The Sport
December 1857
Morphy Claims U.S. Chess Championship
New Orleans native Paul Morphy won the First American Chess Congress held in New York. He defeated each of his rivals, including the strong German master Louis Paulsen in the final round. With the victory, Morphy has been hailed as the chess champion of the United States of America.
Morphy has long been considered something of a chess prodigy. He was born into a wealthy and distinguished New Orleans family. His father, Alonzo, is a lawyer and has served as a Louisiana state legislator, attorney general, and Supreme Court Justice. His mother, Louise Therese Felicite Thelcide Le Carpentier, was the musically-talented daughter of a prominent French Creole family.
According to his uncle, Ernest Morphy, no one formally taught Morphy how to play chess; rather he learned on his own as a young child from watching others play. After watching a lengthy game between Ernest and Alonzo, young Paul surprised them by stating that Ernest should have won. The older men had not realized that Paul even knew the moves, let alone any chess strategy. They were even more surprised when Paul proved his claim by resetting the pieces and demonstrating the win his uncle had missed.
Morphy’s family recognized him as a talent and encouraged him to play at family gatherings and local chess milieus. By the age of nine, he was considered one of the best players in New Orleans. In 1846, General Winfield Scott visited the city, and let his hosts know that he desired an evening of chess with a strong local player. Nine-year-old Morphy was introduced as his opponent. Scott was at first offended, thinking he was being made fun of, but he consented to play after being assured that his wishes had been scrupulously obeyed and that the boy was an excellent player who would tax his skill. Morphy beat Scott easily not once, but twice, the seond time announcing a forced checkmate after only six moves.
At age 12 Morphy played the strong professional Hungarian chess master Johann Lowenthal. The Hungarian had often played and defeated talented youngsters and considered such matches as a waste of time, but accepted the offer to play Morphy as a courtesy to Morphy’s father. By the twelfth move in the first game, Lowenthal realized he was up against a formidable opponent. It was reported that each time Morphy made a good move, Lowenthal’s eyebrows shot up in an almost comic manner. Lowenthal played three games with Morphy during his New Orleans stay, losing all three.
During recent years, Morphy has played sparingly. A diligent student, Morphy graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama in 1854. He stayed on an extra year, studying mathematics and philosophy. He was awarded an A.M. degree with the highest honors. He next attended the University of Louisiana to study law. He received an L.L.B. degree this past April. Morphy is said to know the entire Louisiana Civil Code by heart.
Morphy initially declined to participate in the First American Chess Congress, but at the urging of his uncle, he eventually decided to play. Despite his obvious talent, all who meet him are impressed by Morphy’s demeanor. The editor of Chess Monthly says of Morphy, “his genial disposition, his unaffected modesty and gentlemanly courtesy have endeared him to all his acquaintances.”
During the final round, Morphy defeated Paulsen 4 to 1, with 2 draws. Morphy was smooth-faced, dressed in perfect taste, and never said a word while playing, unless spoken to. He sat leaning a little forward, at the table, his legs crossed and his hands free from the board. He never made a motion until ready to play, and then, quickly, he reached forward and with the thumb and two fingers he made his move and as quickly withdrew until ready for his next move. Morphy never took longer than half a minute to make a move. Paulsen was much more deliberate, and during one game took seventy-five minutes to make one move. Morphy was reportedly so annoyed by this that during the lunch adjournment, he told tournament organizer, Thomas Frere, that he would not let Paulsen win another game of him, and he kept his word.
English Cricket - 1857 Review
The All England Eleven (A.E.E.) and United England Eleven (U.E.E.) met twice in 1857 at Lord‘s Cricket Ground, St John‘s Wood. During the first three day match in June, A.E.E. won by 5 wickets. At the second meeting in July, A.E.E. again prevailed, this time by 133 runs.
A.E.E. players included: captain George Parr, Alfred John Day Diver, Heathfield Harman Stephenson, Julius Caesar, Robert Crispin Tinley, and George Anderson.
U.E.E. players included: captain John Wisden, James Dean, James Grundy, William Caffyn, John Lillywhite, Thomas Lockyer, William Mortlock and William Matingell.
James Grundy became the first player to be given out handling the ball when playing for Marylebone Cricket Club v. Kent at Lord’s.
Right-hand batsman William Caffyn was the leading runscorer in England with
[email protected]. Other leading batsmen were: John Lillywhite, George Parr, Thomas Lockyer, James Grundy, Julius Caesar, Heathfield Harman Stephenson, John Wisden and James Dean.
William Caffyn, a round arm medium pacer, was also the leading wicket-taker, with 126. Other leading bowlers were: John Wisden, John Jackson, Edgar Willsher, George Griffith, William Martingell, John Lillywhite, Charles Jacob Bullock Marsham and Frederick William Bell.
Cambridge captain William Wingfield’s battling 63 could not prevent Oxford from winning by 81 in their three-day match at the Lord’s. CJB Marsham showed good form with 53 and WH Bullock hit a composed 43 as Oxford posted 242-7.
Oxford had a draw match against Marylebone Cricket Club at the Magdalen Ground, Oxford. Cambridge also had a drawn match against Marylebone CC, and lost a match by innings and 69 runs to Cambridge Town Club.
Scottish Football Club Established
The Edinburgh Academical Football Club (EAFC) was formed earlier this fall. The club plays at Raeburn Place Ground, located 10 minutes walk from Princess Street, in the new town area of Stockbridge. The ground was purchased a few years ago at a premium of 53 pounds.
The EAFC has already begun its first full season of Rugby-style football. One member wrote, “we played twenty a side, and a scrum was a scrum indeed - fifteen pushing against fifteen in a tight maul that was often immovable for minutes. The steam rose from the pack like the smoke from a charcoal burner.”
One spectator who watched a contest described it as "a game of a primitive kind...the most cruel hacking with iron-toed and heeled boots was allowed and suffered in the muddle ... the ball was composed of a raw bladder, fresh from the butcher's hands and enclosed in a leather case. It was not a game of much elaboration, but it was vigorously engaged in and enjoyed.”
Other Football News
The Liverpool Football Club was formed following a match between boys from Rugby school and some local boys under the Rugby school rules. The locals enjoyed the contest immensely and immediately formed a club so they could play football on a regular basis.