as well as celebrating the American Centennial.[7]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
1 Flag of Ireland James Mason (IRL) xx 1½ 10 1½ ½1 1½ 11 ½1 -- 10½
2 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) 0½ xx 00 10 1½ 11 11 11 -- 9
3 Flag of the United States Harry Davidson (USA) 01 11 xx ½0 0½ ½1 01 11 -- 8½
4 Flag of England Henry Edward Bird (ENG) 0½ 01 ½1 xx 0½ 11 ½1 ½1 -- 8½
5 Flag of the United States Jacob Elson (USA) ½0 0½ 1½ 1½ xx ½½ 10 11 -- 8
6 Flag of the United States Albert Roberts (USA) 0½ 00 ½0 00 ½½ xx 1½ 11 -- 5½
7 Flag of the United States Preston Ware (USA) 00 00 10 ½0 01 0½ xx ½½ -- 4
8 Flag of the United States L.D. Barbour (USA) ½0 00 00 ½0 00 00 ½½ xx -- 2
9 Flag of Cuba Dion Martinez (CUB) 00 -- ½½ -- -- -- -- -- xx 1

[edit] Fifth American Chess Congress

The fifth American Chess Congress was held in New York in January 6-26, 1880 and won by Mackenzie (he beat James Grundy on tiebreak, 2–0). There were 10 players: Cohnfeld, Congdon, Eugene Delmar, Grundy, Judd, Mackenzie, Mohle, Ryan, Sellman, and Ware.[8]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
1 Flag of the United States George Henry Mackenzie (USA) xx 0½ 10 ½½ ½1 11 11 11 1½ 11 13½
2 Flag of the United States James Grundy (USA) 1½ xx ½½ 10 1½ 11 1½ 01 11 11 13½
3 Flag of the United States Charles Mohle (USA) 01 ½½ xx 0½ 1½ 10 11 11 11 11 13
4 Flag of the United States Alexander Sellman (USA) ½½ 01 1½ xx 10 1½ 11 0½ 11 11 12½
5 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) ½0 0½ 0½ 01 xx ½1 11 11 01 11 11
6 Flag of the United States Eugene Delmar (USA) 00 00 01 0½ ½0 xx 11 11 ½1 11 9½
7 Flag of the United States John Ryan (USA) 00 0½ 00 00 00 00 xx 11 01 11 5½
8 Flag of the United States Preston Ware (USA) 00 10 00 1½ 00 00 00 xx ½1 1½ 5½
9 Flag of the United States James Adams Congdon (USA) ½0 00 00 00 10 ½0 01 0½ xx 00 3½
10 Flag of the United States Albert Cohnfeld (USA) 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0½ 11 xx 2½

