chess
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The strongest chessplayer who ever sat in the House of Commons died 100 years ago. Marmaduke Wyvill MP (1815-96) is one of the forgotten heroes of 19th-century chess. He was runner-up to Adolf Anderssen in the great tournament of London 1851, losing in the final by two wins to four with one draw - a better score than any other player made against Anderssen. Then, having established a claim to be the second strongest player in the world, he went back to being MP for Richmond, Yorkshire (a seat he held from 1847-68), and never played in another chess tournament.
His triumph in the third game of the final of the London tournament saw Wyvill winning with a fine counter-attack after defending Andressen's attack with great expertise. As Howard Staunton put it in a note to Black's 28th move: "... the assault is conducted with uncommon ingenuity and spirit."
White: Adolf Anderssen
Black: Marmaduke Wyvill
1 e4 c5 9 Nxc6 bxc6
2 d4 cxd4 10 e5 Nd7
3 Nf3 Nc6 11 f4 f5
4 Nxd4 e6 12 Rf3 c5
5 Be3 Nf6 13 Rh3 Rf7
6 Bd3 Be7 14 b3 g6
7 0-0 0-0 15 Nf3 Nb6
8 Nd2 d5 16 Bf2 d4
17 Bh4 Nd5 30 Rxd4 Rc1+
18 Qd2 a5 31 Kf2 Nd5
19 Bxe7 Rxe7 32 Rfd3 Qc6
20 Ng5 Ne3 33 Rd2 Qb6
21 Qf2 Bb7 34 Bc4 Rc2
22 Bf1 Ng4 35 Ke1 Rxd2
23 Qh4 Qd7 36 Rxd2 Qg1+
24 Rd1 Rc8 37 Bf1 Rc7
25 Be2 h5 38 Rd1 Rc2
26 Rg3 Qe8 39 Qg3 Ba6
27 Rd2 Rg7 40 Qf3 Bxf1
28 c3 Ne3 White resigned
29 cxd4 cxd4
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments