From 19th Century Chess by Bill Wall
In 1809, Alexander Petrov (Petroff) (1794-1867) defeated Aleksei Danilovich Kopev (4 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw) and D. O. Baranov, St Petersburg’s leading chess players, and became Russia’s best chess player at the age of 15.
On April 11, 1813, Carl Jaenisch (1813-1872) was born in Vyborg in the Grand Duchy of Finland (Russian Empire). He began a military career in Finland, but soon moved to Petersburg (now Saint Petersburg) to teach mechanics and mathematics. He resigned his army commission to play chess and was one of the top players in the world.
In 1821, Alexander Petrov defeated Prince Tundutov in St Petersburg (+2-1=0).
In 1836, the St. Petersburg Chess Club was formed. Its secretary was Carl Jaenisch (1813-1872). The best player at the club was Alexander Petroff (Petrov) (1794-1867), Russia’s best player since 1809. (source: Bell’s Life, Mar 18, 1838 and Jul 8, 1838)
In September 1837, Karl Jaenisch published Découvertes sur le cavalier (aux échecs). It was published in St. Petersburg.
In 1850, Ilya Shumov (1819-1881) defeated Carl Jaenisch (1813-1872) in a match in St. Petersburg. He won two and lost one.
In 1853, the Shahmatny (Chess) Club was formed in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was disbanded in 1862.
In September 1861, a chess club was formed in St. Petersburg.
In 1862, the St. Petersburg Chess Club was formed, but disbanded a few months later by the Russian police.
In 1862, the Governor-General of St. Petersburg closed the St. Petersburg Chess Club, which, according to the official statement, was used at the center for disseminating false reports. (source: London Times, June 19, 1862)
In 1862, St Petersburg 1862 was won by Ignatz Kolisch.
В 1862 году в качестве личного секретаря графа Кушелёва-Безбородко посетил Петербург, где сыграл два небольших матча с И. Шумовым (6:2) и С. Урусовым (2:2).
On January 23, 1846, Hermann Clemenz (1846-1908) was born in Dorpat (Tartu), Estonia (then Russian Empire). He was a chess master. His name is attached to the Clemenz Opening, 1.h3. He played this opening in St. Petersburg in 1873.
On November 19, 1856, Simon Alapin (1856-1923) was born in Vilnius. He took 1st place at St. Petersburg in 1878.
On Jan 15, 1879, Mikhail Chigorin won at St Petersburg.
In Nov 1886, a telegraphic match between London and St Petersburg was played.
He developed a code that was later refined by Mr. D. A. Gringmuth [Дмитрий Андреевич Грингмут, брат правого публициста], of St. Petersburg, «a leading Russian problem composer,» [Steinitz] and adapted for use with telegraphs for cable matches. Gringmuth’s notation was first used in the telegraphic match between London and St Petersburg in November 1886 — Louis Uedemann (Луис Удеман).
Count Tolstoi, who now resides in St. Petersburg, has become an ardent devotee of chess and the fascination the game has for him seems to have spread to his family, so much so that his wife and children are daily engaged in its practice. They have marked all the tables in the house as chess boards and named their dog and other pets after chess pieces. — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 20, 1897
In 1898, a club in St. Petersburg was formed.
1895 tournament
On Dec 13, 1895, the St Petersburg International started.
Pillsbury wins the first game in the St. Petersburg chess tourney. It was played at the rooms of the St. Petersburg Chess club, on the Munsky Prospect. The rooms were crowded with a brilliant assemblage of notables, among them Prince Kantakugin, the honorary vice president of the club, whose devotion to the game is well known all over Europe…. — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Dec 14, 1895
The great international chess tournament at the St. Petersburg Chess club is half over. Pillsbury is the clear leader by one point over Lasker. … — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 3, 1896
In January 1896, Lasker won at St Petersburg. Steinitz took 2nd.
Pillsbury has been suffering from a severe attack of influenza ever since the second half of the tournament, which has seemed not only to impair his usual dashing play, but has caused his power to form correct combinations to fail him. … — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 15, 1896
Mr. Showalter said that Pillsbury had gone into some wild scheme with Steinitz to copyright the games played in the tournament outside of St. Petersburg. Steinitz has not head for business, and Pillsbury is a young man who can not afford to lose much money. Yet Steinitz persuaded Pillsbury to enter into an arrangement which was wild and foolish on its face. The scheme was one by which Pillsbury was to buy from the St. Petersburg Chess club the exclusive rights to publish outside of St. Petersburg, the full reports of the games played in the club. It was the plan to secure copyrights of the game, but the whole scheme naturally fell through, because in a club like St. Petersburg Chess club, where the games are semi public, it is impossible to keep things out of the hands of other people. Pillsbury lost $600. His recent failure to win games is due, in part at least, to his unfortunate and unbusinesslike venture. Pillsbury is paying his own way in the present venture. … — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 18, 1896
Trouble Among Players and Managers at St. Petersburg. The interest which was at first shown in the international tournament in this city has considerable decreased, because so much has occurred to make things unpleasant for the players, the committee and the spectators, let alone the adverse comments which are daily being made in the newspapers, of which the Novre Vremya is excepted. Without giving notice to any of the papers in the city, the St. Petersburg CC sold the right of publishing the games to the Novre Vremya. Two relatives and editors of the Novre Vremya are on the tournament committee. The other papers ridiculed the contest, abused the players and did their best to spoil the success of the affair. Another reason which contributed toward much unpleasantness was the betting element introduced in the club. Tschigorin has been backed to an enormous extent and among others there is one bet involving the sum of 5,000 roubles. It is known how Pillsbury was done out of a considerable sum by buying the sole right of publishing the games in England and America. Steinitz, his partner in this business transaction, is also much annoyed for he, too, will lose money. To prevent the local papers from getting anything in the shape of news they increased the fee of admission to one rouble; even members had to pay. They would not allow anybody to make any notes, and as soon as a poor reporter was found penciling, the representatives of the Novre Vremya protested, the reporters kicked out, and there were some pretty lively scenes in the club-rooms. … — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 19, 1896
A Chicago manufacturer, who is evidently as advertising genius, has just registered “H. N. Pillsbury” as a name for a new brand of cigars. — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 23, 1896
Lasker Wins First Prize. Steinitz is Second, Pillsbury Third and Tschigorin Last. The international chess tournament is at an end, the last two games having been played yesterday. There is much dissatisfaction among the chess playing public of Russia and, in fact, all over the world, over the result. The players were invited to the Russian capital to play chess and not to engage in outside speculation. The fact that they did so and thus distracted their attention from the game itself, throws the blame entirely on themselves. … — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 28, 1896
No Notes of Triumph to be Sounded on Pillsbury’s Home Coming. He is expected back from St. Petersburg next month, but the joyous outburst that followed the Hastings’ victory will not be repeated. It was difficult to foresee how these two respectively winners of first and second prizes at the memorial Hastings congress, could be defeated. Yet they landed third and fourth, permitting even the veteran Steinitz, who came in 5th at Hastings, to outfoot them easily… — Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Jan 30, 1896
Births & deaths
On May 15, 1804, Peter August d’Orville (1804-1864) was born in St Petersburg. He came from a family of merchants. Peter became a merchant and lived in Antwerp for many years. He was an outstanding chess problemist and chess composer. In 1842, he wrote Problemes d’echecs.
On May 4, 1850, Emmanuel Stepanovich Schiffers (1850-1904) was born in St. Petersburg. He was known as Russia’s Chess Teacher.
On November 12, 1850, Mikhail Chigorin was born in St. Petersburg. He was Russian champion in 1899, 1901, and 1903. He died in 1908.
On January 31, 1851, Ivan Alexandrovich Butrimov (1782-1851) died in St Petersburg. He published the 1st Russian chess book in 1821.
On March 14, 1866, Alexei Troitzky (1866-1942) was born in St. Petersburg. He is considered to have been one of the greatest chess composers of all time.
On Nov 28, 1884, Alexander Ilyin-Genevsky was born in St Petersburg. He won the Leningrad championship in 1925, 1926, and 1929.
On Dec 25, 1891, Leonard Kubbel was born in St Petersburg. He was a problem and endgame studies composer.
On July 29, 1892, Peter Romanovsky was born in St Petersburg. He was USSR champion in 1923 and 1927.