AAugust 13 1892
The Standard Union, Brooklyn, New York, Saturday, August 13, 1892
THE OSWALD OTTENDORFER CHESS CUP TROPHY.
The chess players of New York State are greatly indebted to Oswald Ottendorfer, editor of the “New Yorker Staats-Zeitung,” for a handsome silver trophy which he presented to them in 1890, the engraving of which we publish to-day. The cup is valued at $500 ([$16706.11 in 2022]) and was made by Fattorini & Sons, London, England, from a design furnished by Arthur North, of Bradford, England. The management of the preparation and presentation of the cup was in the hands of the able sporting editor of the “Staats-Zeitung,” Hartwig Cassel, a gentleman who has done much to further chess interests in this country and in England.
The trophy is about eighteen inches high, and represents a castle. On the cover is the crowned figure of a king, with his royal robes draped artistically about him. Around the base are arranged, in relief, figures of all the pieces used in chess. On one side the dedication inscription is on a shield, and on the other an engraving of two mounted knights, engaged in battle. Above this is a chessboard, in the centre which the coat of arms of the Empire State is very neatly delineated. There are a number of shields about the base, upon which the names of the clubs winning the trophy can be engraved. The cup is to be competed for each year by the chess clubs of the State, each club to be represented by a champion. A club winning the trophy three times consecutively, or five times non-consecutively, can retain it.
The tournament held last week is the second contest for the possession of the cup, and its progress was watched with great interest by chess players throughout the country. In 1891 there were representatives from the Brooklyn, Manhattan City, Albany and Staten Island chess clubs. It was won by Major J. M. Hanham, of the Manhattan Chess Club. In the tournament just ended W. F. Eno represented the Brooklyn, C. C., Emil Kemeny the City C. C. of New York, J. M. Hanham Manhattan C. C., George H. Thornton Buffalo, C. C. and Prof. W. L. Deyo Albany C. C. Mr. Kemeny won in the tournament, and the City C. C. of New York will hold the cup for a year. The surprise of the tournament was the good playing of the Albany and Buffalo representatives.
