London, England (26 September-21 December 1853)
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 Wins
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Harrwitz 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 11
Löwenthal 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 + + ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 10
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Format: First to 11 wins, draws not counting, is the victor.
Thematic Rule: Half of all games to be restricted to 1.e4 e5.
Time Control: 20 minutes per move (and a limit of three 20 minute penalty extensions).
Stakes: £100 (£50 each side).
Venue: London Chess Club.
Introduction
It will be remembered that, in May last, a Challenge was given to Mr. Staunton by Herr Harrwitz, to play a Match at Chess, for a stake of £50; which, not being accepted by the soi disant champion, was than made general, and open to the acceptance of any European player. This challenge has since been taken up by Herr Löwenthal, and the match will be commenced on the 26th September, on the following conditions:—
1. The player who shall first win eleven games shall be declared the winner of the match.
2. The match shall be played for the stake of £50 a side.
3. A deposit of £25 on each side shall be made within three days after signing the preliminary agreement, and the remaining £25 shall be staked seven days before the day appointed for commencing the match. The party failing to fulfil the last part of the engagement, shall forfeit the deposit already made, and all engagements for the match shall then be considered null and void.
4. In one half of the games played, each party shall play his first move, his King's Pawn two squares. The first game shall be thus commenced, and the first move in every game shall pass from one to the other alternately; drawn games included.
5. In all other respects, the match shall be played in accordance with the Rules which were drawn up by Mr. Lewis and a Committee of the London Chess Club.
6. Play shall commence at 12 o'clock on Monday, the 26th September, and be continued at the same hour on the ensuing Wednesday and Friday, and on every ensuing Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, until the match be terminated. One game (at least) when possible, shall be played out at a sitting, but neither party shall be compelled to play for a longer period than twelve hours, nor after 12 P.M. If either party be absent within half-an-hour of the time appointed for play, he shall be fined £1 for each such offence, the fine to be paid before, or at the next meeting for play, under penalty of the forfeiture of the match; and if he be absent more than one hour beyond the appointed time, one game shall be added to the adversary's score.
7. Either party failing to attend on three successive days for play, shall be considered to have lost the match, and the stakes shall forthwith be paid over to his opponent.
8. In the absence of one of the parties, the other shall not be compelled to wait for his opponent more than one hour after the time appointed for play. No excuse whatever for non-attendance shall be admissible.
9. In the event of either party forfeiting a game to his opponent by reason of absence, and if at the same time a game has been left unfinished at a previous sitting, the adjourned game shall not be considered to be the one scored to the opponent.
10. Each party shall be allowed twenty minutes for deliberation on any move. In the event of either party taking more than twenty minutes, he shall be fined the sum of ten shillings for each additional ten minutes (the fine to be paid as in Condition 6). But neither party shall be allowed more than one hour over a move, and the party who does not play a move at the expiration of one hour, shall forfeit the game to his opponent.
11. At the commencement of every sitting, each party shall name a gentleman present to act as umpire on his behalf. All matters of dispute must be referred to the two umpires, and if they differ in opinion, to the referee.(1)
Synopsis
In the seventh game, Mr. Harrwitz tried the effect of a close opening, but with no better result. In about twenty moves, he was completely routed. At this time, when Lowenthal had won five games in succession, his adversary thought it advisable to withdraw from such a merciless pommelling, and seek rest and relaxation in the country; but, owing to an absurd stipulation of his own enforcing in the rules of the combat, he could obtain these only by the sacrifice of a game for each play-day's absence. This cost him two games!(2)
Note
Game numbers have been left as published in all the major periodicals even though game 8 should be game 10, etc.
Sources
(1) British Chess Review, v1 n8, August 1853, pp248-249
(2) Chess Player's Chronicle, v14, p329
Kibitzing
