Baron Ignaz von Kolisch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatz_Kolisch

Baron Ignatz von Kolisch (6 April 1837, Pressburg, Austrian Empire (today Bratislava, Slovakia) – 30 April 1889, Vienna), also Baron Ignaz von Kolisch (German) or báró Kolisch Ignác (Hungarian), was a merchant, journalist and chess master with Jewish roots. According to the historical calculations of Chessmetrics, between July 1867 and November 1868 he ranked as the number one chess player in the world.[1] Kolisch was born into a Jewish family in Pressburg. Both in business and as a chess player he was eminently successful. In his early years he was the private secretary of the Russian Prince Urusov. Later he moved to Vienna and met Albert Salomon von Rothschild in 1868. He became involved in banking and became a millionaire and chess patron, organizing and sponsoring many chess tournaments in the 1870s and 1880s. He founded the Wiener Börse-Syndikatskasse in 1869, and in 1873 established a commission house in Paris; and by prudent management he acquired considerable wealth. In 1881 he received the title of baron from Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. As a chess player, Kolisch soon became known for his brilliant and aggressive style, but he was not a frequent participant in tournaments. In 1860 he won the first prize at the international tourney held at Cambridge, England. In 1861 he lost a match with Adolf Anderssen, the strongest player of the day, by only one game. The same year, he drew a match with Louis Paulsen. In 1867 at the Paris tournament he secured first place, defeating both Szymon Winawer and Wilhelm Steinitz. Kolisch was the founder and editor-in-chief of the Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung, to which, under the pseudonym "Ideka"[2], he contributed many feuilletons. The protagonist in the short story "The chessbaron" (A sakkbáró) by Ferenc Móra is based on him. He died of kidney failure in 1889.

http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno?apm=0&aid=nfp&datum=18890501...

Laut TBP und StB IKG Wien: Privatier, mosaisch, verheiratet, geb. Preßburg in Ungarn, nach Meiningen in Sachsen-Meiningen zust., begr. 2. Mai 1889 Zentralfriedhof Wien, isr. Abt., 5b/35/10. Seine TA in der NFP vom 1. Mai 1889 zeichnet nur seine Ehefrau Irma geb. Rayz im Namen ihrer Familie, der Geschwister, Neffen und Nichten. Auf seinem sehr aufwendig gestalteten und gut erhaltenen Grabstein ist neben einer umfangreichen hebräischen Inschrift zu lesen: Hier ruht // Ignaz // Freiherr v. Kolisch // geboren 6. April 1837 // gestorben 30. April 1889, über der Inschrift der Wappenschild ohne Decken und Helmzier: Quadriert, darin in 1.) ein Schachbrett, 2.) Ein Schlüssel senkrecht stehend 3.) Ein gemauerter Zinnenturm und 4.) Ein Springer wie er in Schachspielen verwendet wird, einwärts sehend. Ignaz Baron von Kolisch war einer der bedeutendsten Schachspieler des 19.

