Chess in 1862
by Bill Wall
In 1862, the first study-composing tournament, organized by Lowenthal, was won by Horwitz.
In 1862, analysis of From's gambit first appeared in SCHACHZEITUNG.
In 1862, chess player Armand Edward Blackmar (1826-1888), of the Blackmar Gambit and Blackmar-Diemer fame, was arrested by Union General Ben Butler (1818-1893) and imprisoned by Union soldiers in New Orleans for publishing “seditious” (Confederate) music, such as the Bonnie Blue Flag (Band of Brothers) and the Dixie War Song.
In 1862, the Governor-General of St. Petersburg closed the St. Petersburg Chess Club, which, according to the official statement, was used at the center for disseminating false reports. (source: London Times, June 19, 1862)
In 1862, George Mackenzie won a handicap tournament in London, defeating Anderssen.
In 1862, the first international telegraph chess game was played between Hugh Kennedy in England and Serafino Dubois in Italy.
In 1862, St Petersburg 1862 was won by Ignatz Kolisch.
In 1862, Dusseldorf 1862 was won by Max Lange.
In 1862, Celso Golmayo y Zupide became Cuban chess champion after he defeated Felix Sicre in a match.
On March 5, 1862, Siegbert Tarrasch was born in Breslau. He was German champion in 1889, 1892, and 1894. He was World Champion Challenger in 1908. He died in 1934.
On May 29, 1862, Henry Buckle died in Damascus of typhoid fever. He was a historian and leading British player.
On June 1, 1862 the first time hourglasses were used as clocks in a tournament, the London International. Lowenthal organized the world's 2nd international tournament in London. It was the first international Round Robin event.
In 1862 Steinitz, age 26, was invited to play in the second international tournament in London. He traveled to London and played in his first international tournament. He was the Austrian delegate to the tournament and was sponsored by the Vienna Chess Society. He took 6th place (out of 14) behind Adolf Anderssen, Louis Paulsen, John Owen, George MacDonnell, and Serafino Dubois. His score was 8 wins, 5 losses (draws did not count). His prize money for 6th place was 5 pounds sterling. He was awarded the brilliancy prize of the tournament from his win over Augustus Mongredien, a Center Counter game. He sacrificed his rook and later forced mate. His games earned him the name of “Austrian Morphy.”
On June 16, 1862, Adolf Anderssen won the London International.
On July 5, 1862, Horatio Caro was born in Newcastle, England. He published some of the first analysis of the Caro-Kann in 1886.
In July 1862, the CHESS PLAYER'S CHRONICLE chess magazine ceased publication.
On September 7, 1862, the 2nd West German Chess Congress, Dusseldorf, was won by Max Lange.
On September 26, 1862, James Leonard died in Annapolis, Maryland at the age of 20. He fought for the Union in the American Civil War and was captured by the Confederates. While being held as a prisoner of war, he died of dysentery a few days before his 21st birthday. He was a strong American master and was able to play as many as 10 games simultaneously blindfolded. He enlisted in February, 1862 and was considered the next Paul Morphy before he died. (source: New York Times, Oct 5, 1862)
On October 16, 1862, Hermann von Gottschall was born in Posen, Prussia. He was a German chess master.
On October 24, 1862, Gersz Salwe was born in Warsaw. He was a strong Polish player. He won the 4th Russian championship in 1906.
In October 1862, Paul Morphy was in Cuba. On October 30, 1862, he left for Cadiz on a Spanish steamer. By the end of the year he was in Paris. A Paris correspondent reported that Morphy had not been on any Confederate staff, nor had he taken any part in the Civil War. (source: New York Times, Jan 21, 1863)
In December 1862, Isaac Rice took 1st place in the Brooklyn Chess Club championship, winning a set of Staunton chessmen. (source: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec 15, 1862)
On December 16, 1862, George Hume was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a problemist and collector.