Chess Monthly

Vol. 6, No. 62, October 1884

Mr. Zukertort in America

Zukertort arrived on the second of July in San Francisco, the centre and terminus of the Western world. After a rest of a few days and a loyal observance of the fourth of July, the daily chess contest began. Chess play is greatly cultivated in San Francisco, and although the Golden City does not possess a Chess club, its amateurs have ample accommodation in a large hall of the Mechanics' Institute, also in a room at the Mercantile Library and the Bohemian club. Zukertort played at the Mechanics' Institute a great number of single games, even and at odds; the simultaneous contests were also held at that place, but the blindfold séance took place on the 8th at the Irving Hall, * when the single player encountered twelve opponents, and after eight hours' play won nine games , lost two, and drew one. San Francisco, although up till now hardly known in Chess history, may boast of a very large number of fair players. The strongest of them is Mr. J. Redding, a young lawyer, who contested a little match on even terms, the condition being, Mr. Redding to have the first move and play five times the Evans' Gambit, Zukertort to bet 25 to 5. The later won the five games, but, especially in the first and second, it was a hard tussle. Next to Mr. Redding we must mention Mr. Heinemann, who played a number of games a quarter of a century ago with Staunton, Dr. Marshall, those standard of play varies more than of any player we met, Mr. Jefferson, late champion of Tennessee, Mr. Selim Franklin, well known at the late Westminster Chess Club and at Simpon's Divan, and Mr. Critcher, a rising young player of great promise. Mr. Zukertort left San Francisco on the home journey on the 25th of July…

* Notwithstanding the different reports in America and English chess columns and periodicals, Mr. Zukertort feels certain that he gave only one blindfold performance at San Francisco.