[edit] Sixth American Chess Congress

The sixth American Chess Congress was held in New York in 1889 (a 20-man double round-robin tournament; one of the longest tournaments in history). The event was won by Max Weiss and Mikhail Chigorin. The top American finisher was Samuel Lipschütz, who took sixth place (his supporters in the Eastern US, tried to push his claim to being US Champion as a result of this tournament; however, Lipschütz's claim was not accepted by all). This tournament was, in a sense, the first Candidates tournament. In addition to naming a US Champion, the organizers planned to finance the winner in a World Championship match against Wilhelm Steinitz. Max Weiss and Mikhail Chigorin tied for first, and remained tied after drawing all four games of a playoff. Chigorin was not interested in challenging Steinitz again so soon, and Weiss was not interested in playing one at all, and so the plans came to nothing. However, Isidor Gunsberg, the third place finisher, was interested. In 1890, he drew a 10 wins match against Chigorin (9-9 with five draws). Because of these two results, his challenge to Steinitz was accepted, with their match being played in 1890-1.[9]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Total
1 Flag of Hungary Max Weiss (HUN) xx ½0 ½1 10 ½½ ½1 1½ 11 11 11 10 ½½ ½1 10 11 11 ½1 11 11 11 29
2 Flag of Russia Mikhail Chigorin (RUS) ½1 xx 00 ½1 11 10 00 11 01 ½1 11 11 ½1 11 10 11 11 11 11 11 29
3 Flag of England Isidor Gunsberg (ENG) ½0 11 xx 01 ½0 ½0 1½ 10 11 11 ½1 11 01 11 01 11 11 11 11 11 28½
4 Flag of England Joseph Henry Blackburne (ENG) 01 ½0 10 xx 01 10 10 01 11 10 11 11 11 11 11 10 11 ½1 11 10 27
5 Flag of England Amos Burn (ENG) ½½ 00 ½1 10 xx 1½ 00 11 11 10 11 11 01 00 11 01 11 11 11 11 26
6 Flag of the United States Samuel Lipschütz (USA) ½0 01 ½1 01 0½ xx ½1 00 11 ½1 10 ½0 ½1 11 11 11 10 11 11 11 25½
7 Flag of Ireland James Mason (IRE) 0½ 11 0½ 01 11 ½0 xx ½0 00 11 ½0 10 01 01 ½1 1½ ½1 ½½ 11 11 22
8 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) 00 00 01 10 00 11 ½1 xx 10 11 01 00 11 00 ½1 ½0 10 ½1 11 11 20
9 Flag of the United States Eugene Delmar (USA) 00 10 00 00 00 00 11 01 xx ½0 10 11 0½ 10 01 11 10 11 11 01 18
10 Flag of the United States Jackson Showalter (USA) 00 ½0 00 01 01 ½0 00 00 ½1 xx ½1 10 10 10 11 ½0 01 ½1 11 11 18
11 Flag of England William Pollock (ENG) 01 00 ½0 00 00 01 ½1 10 01 ½0 xx 01 ½1 ½1 01 11 00 00 11 11 17½
12 Flag of England Henry Bird (ENG) ½½ 00 00 00 00 ½1 01 11 00 01 10 xx ½0 11 ½1 11 00 10 ½0 11 17
13 Flag of France Jean Taubenhaus (FRA) ½0 ½0 10 00 10 ½0 10 00 1½ 01 ½0 ½1 xx 01 00 0½ ½1 10 11 11 17
14 Flag of the United States David Graham Baird (USA) 01 00 00 00 11 00 10 11 01 01 ½0 00 10 xx 10 00 01 11 10 ½1 16
15 Flag of the United States Constant Ferdinand Burille (USA) 00 01 10 00 00 00 ½0 ½0 10 00 10 ½0 11 01 xx ½1 1½ 00 ½1 11 15
16 Flag of the United States James Moore Hanham (USA) 00 00 00 01 10 00 0½ ½1 00 ½1 00 00 1½ 11 ½0 xx 10 01 0½ 11 14
17 Flag of England George Hatfield Gossip (ENG) ½0 00 00 00 00 01 ½0 01 01 10 11 11 ½0 10 0½ 01 xx 00 1½ 00 13½
18 Flag of Cuba Dion M Martinez (CUB) 00 00 00 ½0 00 00 ½½ ½0 00 ½0 11 01 01 00 11 10 11 xx 01 01 13½
19 Flag of the United States John Washington Baird (USA) 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ½1 00 01 ½0 1½ 0½ 10 xx 10 7
20 Flag of Canada Nicholas MacLeod (CAN) 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 00 00 ½0 00 00 11 10 01 xx 6½

[edit] Seventh American Chess Congress

The seventh American Chess Congress was held in St. Louis in 1904. With US Champion Harry Nelson Pillsbury ill and dying, Max Judd tried to arrange the seventh ACC, with the stipulation that the US title be awarded to the winner. Judd disputed Pillsbury's ownership of the title by challenging the legitimacy of the the whole succession since the time of Mackenzie, disputing Lipschutz's claim to have acquired the title at New York 1889, and everything that had happened since then. Pillsbury, from bed objected to Judd's plans, and prevailed on his friend, the lawyer Walter Penn Shipley to intercede. Judd's tournament was held anyway, and said to be for "The United States Tourney Championship", a title explicitly said to have no relation to the United States Championship title held by Pillsbury. The tournament was won by Frank James Marshall, ahead of Judd. There were 10 players: Louis Eisenberg, Charles Jaffe, Judd, Kemeny, Marshall, Stasch Mlotkowski, Edward F. Schrader, Eugene Wesley Schrader, Schwietzer, and Louis Uedemann. The winner was actually named U.S. Champion at the conclusion of this tournament.[10]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Total
1 Flag of the United States Frank James Marshall (USA) x 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 8½
2 Flag of the United States Max Judd (USA) 0 x 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7
3 Flag of the United States Louis Uedemann (USA) 0 1 x 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 6
4 Flag of the United States Emil Kemény (USA) 0 0 0 x 1 1 1 0 1 1 5
5 Flag of the United States Edward F. Schrader (USA) 0 0 0 0 x ½ 1 1 1 1 4½
6 Flag of the United States Louis Eisenberg (USA) 0 0 0 0 ½ x 1 1 1 1 4½
7 Flag of the United States Charles Jaffe (USA) 0 0 1 0 0 0 x 1 1 1 4
8 Flag of the United States George Schwietzer (USA) 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 x 0 1 3
9 Flag of the United States Stasch Mlotkowski (USA) ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 x 1 2½
10 Flag of the United States Eugene W. Schrader (USA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 0