Jahrhunderts, daneben ein erfolgreicher Banquier resp. Börsenspekulant und Inhaber der Wiener Allgemeinen Zeitung. Zu seiner Nobilitierung und seinen Leistungen vgl.: Th. Schön: Geadelte jüdische Familien (1891) p.44-45, A. Kohut: Berühmte isr. Männer und Frauen 2 p.254-25, Handbuch österr. Autorinnen und Autoren jüdischer Herkunft 2 p.719, Österr. Biogr. Lex. 4 p.82 und die deutschsprachige Wikipedia (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_von_Kolisch) mit einem Portrait. Besonders ausführlich hat sich Sthig Jonasson mit Ignaz von Kolisch beschäftigt, leider ist dessen kleine Biographie des hier verstorbenen – Ignaz von Kolisch, Schackmästare och Mecenat (66p., Stockholms Schackförlag, Stockholm 1968) – nur auf schwedisch erschienen. Die Familie stellt sich wie folgt dar: Carl (Wolf) Kolisch, geb. ca. 1794 Stampfen (Ungarn), gest. 13. I. 1866 Wien VI., Mittelgasse 22, Leberentartung (begr. 15. I. 1866 jüdischer Friedhof Währing 2884, neu 9/52) verh. … (…) mit Regine Herzberg, geb. ca. 1800 (?) Preßburg, gest. 31. Mai 1850 Wien, Stadt 460, Lungenlähmung (begr. … jüdischer Friedhof Währing 2386, neu 9/11), Tochter des … und der …, mindestens sechs überlebende Kinder: 1.) Dr. med. Emanuel Kolisch, Arzt in Wien, geb. 27. III. 1827 Preßburg, gest. 4. X. 1893 Wien IX., Wasagasse 12, Hirnödem (begr. 6. X. 1893 Zentralfriedhof Wien 5b/35/47), verh. 29. III. 1857 Wien (IKG; Beistände: Carl Kolisch und Martin Pollitzer) mit Katharina Pollitzer, geb. 2. III. 1832 Arad, gest. 17. VIII. 1914 Wien IX., Liechtensteinstraße 39, Herzfleischentartung (begr. 19. VIII. 1914 Zentralfriedhof Wien 5b/35/47), Tochter des Martin Pollitzer und der Rosa Taussig, Drei Kinder: a.) Anna Kolisch verh. mit Salomon Weinstein, b.) Robert Kolisch (1867-1920) verh. mit Paula Löw (1880-1919) und c.) Irene Kolisch verh. mit Sigmund Blau; 2.) Samuel (Johann) Kolisch, Seidenzeugfabrikant und Realitätenbesitzer, geb. 27. XI. 1829 Preßburg (Taufe 12. XII. 1882 Wien, Evang. Stadtpfarre HB), gest. 3. I. 1900 Wien IX., Ferstelgasse 6, Lungenentzündung (IKG; begr. 5. I. 1900 Zentralfriedhof Wien 19/1/109), verh. (1) … 1862 … (…; Ehe geschieden …) mit Bertha Stromberg, geb. 1. V. 1837 Aschaffenburg (Bayern), gest. 29. VI. 1922 Wien XIII., Heilanstalt Steinhof, Herzfleischentartung (begr. 3. VII. 1922 Zentralfriedhof Wien 51/18/3), Tochter des … und der …; verh. (2) … (…) mit Adele (Ernestine) geschiedenen König geb. Lederer, geb. 23. II. 1854 Raab (Taufe 11. I. 1883 Wien, Evang. Stadtpfarre HB), gest. 6. XI. 1898 Wien IX., Ferstelgasse 6, … (…; begr. 8. XI. 1898 Zentralfriedhof Wien 19/1/109), Tochter des Kaufmanns Simon Lederer und der Fanny Pfeifer (Schwester des Josef Ritter Pfeifer von Hochwalden), drei Kinder erster Ehe: a.) Joseph Kolisch, geb. 1863 Wien, b.) Rudolf Kolisch, geb. 1865 Wien und c.) Regina Kolisch, geb. 1866 Wien verh. mit Adolf Sternberg; 3.) Baron Ignaz Kolisch, 1837-1889, kinderlos 4.) Johanna Kolisch, geb. ca. 1838 Preßburg, gest. 22. I. 1885 Wien VII., Mariahilferstraße 80, Gallensteinkolik (begr. 25. I. 1885 Zentralfriedhof Wien 5b/14/6, 2. Abt.), verh. 6. IV. 1862 Wien (IKG) mit Heinrich Grabmann, Wund-, Geburts- und k.k. Militärarzt, geb. ca. 1827 Stampfen (Ungarn), gest. 18. VII. 1885 Wien VII., Mariahilferstraße 80, Ruhr (begr. 20. VII. 1885 Zentralfriedhof Wien 5b/14/6, 2. Abt.), Sohn des Graveurs aus Rzeszow (Galizien) Moses Grabmann und der Ernestine Tisch, kinderlos; 5.) Julie Kolisch, geb. 12. IX. 1839 Preßburg, gest. 14. IX. 1889 Zala Egerszeg (Ungarn; begr. 15. IX. 1889 jüdischer Friedhof Groß Kanizsa), verh. 31. XII. 1865 Wien (IKG) mit Alexander Kaiser, Bauunternehmer in Groß Kanizsa, geb. 4. IV. 1826 Groß Kanizsa (Ungarn), gest. vor dem 14. IX. 1889 … (begr. …), Sohn des Benjamin Kaiser und der Nanette Löwenstein und 6.) Therese Kolisch, geb. 24. III. 1844 Preßburg, gest. 6. X. 1918 Wien VI., Millergasse 48, Altersschwäche (begr. 9. X. 1918 Zentralfriedhof Wien 5b/35/10), verh. 21. XI. 1869 Wien (IKG; Beistände: Dr. med. Emanuel Kolisch und Jacob Wächter) mit Tobias Wächter, Papierhändler, ledig, geb. … 1845 Lemberg, gest. 22. V. 1875 Wien VII., Neubaugasse 37, Lungenschwindsucht (begr. 23. V. 1875 jüdischer Friedhof Währing 7346, neu 21/533), Sohn des Sensals Jacob Wächter und der am 14. II. 1877 zu Wien verst. Breindl Raucher. 98 Laut TBP: geb. Steiner, k.k. Hofratswitwe, röm.-kath., geb. Schwanenstadt in Oberösterreich, nach Troppau in Österr. Schlesien zust., vgl. BTB 8 (1883) p.566-567. Ihr am 27. September 1881 verstorbener Ehemann wurde als k.k. Hofrat und Ritter des kaiserl. österr. Leopold-Ordens mit 2. September 1879 in den österr. Ritterstand erhoben. 99 Laut TBP: geb. Dautwitz, Gattin des k.k. Majors Eduard von Aichner, röm.-kath., geb. Korneuburg in Niederösterreich, nach Wien zust., vgl. die Haan'schen Regesten in Jahrbuch Adler 16 (1906) p.153-154 und Doerr/Thun: Geneal. Quellenmaterial p.47. Eduard Aichner von Poßbach starb als k.u.k. Major des Ruhestandes am 10. Dezember 1910 im 86. Lebensjahre (geb. 14. oder 16. III. 1825 als Sohn des Johann Bapt. A. v. P. und dessen zweiter Frau, der am 8. September 1831 zu Wien verst. Therese Blatt) und wurde am 13. November 1910 auf dem Wiener Zentralfriedhof im Familiengrabe beigesetzt. Seine Parte (Sammlung Adler) zeichnet die Tochter Sofie Mravlag geb. A. v. P. im Namen ihrer Kinder Mitzi und Helene.

