October 19 1878
Leicester Chronicle, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, Saturday, October 19, 1878
Leicester Chess Club.—On Tuesday evening, Mr. J. H. Blackburne, the celebrated chess player, visited the auspices of the Leicester Chess Club, for a chess tournament. Play commenced at six o'clock in the Subscription News Rooms, Granby-street, and lasted till about ten o'clock. Mr. Blackburne played twenty-three games with nineteen gentlemen, only losing two games and drawing one. The games were played simultaneously, each of Mr. Blackburne's opponents being provided with a board and set of men. The tab1es were arranged in a row, and Mr. Blackburne passed along the row, playing a move at each board as he passed, his opponents thus having plenty of time to consider the position of their men and determine upon the next move. Mr. Blackburne will to-night play eight blindfold games with any players of the town or county who may be brought against him. On Wednesday in the committee room (which the Mayor kindly allowed to be used) of the New Municipal Buildings, Mr. Blackburn pitted himself to play blindfold eight games simultaneously against eight representative players. Each of the eight players was furnished with a board and set of men, and Mr. Blackburn was seated at the other end of the room in an arm chair, with his back to the players, this being equivalent to being blindfolded. Mr. Blackburn called out in rotation the move which he intended to make at each board, and the move was made for him, a register being kept to avoid mistakes, of the moves called with each player. Each opponent in turn called out the move he made, a similar register being kept. On one occasion Mr. Blackburne called out that his King should be moved from a certain square to another square, but was told that his King did not occupy the square indicated. Mr. Blackburne declared that he had never given instructions for the piece to be moved from the square, and on references to the register it was ascertained that he was correct. This was the only mistake which occurred throughout. Play commenced at a quarter past six o'clock, and lasted until after 11 o'clock. Of the eight games played one only was drawn. Mr. Blackburne winning the rest. The following shows the players, the results, and the time occupied:— Mr. Timson resigned at 9.10; Mr. Atkins, 9:35; Mr. Withers, 9:40; Dr. Finch, 10:35; Dr. Nuttall, 10.55; Rev. W. L. Newham, 10.57; Mr. F. W. Gardiner, 11.5; and Mr. W. Stanyon drawn at 11.5. There was a fair attendance of on-lookers, and refreshments were provided by the Cocoa and Coffee House Company.