[edit] Eighth American Chess Congress

The eighth American Chess Congress was held in Atlantic City in 1921. The event was won by Dawid Janowski, followed by Norman Whitaker, Jaffe, etc. There were 12 players: Samuel Factor, Hago, Harvey, Jackson, Jaffe, Janowski, Marshall, Mlotkowski, Sharp, Vladimir Sournin, Isador Turover, and Whitaker.[11]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 Total
1 Flag of France Dawid Janowski (FRA) x 0 1 1 8½
2 Flag of the United States Norman Tweed Whitaker (USA) 1 x 1 0 0 1 8
3 Flag of the United States Charles Jaffe (USA) x 0 7
4 Flag of the United States M. D. Hago (USA) x 1 6½
5 Flag of the United States Samuel Factor (USA) x 0 1 1 6
6 Flag of the United States Frank James Marshall (USA) 0 x 6
7 Flag of the United States Vladimir Sournin (USA) 1 1 x 6
8 Flag of the United States Sydney T. Sharp (USA) x ½ 1 0 5½
9 Flag of the United States Isador Samuel Turover (USA) 1 ½ x 1 5½
10 Flag of the United States Stasch Mlotkowski (USA) 0 1 0 0 x 5
11 Flag of the United States J. B. Harvey (USA) 0 0 0 x 1
12 Flag of the United States Edward Schuyler Jackson (USA) 0 x 1

[edit] Ninth American Chess Congress

The ninth and last American Chess Congress was held in Hotel Alamac in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey on August 6-21, 1923. The tournament was played between 14 players: Horace Bigelow, Roy Turnbull Black, Oscar Chajes, Albert Hodges, Dawid Janowski, Abraham Kupchik, Edward Lasker, Frank James Marshall, John Stuart Morrison, Marvin Palmer, Anthony Santasiere, Morris Schapiro, Vladimir Sournin, and Oscar Tenner. It ended with a tie between Marshall and Kupchik scoring 10½ out of 13.[12][13][14]

Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Flag of the United States Frank James Marshall (USA) x 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 10½
2 Flag of the United States Abraham Kupchik (USA) 0 x 1 0 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10½
3 Flag of France Dawid Janowski (FRA) ½ 0 x 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 10
4 Flag of the United States Edward Lasker (USA) 0 1 0 x ½ 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 ½ 1 9
5 Flag of the United States Morris Schapiro (USA) ½ 0 ½ ½ x 1 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 8½
6 Flag of the United States Roy Turnbull Black (USA) 0 ½ ½ 0 0 x 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 7
7 Flag of the United States Oscar Chajes (USA) 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 x 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 6½
8 Flag of the United States Oscar Tenner (USA) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 x ½ 1 1 0 1 1 6½
9 Flag of the United States Vladimir Sournin (USA) 0 0 0 1 0 0 ½ 0 x 1 1 1 ½ ½ 5½
10 Flag of Canada John Stuart Morrison (CAN) ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 0 0 0 x ½ ½ 1 1 5
11 Flag of the United States Albert Hodges (USA) ½ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 ½ x ½ 1 ½ 4
12 Flag of the United States Marvin Palmer (USA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 ½ ½ x 1 0 3
13 Flag of the United States Anthony Santasiere (USA) ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 x ½ 2½
14 Flag of the United States Horace Bigelow (USA) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ x 2½

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ American Chess Congress - Chess.com
  2. ^ First American Chess Congress, 1857
  3. ^ newyork1857.doc
  4. ^ First American Chess Congress Opponents
  5. ^ Second American Chess Congress, 1871
  6. ^ Third American Chess Congress, 1871
  7. ^ Fourth American Chess Congress, 1876
  8. ^ Fifth American Chess Congress, 1880
  9. ^ Sixth American Chess Congress, 1889
  10. ^ Extra, Extra, Read all About it. Judd tries to Intercept US Title (1904)
  11. ^ The Frank James Marshall Electronic Archive and Museum: Tournament and Match Record
  12. ^ "Captain Vladimir Sournin: A Russian Chess Player's Exploits in America" by Olimpiu G. Urcan
  13. ^ Chess Champs - TIME
  14. ^ Lake Hopatcong, 1923

[edit] Further Reading

This book was reprinted as 1st American Chess Congress New York 1857, Edition Olms, 1985, ISBN 3-283-00085-9 
  • Brownson, O. A. Jr (1872), The Book of the Second American Chess Congress Held at Cleveland, Ohio, Dubuque, Iowa
  • Office of the American Chess Journal (1876) The Third American Chess Congress Held at Chicago, Ill., 1874, Hannibal, Missouri.
  • Sayen, Henry W. (1876), The Grand International Centennial Chess Congress, held in Philadelphia in August, 1876, Philadelphia
These three books were reprinted in one volume as The second, third and fourth American Chess Congress, Cleveland 1871, Chicago 1874, Philadelphia 1876., Edition Olms, 1985, ISBN 3-283-00089-1 
  • Gilberg, Charles A (1881), The Fifth American Chess Congress, New York
This book was reprinted as The Fifth American Chess Congress New York 1880, Edition Olms, 1986, ISBN 3-283-00090-5 
This book was reprinted as The book of the Sixth American Chess Congress, Edition Olms, 1982, ISBN 3-283-00152-9