http://www.chess.com/article/view/the-kolisch-supplement

Recently, IM Jeremy Silman contributed an article featuring the talent of Ignatz Kolisch, one of the strongest, if not the strongest, player during the 1860s.

    Mr. Silman's article, Kolisch: Unknown Tactical Monster, demonstrated Kolisch's style and tactical acumen  but the following article looks at Kolisch from a different angle. ____________________________________________________________

    Like most players in the post 1860 era Kolisch was haunted by Paul Morphy's (then very much alive) specter. Below is a memorial published in California's "Daily Alta" on Oct. 27, 1889.  Even at Kolisch's death the author felt compelled to focus 2 of his 3 paragraphs  attempting to explain Kolisch's inability to secure a match with Morphy. phpaY5vks.jpeg phpO3f8qj.jpeg

    Paul Morphy and Ignatz Kolisch shared a birth year, 1837.  Morphy died in 1884 while Kolisch lived until 1889.  They both came into the chess world fast and strong and both gave up public chess at the height of their respective chess careers - Morphy to retire into what he thought was the security of his fortune, Kolisch to seek his.

    They were very similar in another, perhaps unexpected, way.

    The "Schachzeitung" Oct./Nov., 1861 [ed. Lange, Suhle and Hirshfeld] described the 24 year old Kolisch in it's article on the Bristol Chess Congress of Sept. 1861 :

            "Gegner bot dem  Zuschauer einen sehr interessanten Contrast dar. 

            Der eine, Paulsen, gross, breitschulterig, mit markigen Zügen und

            durchweg kräftig gebaut; der andere, Kolisch, klein, schmächtig und 

            von beinahe mädchenhaftem Aussehen"

            "The personal appearance of the two opponents offered the

             audience a very interesting contrast.  On the one side Paulsen, 

             tall, wide-shouldered, with striking features and athletically built 

             through and through; the other, Kolisch, small, slender and almost 

             girlish in appearance." which is very similar to physical descriptions of Morphy:

            "Morphy was short of stature, but well, and even gracefully, 

            proportioned, save that his hands and feet were preternaturally 

            small, the former being very white and well shaped."  

            -Rev. G.A. MacDonnell

            "His face was that of a boy of fifteen, with as yet no single 

            vestige of either beard or moustache. As his age was a few 

            months over twenty-one at the time to which I refer, it is probable 

            that at no period of his life was he destined to become "bearded 

            like the Pard," or, indeed, ever to apply a razor to his boyish face. 

            I remember his gloves were ladies', and his shoes a child's size, 

            into which not one woman in a hundred thousand could have 

            squeezed her feet."   -James Mortimer The images of Kolisch don't seem to relect that desctiption, but the Chess-monthly in 1881 noted the big change in Kolisch since his youth: php09Qnwe.jpeg

Morphy - Kolisch continued below the section between the purple lines. phpZM2FTB.jpeg Before we proceed....

Some Biographical Notes: phpSeaT47.jpeg

    Ignatz, born in Bratislava, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary, on April 6, 1837 was the son of Regine and Carl Wolf Kolisch.  His mother died when he was 12 while his father died just a year before Ignatz' greatest chess victory in 1867. He was the middle child in a rather large family of 3 older brothers, Emanuel (born in 1827, who became a pediatrician),  Samuel (born in 1829), Johann and one whose name isn't known (born in 1816 and may or may not have died in infancy), and 3 younger sisters, Júlia (born in 1839), Johanna (born in 1838) andTherese (born in 1844) .  On June 9, 1882 he married the much younger Irma Rayz, the daughter of Alvis Rayz (or Rajsz) who was born on Feb. 11, 1855.  Irma, writing under the pen-name Miradek had many of her articles published in both Austrian and Hungarian magazines. 

    Ignatz studied in Milan and Vienna but it was in St. Petersburg where he came in contact with Grigory Alexandrovich Kushelev-BezborodkoIlya (publisher of the magazine "Russkoye Slovo,"  and, from 1859-1863, it's supplement, "Shakhmatnyi Listok," the first Russian chess periodical)  whose father, Count Alexander Gregorievich Kushelev-Bezborodko, along with Ilya Schumov, had founded the first Russian chess club, the St. Petersburg Society of Chess Amateurs, in his palacial home on Gagarinskaya Street in 1853. This was the center of chess activity in St. Petersburg where visitors might see Petoff, Shumov, the brothers Urusov, Jaenisch, Viktor Mikailov,  Ivan Butrimov,  Nikolay Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky, Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev, Ivan Tuegenev,  Leo Tolstoy and many other influential persons.  Kolisch apparently flourished there. He became the personal secretary to the younger Kushelev-BezborodkoIlya.    [Many sources say Kolish was secretary to Sergei Urusov, and it's easy to see why.  But although Kolisch undoubtedly was in contact with Urusov, he traveled with Grigory Alexandrovich Kushelev-BezborodkoIlya who as one of the largest land-owners at that time, was also one of the richest and most influential Russians.  German papers referred to him as "Grafen Kuschelow," while English papers sometimes called him "Count Koucheleff."] phpqLj9nr.jpeg

    Traveling with his employer, Kolisch played chess wherever they went and built a reputation. While it would be difficult, if not impossible, to trace all of Kolisch's steps during his employment with Kushelev-BezborodkoIlya until it ended in Feb. 1863, the following vingette, presented by John Odin Howard Taylor of the Norwich Chess Club [published in the "BCM" July, 1889] shows Kolisch giving fantastic odds in London in 1859:

    During the latter part of 1859, I was studying in London for my examination. Desperately hard I worked day and night. Oh! how I remember the cats in that bitier winter, and the Norfolk turkey at Christmas! My sitting-room looked upon a blank waste and sun was conspicuous by absence. My only living companion was a spider—he died or was lost through want of a fly! Very accessible from my lodgings were the Philidorian chess rooms in Rathbone Place [46 Rathbone Place, Oxford Street], then kept byr Mr. Starie. There was a little book shop below, where one could buy the Chess Player's Chronicle or Greco. One went up a modest staircase and turned to the right, entering a small room not over well supplied with chess boards and men, but where some of the greatest players of that day were wont to meet, sometimes vanishing into an inner chamber for whist. Here I found my almost only recreation from weary law.

    The place being Anti-Stauntonian, was not 'fashionable'; nor had it the glory of the 'Divan,' in its best days, and then noble locale. Among the frequenters were Zytogorski, Harrwitz, Falkbeer, Campbell, Wormald, Healey, Kling, and Duffy, and many strong and enthusiastic amateurs. It was visited by such provincial amateurs as Mr. Gocher, of Ipswich; it was the scene of many matches; the finest efforts of then problem composers were set up there; chess periodicals edited and new combinations conceived and tested.

    Through that room I made the acquaintance of the lamented Baron Kolisch, when he first arrived in England, and afterwards enjoyed his company as guest at Norwich, in  1861. Whilst staying with me he played simultaneously thirteen members of the Norwich Chess Club, giving the odds of the Knight, and with the result that he won 8 and drew 2 games. Our only players who oould make a stand at these odds, were Mr. Rainger, the problem composer (then champion of the Norfolk and Norwich Chess Club); Mr. Crook (its veteran hon. sec. now), and myself. The success of Kolisch at odds was most marked. He gave odds quite disproportioned to the strength of his opponents as measured with others—witness the Trieste game [see game below], of which he was justly proud; and which delighted his backer beyond measure.

   He was in the habit of giving the Knight to such experienced and praotical amateurs as Mr. Maude, of the Divan. There was much talk of a match with Morphy, and when at the pitch of his skill, I think the Hungarian would have run the American hard. The latter played with more ease but not greater brilliancy.

    The qualities of Kolisch were proved not only in the matches with Anderssen and Louis Paulsen, but by his great victory at Paris. From the French tournament, Anderssen was absent, but he had to meet Steinitz and Neumann. The profound combination by which he won of the latter, is hardly surpassed in practical play, and what a master Neumann then was (after years of practice with the professor of Breslau), is demonstrated by his game won of Steinitz, in which attack and defence are superb.

    Still, it was not in heavy match play, that, to my taste, Kolisch shone most. There was too much of the artist in him, as there was in Boden, for mere winning, for money. He thoroughly loved a brilliant partie.

    At the time when we met he was by no means a quick player,—hour-glasses were not established—and he would sit, with utmost patience of analysis, where a gem was possible. His figure—when he visited us in Norwich—was slim; his smile, charming; his manners (especially in the presence of ladies), graceful and refined. One could trace, as in so many of the continental masters, Jewish blood and a distinct air of good breeding. He was a great admirer of scenery, and delighted with Thorpe and the ancient trees and sylvan loveliness of the Earl of Kimberley's seat.

    Kolisch affords the solitary example of a professional player rising to title and wealth. He did not, like Steinitz and Zukertort, exclusively devote his energies to a pastime, but utilized the brain strength (derived from cheas) in other directions.

    In the portrait, which, accompanied by kindest words, he forwarded to Pine Banks a year or two back, one felt that the friendship was as of yore—recalled the same smile—but, as to the form,—alas! "Quantum mutatus." In 1861, I was so keen upon chess, so ambitions of excelling, that I should rather have given up professional prospects than missed a chess crown. To Kolisch I owe (and my family owe) an inestimable debt of gratitude for, frankly saying I never could be "first class" however much I tried—and never could get beyond the status of one just above pawn and move. It was a turning advice: and may excuse this tribute by a contemporary amateur (with a moral), to one of the greatest of chess masters.

J. O. H. Taylor published the "Trieste" game in his book, Chess Brilliants" - Mr. Mandolfo of Trieste vs. Ignatz Kolisch London | 1859 | 0-1 12345678hgfedcba 1. e4e52. Bc4Nf63. Nc3c64. d3b55. Bb3a56. a4b47. Na2d58. exd5cxd59. Nf3Nc610. Qe2Bg411. O-OBc512. Bg5h613. h3h514. hxg4hxg415. Nxe5Nd416. Qe1Ne417. Bxd8Ng318. Ng6+Nde2+19. Qxe2+Nxe2# –X fJ#,.@

    For a listing of Kolisch's match and tournament results, see Rod Edward's Kolisch page on his Edo Historical Chess Ratings site.  The apex of his chess career arrived in 1867 when, while attending the strong tournament in Paris as a spectator, he was convinced to enter. He won that tournament and the Napoleon Prize [which, according to G.A. MacDonnell, he sold immediately for "£160 cash"] in spectacular style and promptly retired from public chess.  The "Chess Monthly" on Dec. 1881 wrote:

            The following item, we are sure, will interest our readers, as it 

            concerns the celebrated player Mr. Kolisch, who was formerly a 

            resident of London. Mr. Kolisch abandoned public play after his 

            success in the Paris Tournament 1867, where he won the first prize. 

            Since then he gradually rose as a financier, and is for many years 

            past a banker in Paris. Mr. Kolisch has lately been elevated to the 

            rank of a Baron of the Austrian Empire. Baron Ignatz von Kolisch 

            arrived at Vienna in September last to superintend the enlargement 

            of a splendid villa on the Kahlenberg, near Vienna, which he had 

            bought from the celebrated painter Felix. On the 14th of September 

            the Empress of Austria arrived at the Kahlenberg by special train in

            company w ith H. I. M., two brothers, the Archdukes Lndwig and

           Carl Theodor, with their consorts, as well as Princess Marie of Bavaria,

            and Baron Kolisch had the high honour of receiving an unexpected 

            visit from the exalted lady and suite. The company expressed their 

            gratification at the tasteful arrangements of the apartments and the 

            beautiful view of the surroundings.

    Kolisch threw another party at his estate following his June wedding to Irma:

Chess Monthly June, 1882

            On the 18th ult., it being Ascension-day, no play took place, 

            and Baron Kolisch invited the combatants to spend the day at 

            his princely villa on the Kahlenberg. Unpropitious weather prevented 

            any outdoor sports in the extensive grounds, but the guests sat down 

            to Chess and other games in the spacious winter garden and the 

            magnificent saloons of the host. Baroness Kolisch made the honneurs 

            in a most charming manner. Baron Rothschild, who was unavoidably 

            absent from the banquet, joined the society afterwards. His 

            Excelleney Baron Heydebrandt von der Lasa, the illustrious anthor 

            of the "Handbuch," was also present, and his toast was enthusiastically 

            received. The distinguished gentleman replied both in English and 

            German. By the time this reaches the reader the first part of the

            Tournament will be conclnded, and the second act begun. This division 

            is a very happy thought, and much more interesting than as if the 

            two games which the competitors have to play with each other had 

            been played off at once—in fact, we have two one-game Tournaments, 

            and it is possible that the best in the first may not take high honours 

            at the conclusion of the second, which is likely to extend up to the

            end of June.

The "Oxford Companion to Chess" tells us:

            "In 1871, the Rothschilds helped to set him up as a banker in Vienna; 

            he became established within two years, a millionaire by 1880 and 

            was created a baron the following year.  Soon afterward he bought a

            newspaper, the "Weiner Allgemeine Zeiting," in which he wrote 

            under a pen-name."

    Baron Albert von Rothschild had a fixation with chess and would be a major patron of the game for half a century. He helped establish and served as Chairman and later president of the Wiener Schachgesellschaft which would have many great players as members in its history.  Rothschild became Kolisch's chess and business sponsor sometime around 1864 (the OCC states that Kolisch was first introduced to the Rothschilds in 1859).

     Besides his financial ventures, Kolisch founded a short-lived financial publication, "Grüne Blätter,"  and in March 1880 he founded the popular liberal newspaper "Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung."  

    Theodor Hertzka served as editor until 1886 and Kolisch supplied articles himself under the pseudonym, "Ideka." He lost a small fortune in this venture and sold it in Oct. 1888.  Around the same time, his health began to fail and most sources state he died of renal (kidney) failure "after prolonged suffering" (according to "Oesterreichische lesehalle," June 1889) with his funeral at the funeral home located I., Ebendorferstrasse 10 [currently the site of the Pension Residenz Hotel], Vienna on May 2 at 10 a.m. with the burial in the Jewish section of the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery). [It may be worth noting that a "Dr. Kolisch of Vienna" published a well-received paper on kidney disease in 1889.]

   After his death, his wife continued to sponsor chess events at the Vienna Chess Club until 1891 when she moved to Budapest.  In Nov. 1899, the "BCM" wrote: "An international tourney, in which magnificent prizes will be offered, will probably be held in Vienna in 1894. The Baroness von Kolisch has promised such a contribution as will free the undertaking from any financial difficulties."  This International tournament never occured.

phpgbpvlW.jpeg phphGpg5P.jpeg

    Now, let's flesh out this ghost of Morphy and examine the exchanges between him and Kolisch.

    On March 16, 1861 the "Illustrated London News" wrote:

            We believe it is perfectly true that a wealthy foreign nobleman 

            (Kushelev-BezborodkoIlya) has offered to back Mr. Kolisch in a match 

            against the American player, Morphy, for 500 pounds a side, and 

            that a challenge has been forwarded to the latter."

    A challenge feeler was sent to Morphy via Napoleon Marache that specified an 11 game match between Kolisch and Morphy at £500 per side to be played in either London or New York City.

    On June 8, 1861 Morphy replied to the challenge, also via Marache with:

            ...Having now, however, returned to my home, and my attention 

            being turned to more serius matters, I cannot be expected, much 

            as I should be grateful to play with Mr. Kolisch, to forsake everything 

            for the purpose of contesting a match with that gentleman. Especially 

            is this impossible at the present time, as a moment's consideration will

            satisfy you. (Morphy is hinting about secession and the war).

                 All I can promise (and I wish it to be understood as a special 

            exception to the rule I have adopted, of playing no matches in future) 

            is so to arrange my time, whenever I may again visit the Old World, as

            to devote a couple of weeks, or more if necessary, to the contemplated

            match.  I must state, in this connection, that I positively decline playing

            for any stake whatever. The non-acceptance of this clause by Mr. Kolisch

            will be fatal to the match.

            ...a quiet, friendly match attended with no publicity, would afford me

            much pleasure, as I am sure it would to Mr. Kolisch. I shall with pleasure

            engage in a contest of that description whenever I may again have the

            good fortune to cross the ocean."

    According Charles de Maurian:

            On his return from his European triumphs, he entered into an 

            engagement with his mother never again to play for a money or other

            stake; never to play a public game or a game in a public place, and 

            never again to encourage or countenance any publication of any sort

            whatever in connection with his name."

    Morphy returned to Europe, landing in Cádiz, Spain in December of 1862.  On February 14, 1863 Kolisch wrote to Morphy the following letter published in "La Nouvelle Regénce" in March 1863:

                    Sir:

                         The distinguished reputation you have acquired at chess 

            has long since excited in me an ambition - presumptuous perhaps,

            but very ardent - to have the honor of encountering you at that game. 

            You will remember that two years since my friends endeavored to 

            bring us together and transmitted you a proposal, to which you replied 

            by a promise equivalent to a formal engagement in case you should 

            ever return to Europe - a promise which was made public in the 

            American journal, "Wilkes' Spirit of the Times," and which has been

            registered in "La Nouvelle Regénce." On the faith of this engagement 

            I left England when I heard of your arrival in Paris to put myself at your

            disposal. Knowing, however, that at the beginning of your visit private

            considerations withheld you from playing chess, I abstained from 

            communicating my resolution. But now, Sir, that you have resumed a 

            recreation in which you so much excell [sic], and daily play the game 

            with various adversaries, the time appears to arrive when I can recall 

            to you your former promise.

               I am sure, Sir, that I shall not appeal to your courtesy in vain; 

            and I believe you will think it reasonable that I should exercise the 

            same liberty which you used when you first came and threw down the 

            gauntlet to the chief players of Europe.

               Justified by both your promise and your example, I have the honor to

            propose to you a chess match. The conditions, if you please, shall be 

            the same as those first proposed to you in the letter of the secretary 

            of the St. George's Club - namely, that whichever of us wins the first

            eleven games shall be pronounced the conqueror.

