Winner's POV Chapter 4: Manchester 1857
In Winner's POV, we take a look at tournaments from the 19th century and see the games that allowed the top player to prevail. Some tournaments will be known and famous, others will be more obscure - in a time period where competition is scarce, I believe there is some value in digging for hidden gems in the form of smaller, less known events.
Chapter 4: Manchester 1857
This was the first of a handful of smaller, technically international (but largely dominated by British) tournaments run by the Chess Association, the group that would eventually form the British Chess Association. The Chess Association had been holding chess festivals on an almost annual basis since 1841, and this was the first year that the meeting was popular enough to warrant a full blown chess tournament.
Before we dive in, it's worth considering that the entirety of this event was done in four days; hence why this collection is so tiny, and hence why I'm doing it literally the day after writing my last one.
Format and Prizes
This tournament was a one-game knockout between eight players, ideally concluding the entire tournament in 3-4 days. Like I said, a very tiny tournament, but given the six year gap between this and the last entry, I felt it appropriate.
There was no cash prize for this tournament, but rather the winner would be given a "handsome set of Chinese carved ivory chessmen," as donated by the hosting Manchester Chess Club. I have no idea how much that'd be worth today, so let's just leave it at that.
Players
Adolf Anderssen of Germany and Daniel Harrwitz of France were the only truly international players present. The remaining six slots were held by players living in England: Samuel Boden, Robert Brien, Bernhard Horwitz, Johann Löwenthal, Edward Pindar, John Soul.
Using Edo's 1856 rankings, the leaderboard is topped by Harrwitz (4th), Anderssen (5th), and Löwenthal (7th). Interestingly, these rankings persist into 1857.
The Winner: Johann Löwenthal
For the first time thus far, somebody other than the highest-ranked player won, though the format certainly lends itself to such "upsets" (it's hard to call this an upset, of course). This was the first proper victory in Löwenthal's career; he lost in the first round of the London 1851 tournament, and he also narrowly lost a marathon match against Daniel Harrwitz (+10-11=12) in 1853. But for today he's the man of the hour, so without further delay, it's time to look at the Manchester 1857 tournament from the Winner's POV.
Round 1: vs. Bernhard Horwitz
Horwitz was considered to be one of the leading experts in endgame theory in the mid-1800s, and would be Joseph Henry Blackburne's teacher a few years from this point. His playstyle reflected this endgame specialization, as he often played passively and traded whenever possible to reach an endgame where he was often the better player.
This game was no different, with Horwitz refusing to play aggressively against Löwenthal's Philidor, instead saddling him with an isolated Queen's pawn and trading frequently. Löwenthal reacted actively, getting his Rooks on the open files and keeping Horwitz under constant pressure. When his Rook was firmly planted on e2, it was obvious that Löwenthal was better.
He soon won a pawn, and then a second after Horwitz missed a Greek Gift. With a passed a-pawn and a Kingside majority, Löwenthal had a reasonably good chance of winning - but Rook endgames are never guaranteed, as we've seen. Horwitz defended accurately the entire time, but Löwenthal never made a mistake, ending the game with a nice tactic. A well-deserved victory for the Hungarian.
Round 2: vs. Adolf Anderssen
By virtue of winning at London 1851, Anderssen was still considered the strongest player in Europe, and the pre-tournament favourite. Though Harrwitz was ranked above him according to Edo, Anderssen defeated him in the first round anyway.
The opening was a disaster for Anderssen, who made one wrong move that allowed Löwenthal to plant his Queen on d6. Further incorrect plays gave Löwenthal the means to conduct a powerful attack, and by move 20 he was practically winning the game.
As if out of nowhere, Anderssen found some defensive moves, alleviated a little pressure, and then went on the offensive himself. Löwenthal struggled to stay afloat, and eventually had to accept that he was worse, and began playing an extremely passive endgame. Not the spot you want to be in.
Anderssen's technique was shaky but not losing - until it was. Seeing a tactic that just wasn't there, Anderssen blundered a piece and gifted Löwenthal a win he doubtlessly didn't deserve. Only two games, yet what an exhausting tournament for the Hungarian master.
Round 3: vs. Samuel Boden
Boden's bracket was much easier than Löwenthal's, as he defeated John Soul and Edward Pindar in his first two rounds. Still, given that Boden was the subject of the last chapter, we should know that he's capable of playing some very good chess when he needs to, so there's no reason to underestimate him.
Löwenthal returned to his Philidor as Black, and Boden used a line that he would probably be considered the authority in, especially considering it's one that he would use to beat Paul Morphy in the following year. It was very quickly evident that Löwenthal was less comfortable, as his moves were strange and he allowed Boden to build up an insane amount of pressure.
Löwenthal had to part ways with a pawn in order to castle, which wasn't bad if he found the correct path forward - which he didn't. Boden's assault continued for many moves, eventually resulting in him netting another pawn, and having simplified the game enough that he faced little to no risk of losing. Once again, Löwenthal had to defend.
Like Horwitz, Löwenthal played accurately, forcing Boden to prove how he could make progress. Boden made things a little harder for himself when he traded Rooks, which allowed Löwenthal's Bishop to command the diagonal and threaten Boden's Queenside pawns. Finding no way to proceed, Boden allowed the Queenside to be vacuumed up, and the game was drawn. Yet another successful staunch defense from Löwenthal.
Unfortunately, the tournament's end was rather anticlimactic, as Boden was unable to stay in Manchester due to work and had to withdraw from the tournament. As a result, Löwenthal was given the win by default, though I have no doubts that everyone found it quite deserved after his efforts.
Conclusion
Löwenthal would proudly display his new chess set in whichever office he took up, which would be important as he would later hold important positions within the British Chess Association (though his involvement wouldn't be too pronounced until the 1860s). Although not the most prestigious tournament win known to man, Löwenthal was quite pleased with himself, and would go on to become one of the most important figures in British chess - especially in the following year.
If you know, you know. If you don't, you'll be caught up in the next chapter, I promise.