January 25 1883
Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, Thursday, January 25, 1883
MR. JOSEPH BLACKBURNE AT THE ATHENAEUM CHESS CLUB.
Mr. Joseph Blackburne, the celebrated professional chess player, gave a remarkable exhibition of his skill last night at the Athenaeum. Mr. Blackburne is visiting Sheffield upon the invitation of the Athenaeum Chess Club, and last night he played 15 simultaneous games, the players being amongst the strongest the club could bring against him. The play was watched by many spectators, amongst whom were several representatives of clubs in neighboring towns. His opponents were Messrs. Wm. Cockayne, Jun.; Henry Davy, G. A. Askham, F. E. Foster, J. W. Barber, W. H. Camm, G. B. Cocking, J. H. Hunter, Henry Mercer, William Allott, T. Marshall, W. H. Stacey, Marriott Oakes, the Rev. T. Smith, and Mr. T. S. Algar. Of several of these Mr. Blackburne made short work. The Rev. T. Smith was the first to succumb, Mr. Blackburne mating him at the sixth or seventh move. Mr. Allott was soon afterwards beaten, and resignations by his opponents or mates by Mr. Blackburne quickly followed. The strongest players were Mr. W. Cockayne, Jun., Mr. Henry Davy, and Mr. G. A. Askham. Mr. Davy was at length obliged to yield to the superior play of Mr. Blackburne, but the latter found two redoubtable foes in Mr. Cockayne and Mr. Askham. Mr. Cockayne's game was a brilliant one. It was opened by a powerful attack on the part of Mr. Blackburne, met, however, by a counter attack equally as powerful from Mr. Cochin. In the end this proved irresistible, and, in spite of the most careful play on Mr. Blackburne's part, he was compelled at length to surrender. Mr. Ask ham, who is one of the most promising members of the club, showed the strength of his play by securing a drawn game. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Cocking were the last to succumb. Mr. Blackburne thus won all the games except two, his only successful opponent being Mr. Cockayne. As the contest was over much sooner than had been anticipated, Mr. Blackburne expressed his willingness to play eight more simultaneous games. An opportunity was thus afforded to the visitors to try their strength, and it was taken advantage of by Mr. E. Barraclough, president if the Arundel Chess Club; Mr. J. D. Chambers, Glasgow, Mr. Charles Sacville, secretary of the Penistone Chess Club; Mr. W. A. Dyson, one of its members. The other four players were Mr. Zimmerman, the Rev. T. Smith, Mr. G. A. Askham, and Mr. F. E. Foster. Mr. Blackburne scored a victory over all his opponents with the exception of Mr. Askham, who played a really splendid game, fought out to the very end, and then resulting in a win for the latter. Mr. F. E. Foster and Mr. Barraclough played strongly.
The most interesting exhibition of Mr. Blackburne's skill will be given to-night, when he will play ten simultaneous games without sight of the board.