                 Awaiting your reply, I beg you to accept the assurance of my

            consideration,  &C.                                                     

                                                   Ignatz Kolisch

According to the Oxford Companion to Chess, "he [Kolisch] went from London to Paris where he met Morphy 'who broke his promise to play a match.'" It could be construed this way if one's purpose is to denigrate Morphy (a noticable affliction of the OCC), but the facts remain that Morphy had made a more demanding promise to his mother and additionally had ammunition with which to resolve the issue honorably.

    In response to this seemingly reasonable challenge, Morphy apparently sent to Kolisch a note, declining the offer to play, explaining his desire to divorce himself from competitive chess. In addition, Morphy sent a copy of the note to "La Regénce,"  asking them to publish this additional statement:

                    I could have believed at the time when hearing of your 

            successes that you are superior to other players I had encountered in

            Europe, but since, as you are well aware, the result of your matches 

            with Messrs. Anderssen and Paulsen had not been favorable to you, 

            there is now no reason why I should make an exception in your case,

            having decided not again to engage in such matches, an infringement

            of my rules which I should be obliged to extend to others, &C, &C.

    Morphy further indicated his resolve to abandon competitive chess in his letter to Willard Fiske dated February 4, 1863 (before Kolisch re-affirmed his standing challenge). It was ostensibly a reply to Fiske concerning an invitation to Morphy by the Vienna Chess Club:

                    My dear Fiske,

                         Pray, do not be too prompt in condemning the tardiness of 

            my reply, for in this case at least, it can be justified. I have purposely

            abstained from returning an immediate answer to your favor, in the 

            hope of being enabled to take a trip to Vienna, not for the sake of 

            chess-playing, but activated by the very natural desire to see you after

            such a lapse of time as has gone by since my last visit to New York, and

            inquire about old friends and associations made doubly dear by the sad

            events that are transpiring in our distracted America. Much as I would

            enjoy a visit to Germany for those and other reasons, I am sorry to say 

            that it will not be in my power to leave Paris at present. I am here 

            with my brother in law and part of my family, the remainder being in 

            New Orleans. We are all following with intense anxiety the fortunes of 

            the tremendous conflict now raging beyond the Atlantic, for upon the 

            issue depends our all in life. Under such circumstances you will readily

            understand that I should feel little disposed to engage in the objectless 

            strife of the chess board. Besides, you will remember that as far back 

            as two years ago I stated to you in New York my firm determination to

            abandon chess altogether. I am more strongly confirmed than ever in 

            the belief that the time devoted to chess is literally frittered away. 

            It is, to be sure, a most exhilarating sport, but it is only a sport; and it 

            is not to be wondered at that such as have been passionately addicted 

            to the charming pastime should one day ask themselves whether sober

            reason does not advise its utter dereliction. I have, for my own part,

            resolved not to be moved from my purpose of not engaging in chess 

            hereafter. The few games that I have played here have been 

            altogether private and sans facon.

                  I never patronize the Café de la Regénce; it is a low, and, to 

            borrow a Gallicism, ill-frequented establishment.

            Hoping that you will excuse my dilatoriness, and wishing you health 

            and happiness,

                                             I remain Yours truly,

                                                 Paul Morphy

    So it's obvious that Morphy resolved to give up public chess and was avoiding any indication to the opposite. 

    Morphy mentioned Kolisch's recent matches with Paulsen and Anderssen (against both of whom Morphy had  a tremendously lopsided score to his advantage -see the notes under "Added Information" below) as proof enough that Kolisch wasn't deserving of a match with him.  Those two matches, which took place only months after Morphy's initial and favorable response to Kolisch's challenge, each hold certain particularities worth looking at.

    His match with Anderssen took place in in London in the summer of 1861. It was the first match played under strictly measured time limits - 24 moves in 2 hours as measured by a sand-glass.  Anderssen won 4, Kolisch 3 with 2 draws. Anderssen's winnings were the 10 guineas raised by the members of the London Chess Club.

     According to the "Westminster Papers," Feb. 1875

            THE TIME LIMIT IN TOURNEYS.

            In the rear 1860 the London Chess Club got up a little  match on even 

            terms between Mr Kolisch and myself. Mr Kolisch of  course won the

            match, but in one or two of the games I was fortunate enough to run 

            him rather hard. In one game some position of difficulty arose, 

            and over three successive moves he took more than two  hours,

            occupying  fifty-five minutes over one of their.  Now, sir, 

            although this was complimentary to my skill, it was, as you may 

            imagine, a weariness, to the flesh, and I set my wits to work to devise

            some means of putting an end to a system of playing matches which 

            had been creeping on until it had grown, as will be remembered, into 

            a scandal. . . Spurred on by what had token place in my little contest, 

            I was led to propose the method which has prevailed ever since in 

            every match of importance. This I need scarcely say, is the regulation

            which allows a player to spend any specified time , . over any 

            specified number of moves. . . This was the system adopted in the 

            match between Anderssen and Kolisch, at Bristol in 1861 [The match

            was played at the London Chess Club, not in Bristol]."

