ASeptember 26 1971
El Paso Times, El Paso, Texas, Sunday, September 26, 1971
ENGLAND'S BEST
Joseph Henry Blackburne was definitely the strongest player England has ever produced. His successes earned him the nickname of “The Black Death.”
Born in Manchester in 1841, Blackburne learned to play chess when he was 19. By the time he was 26, he had decided to give up his business career and become a chess professional. He was admitted to the London International Tournament in 1872 and went on to play 53 major International events before his death in 1924. I met him when I participated in the London International, 1922. Blackburne was an honored guest then.
Here is a game from the Manchester Chess Club championship that he won in 1863.
Alexander Steinkuehler vs Joseph Henry Blackburne
Manchester (1863), Manchester ENG
Italian Game: Classical Variation. Greco Gambit Traditional Line (C54) 0-1
Blackburne's strength lay in attacking and end game play and he won many brilliancy prizes.
Here is a game from the Scotland International of 1867.
Gustav Neumann vs Joseph Henry Blackburne
Casual game (1867), Dundee SCO, Sep-??
King's Gambit: Accepted. Traditional Variation (C38) 0-1
a) With two pieces down, Blackburne offers a third. If 23. KxR, Q-R5ch; 24. K-N1, N-K7 mate. Thirty years later, Blackburne said: “I remember the game with Neumann very well. He had been beaming at the spectators after he had grabbed my pieces, but you should have seen his face when I made my 22nd move.”
