E. B. Cook, along with W. G. Thomas, W. J. A. Fuller, J. Freguson and S. R.
Calthrop judged the entries in the problem tournament at the 1st American
Chess Congress.
Problems were to be submitted in sets of three and given an appropriate
title.
The 1st and 2nd place sets (by Rudolf Willmers
and Conrad Bayer respectively) were both mates-in-four. 3rd
place, Sam Loyd, however, gave a mate-in-three, mate-in-four
and mate-in-five)
For 1st place, Rudolf Willmers' problems entitled, "Strive
for Honor!", won $30 and 5 copies of the Congress tournament book.
For
2nd place, Conrad Bayer's problems entitled, "Three is the
Charm", won $15 and 3 copies of the book.
For 3rd place
(honorable mention), Sam Loyd's problems entitled, "Certum Pete
Finem",
won nothing.
Other sets entered:
Non Quo, Sed Quomodo - by H. R. Agnel of West Point
Des Strebendwerth - by Franz della Torre of Vienna
But Washington's a watchword, such as ne'er
Shall sink while there's an echo left to air - by Charles White
of Sunbury, England
Quod Potui Perfeci - by Theo. M. Brown of Newark, N. J.
Credo Majori and Curiosum (seemingly a dual-named set
of two) by Cark Meier of Bremen
other (non-set) single compositions were arranged by E. B. Cook for
inclusion in the book, including 6 compositions each by:
J. A. Potter of Salem, Mass.
Denis Julien of New York City
Eugene B. Cook of Hoboken, N. J.
Sam Loyd of Florence, N. J.
Napoleon Marache of New York City
and two special problems by E. B. Cook
Dedicated
with the Highest Esteem and Admiration to Paul Morphy, The Only - used
as tournament book's frontpiece
With Friendly Regard, to Rudolph Willmers, Conrad Bayer and S.
Loyd
also submitted but not included in the tournament book:
When we cannot do as we wish, we must do as we can - by John Tanner
of New Orleans
Les Trois Mousquetaires - by Edwin J. Weller of Boston
A. B. C. - by T. J. Grotjan of San Francisco
From the tournament book:
Mr. Rudolph Willmers, who secured the highest prize in this
intellectual joust, is an eminent pianist, occupying a position in the
musical profession side by side with the celebrated Liszt. He was born in
Copenhagen, Denmark, in the year 1820, pursued the study of music in
Germany, and since the year 1838 has given concerts in the leading cities
of Europe. He was an unsuccessful competitor for the prize in the Problem
Tournament, which was originated some two years since by Mr. Löwenthal,
the chess editor of the London Era.
The winner of the second prize, Mr. Conrad Bayer, has been known for some
years as one of the most ingenious and fertile problem composers of the
day. To the chess journals of Germany, England and America, he is a
frequent and valuable contributor, both of stratagems and literary
articles. In 1857 he took the prize in the Era Problem Tournay.
Mr. Samuel Loyd, who holds the third place on the Committee's list,
although stil very young, has already gained a high reputation on both
sides of the Atlantic for his genius in the strategic art. He was born in
Philadelphia in the year 1841, and began to publish chess problems at the
age of fifteen. For the last three years no composer has been more
prolific. He gained in 1857 the first prize in the Chess Monthly
Problem Tournay.
Professor Agnel is the author of Chess for Winter Evenings; Mr.
Franz della Torre is one of the foremost of the many famous problem-makers
of Germany; Mr. Charles White is a contributor to the British chess
organs, in which he has published some fine specimens of his powers, and
is about twenty years of age; Dr. Carl Meier is the author, we believe, of
a German work on chess, which appeared in 1844; and Mr. Theodore M. Brown
has distinguished himself by the composition of a host of beautiful
positions, and in the department of suicidal and conditional problems has
few superiors
Strive for Honor
Rudolf Willmers |
|
|
|
White to
play and mate in four |
White to
play and mate in four |
White to
play and mate in four |
Three is the
Charm
Conrad Bayer |
|
|
|
White to
play and mate in four |
White to
play and mate in four |
White to
play and mate in four |
Certum Pete Finem
Sam Loyd |
|
|
|
White to
play and mate in three |
White to
play and mate in four |
White to
play and mate in five |
|