Arnold Schottlaender
Arnold Schottländer (2 April1854 – 9 September1909) was a German chess master. Born in Münsterberg (now Ziębice), Silesia, he was one of the chess pupils of Adolf Anderssen.
He tied for 8-9th at Leipzig 1879 (the 1st DSB Congress, Berthold Englisch won), tied for 9-10th at Wiesbaden 1880 (Joseph Henry Blackburne, Englisch and Adolf Schwarz won), took 12th at Nuremberg 1883 (the 3rd DSB-Congress, Szymon Winawer won), took 16th at Hamburg 1885 (the 4th DSB-Congress, Isidor Gunsberg won), tied for 5-6th at Leipzig 1888 (Curt von Bardeleben and Fritz Riemann won), tied for 11-13th at Dresden 1892 (the 7th DSB-Congress, Siegbert Tarrasch won).
He is buried in the Jewish cemetery of Breslau.
(from: wikipedia)
The grave of Arnold Schottländer (02/04/1854 - 09/09/1909)
at the Jewish Cemetery of Wrocław.
Inscription on the tombstone: Sein Körper war schwach, sein Geist aber stark.
[His body was weak but his mind was strong.]
(Schottländer was crippled by infantile paralysis.)
Schottlander Biography:
Arnold Schottlander was born in April, 1854 in Munsteerburg, Breslau being his home since his earliest infancy. The soil of Silesia is propitious to the production of eminent players. In the first place we have Professor Anderssen, then Dr. Max Lange, Zukertort (who studied in Breslau), Riemann, Schottlander, Mieses, and Dr.Tarrasch, whom we mention last, because he is the youngest. If Zukertort was the greatest of Anderssen;s pupils, Schottlander was the most promising; but for an unfortunate nervous affection, Anderssen;s high expectations of Schottlander would have been realised. He is physically incapable of a sustained effort in seroius contests, and that is the reason that he has not been so successful in the Congresses in which he took part,viz., Nuremberg, Hamburg, and Dresden.
In 1878 he won the first prize, and the title master in the “Haupt” Tournament at Frankfurt, and one year later at Leipsic, he won a game of Englisch (the only one the latter lost in the Tournament), which is not only one of the “Classical” games, but also remarkable that Englisch, who is one of the fastest players living, consumed two hours, whilst Schottlander only took sixteen minutes to beat him most brilliantly.
A gentlemann of independent means, chess is his favourite pastime, and nothing he likes better than to be present at the German Congresses as “ Schlachten-Bummler”, and to watch the progress of the games. On such occasions he does not confine his attention to any single game; but the whole “round” is reviewed critically, and his running comment is rarely at fault. But even when he is engaged himself, whilst his opponent is considering over his move Schottlander makes the round of the boards, and he pays as much attention to the games of the other competitors as to his own. As stated above, he is physically unable to stand the severe strain of playing through a whole tournament, and where he really excels is in off-hand games. He is rapid, brilliant, full of ingenuity, and sound withal.
During the World’s Columbian Exhibition he visited the United States, and the American Press was full of eulogium of Schottlander’s skill.
Schottlander is an entertaining companion, full of sparkling wit and pungent chaff, but takes it good humouredly if he himself is made the butt, as he is never at a loss for a repartee.
The Chess Monthly 1893/94
Schottländer was quite generous to his club and the chess organization:
(Schachverein Anderssen: Graupenstr. 15 Börsenkeller)
„Prof. Dr. Seger stated (in October 1909):
… Mitbegründer des Vereins, seinen besten und einzigen Meisterspieler,
seinen opferwilligsten Gönner verloren hat, der seine Munificenz noch
über das Grab hinaus durch die Überweisung eines größeren Betrages
(1000 Mark for the club; 3000 Mark for the Deutsche Schachbund)
bewiesen hat.
The interest on Schottländer´s legacy was used to increase the funds for
the winter club tournament)
(A portrait of Schottländer was installed in the club, his brother joined the
celebration.)
Schottländer also donated 300 000 Mark to the city of Breslau – his last
will was very clever: He asked his brother Hermann to increase the funds
to half a million Mark – then Hermann Schottländer would be named
“chairman” of the foundation. (It´s said the brother fulfilled this demand.)
(Michael Negele)
His probably last game was consultation game played with Rosanes against Mieses and Bergmann during First Congtess Ost-DSB in Breslau(now Wroclaw) in June 1909.
In January 2010 in Vistula was published my story about Arnold Schottlander (in polish):
http://www.astercity.net/~vistula/schottlander.htm
