October 04 1880
Birmingham Gazette, Birmingham, West Midlands, England, Monday, October 04, 1880
The Chess Club—On Wednesday and Thursday evenings the Walsall Chess Club inaugurated their first session by some “exhibition play” at the George Hotel on Wednesday and the Dragon Hotel on Thursday. On the first evening Mr. Blackburne, the foremost player in England, played blindfold against the following ten gentlemen:—Messrs. M. Michael, Bridgewater, A. Michael Collins and Wilson (Birmingham), Halford (Tipton), Brown (Dudley), and W. Cook (author of the “Synopsis of Openings” and the “Chess Primer” hon. sec. of the new club), W. Nicklin and A. Tyrer of Walsall. Mr. Blackburne won from Messrs. Nicklin Collins and Wilson and drew against Messrs. M. and A. Michael Cook and Bridgewater. The other games were not finished but were practically won by Mr. Blackburne when his opponents had to leave. On Thursday Mr. Blackburne simultaneously played all comers, and was successful in every contest.