This eight-player knockout tournament was the marquee event of the annual British Chess Association congress held in Bristol from Tuesday, 10th September and Saturday the 14th, but the contest was rendered near-farcical. Having apparently learnt nothing from <London 1851>, the lack of seeding meant Kolisch and Paulsen were drawn in the first round, and their tussle dominated proceedings, extending throughout the week, whilst Boden advanced to the final in just two days, and Wilson twiddled his thumbs. Paulsen and Wilson eventually played their second round on the following Monday, still in Bristol, before the final relocated to London, where it ended in a damp squib, Boden resigning the match after a single game.

The other highlight of the meeting was Paulsen's first blindfold simultaneous in Britain. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the 11th, it was postponed until Friday because his second game with Kolisch was still unfinished.

First round, 10.09.1861:

Boden 1 - 0 Horwitz

Wayte 1-0 Hampton

Wilson 1-0 Stanley

Paulsen 2-1 Kolisch

Second round:

Boden 1-0 Wayte (11.09.1861)

Wilson 0-1 Paulsen (16.09.1861)

Final, 20.09.1861:

Boden 0-1 Paulsen