James Mason vs Amos Burn annotated by Pillsbury 1895 - Montgomery County Times Newspaper

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
13 January 1900
Chess column from The Montgomery County Times Wales provided chess reports, problems and annotation. Such as in this issue.

Game:
James Mason vs Amos Burn 1-0, Hastings 185
English Opening - Agincourt Defence A13
Harry Nelson Pillsbury give annotation to this interesting tactical chess game between Mason and Burn. With today's computer engine, the tactic variation which Pillsbury given was contained error and not the best moves. Interesting insight to their chess thinking of that romantic era of chess.
See game viewer below with additional comments based on computer suggestion.

Problem:
White to play and mate in three moves, composed by unknown

Reports:
- Whilst lately visiting the headquarters of chess in London, Simpson's Divan in the Strand, we missed some old habitu'es and noticed some fresh recruits. The most notable absentee was Bird, the veteran player, who was lying on a sich bed, but is since, we are pleased to say, much better. Blackburn was also absent being on a chess tour in Scotland. Van Vliet, the genial chess editor of the Hereford Times was there deep in the mystery of an intricate hcess combination and apparently oblivious of all around him. Lee was also present and playing that game of dominoes called Matador, which seems to be a favourite game amonst freequenters of the Divan.

The mention of Simpson's Divan reminds us of an amusing story whic is told of it. A cretain well-known habitue was well known to have an aversion to having a money stake on his game, much to the disgust of the many professionals who frequent the rooms. During a game which he was playing with one of the masters, a bystander was making himself objectionable by remarking audibly on the progress of the game, and at last finished up by saying, "I am glad to see you object to the filthy lucre, Mr....." To which Mr....., whose patience was now quite exhausted, replied, "it is not the filthy lucre I object to, but the filthy looker-on." Collapse of bystander.

The Montgomery County Times chess column - 13 January 1900

game viewer : Old chess game annotation by Harry N. Pillbsury - James Mason vs Amos Burn

Steinitz vs Janowski London 1899 - Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
10 June 1899
A chess column was a regular in The Montgomery County Times, newspaper coming from The Salopian , Montgomeryshire and Cardigan area of Wales

Games:
Wilhelm Steinitz vs David Janowski 0-1, 1899 London
Queen's Gambit Declined
Although David Janowski never reach the super elite chess player of his times, he did produced a lot of excellency games. In this game he defeated Steinitz during the famous super strong 1899 London, won by Lasker. Janowski and Pillsbury were second and third place.

This issue also give two miniature games as can be see in the scanned.

Problem:
White to move and mate in four moves, composed by Sheriff Spens

This issue of Montgomery County Times chess column was focus on the report of 1899 London chess tournament.

The Montgomery County Times chess column 1899

Showalter vs Janowski 3rd Match 1-0 1899 - Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
29 April 1899
Newspaper based in Montgomery district, Wales. Chess column was already found since 1895. Sometimes it published as The Cardigan County Times, which is the same newspaper as The Montgomery County Times.

Game:
Jackson Whipps Showalter vs David Janowski 1-0, 3rd Match
Irregular Queen's Pawn Opening - Stonewall Attack
The match between two American '2600 rating' Grandmaster, as they were never in the league of Steinitz or Lasker, Showalter and Janowski. This is their third match. The issue of this week's chess column put in extensive annotation for this chess game. Enjoy.

Problem:
White to play and mate in two moves, composed by R. Steinweg

Report:
- Interesting report about the death of James Wylies, the celebrated "Herd Laddie". He was noted as draughts player and more info can be found here.

The Cardigan County Times chess column 1899

1899 East vs West Scotland Chess Games - Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
20 May 1899
Chess column from Wales newspaper, running since 1895

Game:
J.R. Longwill vs D.Y. Mills 0-1, East vs West Scottish Match 1899
Queen's Gambit Declined
Board 1 of the Scottish East and West match in 1899, the game adjucated as win for Black. This is probably strong amateur players as their names did not included in major databases. J.R. Longwill also can be found on this article and this.

Problem:
White to play and mate in two moves, composed by R.G . Thompson

Report:
- Exciting news about The London 1899 tournament. Which will attended by Lasker, Steintiz, Tarrasch, Tchigorin, Burn, and Pillsbury.

The Montgomery County Times Wales chess column

tags: historical wales chess, wales newspaper chess column, romantic chess, age of chess

Van Vliet Chess Simultaneous at Hereford 1899 - Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
6 May 1899
Chess column in the Montgomery County Times, newspaper from Wales

Game: (Status RARE)
Van Vliet vs Mr. Collins 1-0, Simultaneous at Hereford 1899
French Defence
This is most probably refer to Louis Van Vliet, a naturalized English from Netherland.  Strong chess player and he was editor to Sunday Times and Hereford Times.

Problem:
White to play and mate in two moves.

Reports:
- Miss Mary Rudge, the Lady champion of the world, is on a visit to Dublin.

the Montgomery County Times chess column 1899

tag: historical chess column, chess column from old newspaper, wales chess history, rare chess simul games

Curious Case of Samuel Rosenthal vs Prince Balaschoff - The Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
15 April 1899
The newspaper from Cardigan - Salopian - Montgomeryshire area put a chess column and reported interesting story each week. As shown in this issue.

Anecdotes:
As we known, Samuel Rosenthal once engaged in a court battle to one of his student Prince Balaschoff for breaking his lesson contract. The Montgomery County Times put a short report on this:

A curious chess law-suit before the first Chamber of the Civil Tribunal of Paris has just ended. Rosenthal, the well-known Polish chess master, resident in paris since 1867, was engaged about ten years ago by Prince Balaschoff as his professor of chess at £ 25 per month, to be increased to £40 per month whenever the Professor travelled with his pupil. Pupil and Professor, according to La Strategie, were on the best of terms for many years, they were even engaged in collaboration on a  grand chess treatise, when, suddenly, a few months ago, Professor Rosenthal received a somewhat unceremonious dismissal. He sued, in response, for £ 750 back salary fixed under the written agreement,  £50 for a final journey to Stuttgart, and  £1,250 for his unjustifiable dismissal and loss of profits on the projected treatise. The Civil Tribunal allowed the first demand, but rejected the two latter. We believe that this is the first time that compensation for chess services has figured so definitely in a court of law.

Game:
Medicus vs T.M. Kenny 1-0 , unknown
Ruy Lopez
Unknown game between two probably amateur players.

Problem:
White to play and mate in two moves, composer unknown

the Montgomery County Times - 15 April 1899

Blackburne vs Pillsbury 1899 Cable Chess Match - The Montgomery County Times

The Montgomery County Times, Wales
1 April 1899
Newspaper from Montgomery - Cardigan area, Wales. Chess Column starts around 1895 in this newspaper.

Game:
Henry Joseph Blackburne vs Harry Nelson Pillsbury 1-0, 4th Anglo American Cable Chess Match
Giuoco Piano

In this issue, The Montgomery County Times chess column highlight the first board of chess match in Great Britain vs USA cable match. The issue comments on Blackburne outsmarted Pillsbury in the pawn end game. A model chess game in this cable format.

The Montgomery County Times Chess Column

1 April 1899

tags: historical chess games, historical cable chess game, old chess game in newspaper, age of chess, descriptive notation, 1.p-k4 , Kt-Kt5Ch