            George W. Medley, Jan. 18, 1875

    Remembering the descriptive comparison between Paulsen and Kolisch from the Bristol Congress given at the beginning of this article, what wasn't said is that Paulsen won that 1861  knockout tournament ahead of Kolisch.  The Bristol Congress took place in mid-September and afterwards Kolisch and Paulsen agreed to a match in which the winner would be the first to score 11 games. There are so many different scores given by reputable sources that the exact score can't be determined, but they all agree that Paulsen was a game up when the match was abandonned as drawn. 

    Here is Rev. G. A. MacDonnell's recollection:

            That same year he [Paulsen] played a match with Kolisch, which, 

            after a prolonged contest, was abandoned as drawn;   at one time 

            Paulsen's score was 6 to 1, but, greatly to his credit, Kolisch fought on 

            bravely, and eventually scored 5 to his opponent's 6, with 14 draws. 

            It was reported at time that when the score was 6 to 1 against Kolisch, 

            he was greatly encouraged to exert himself to the utmost by the 

            back-pats and promises of pecuniary reward given to him by the late 

            Mr. N. Strode, of Chiselhurst, [with whom Kolisch was staying] a 

            well-known member of the St. George's Chess Club. It was said Mr. 

            Strode gave him £5 for every game he drew, and a still larger sum 

            for every game he won.

    The lack of a match between Morphy and Kolisch is one of the most unfortunate of failed opportunities. Had Kolisch been a couple years earler or had he been in the U.S. at the time of his initial challenge, we might have some more great games to marvel at.  But the match seemed doomed by Morphy's determination to retire from public chess.

[Thanks to member bouncing_check who helped me with the German passages] phpmuTxcR.jpeg

Added Information: In comparing Morphy to Kolisch by way of their common opponents, Paulsen and Anderssen: In Dec. 1858 Morphy beat Anderssen +7-2=2 and then +5-1 in a 3 hour skittle match. Out of 11 games contested between Paulsen and Morphy, all in the end of 1857, Paulsen won 1, lost 7 (one of which was blindfold) and 3 were draws (one of which was blindfold). Whereas Kolish has a negative score against Paulsen and a negative score against Anderssen is match games and a plus score against him in casual games.

Kolisch's letter pblished in "La Régence," November 1860 showing his intent to challenge Morphy. phpobVXEj.png Here is Kolisch's letter in "La Nouvelle Régence" and below it Morphy's reply in the following issue: php7O0nrR.jpeg phpMgEAlq.jpeg

A chess problem composed by Kolisch: phpfvL8lv.jpeg

White to Mate in 4 | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh White to Move f
g:(

phpmuTxcR.jpeg Originally, I was putting these game in the comment section, but I decided to place them here and update them as I transcribe games. Kolisch the odds-giver Here Kolisch gave Rook and the move to an amateur Mr. M vs. Kolisch 0-1 12345678hgfedcba Published in "The Chess World, March 1865" 1. e4e52. Bc4Nf63. Nc3c64. d3b55. Bb3a56. a4b47. Na2d58. exd5cxd59. Nf3Nc610. Qe2Bg411. O-OBc512. Bg5h613. h3h514. hxg4hxg415. Nxe5Nd416. Qe1Ne417. Bxd8 (17. dxe4Qxg518. exd5Qh519. Ng6+Kd720. Nxh8g3and wins ) (17. Qxe4Qxg518. Nf3+dxe419. Nxg5Ne2#) 17... Ng318. fxg3Nf3# –X fJ#,.@

Knight odds game: Kolisch vs. NN 1-0 87654321abcdefgh Published in "The Chess Monthly, March 1965. Kolisch actually played Black in this game, but took the first move. 1. e4e52. f4exf43. Nf3g54. Bc4Bg75. d4d66. h4h67. hxg5hxg58. Rxh8Bxh89. Qd3Qf610. e5dxe511. dxe5Qe712. Qh7Qb4+13. Bd2Qxc414. O-O-OQxa215. Qxg8+Kd716. Ba5+Kc617. Nd4+Kd718. Qd8+Kxd819. Nc6+Ke820. Rd8# –X fJ#,.@

Knight odds game: Ignatz Kolisch vs. M. de Sabouroff Nouvelle Régence Oct. 1860 | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh 1. e4e52. Bc4Nf63. f4d54. exd5Bg45. Ne2exf46. O-Of37. gxf3Bd78. Ng3Be79. d4O-O10. Bb3Bh311. Re1Nbd712. Bf4Bd613. Qd2h614. Bxh6gxh615. Qxh6Bxg316. hxg3Bf517. g4Bh718. g5Ne819. Kf2Kh820. Rh1Nef621. gxf6Nxf622. Rag1Rg823. Rxg8+Kxg824. Rg1+Bg625. Rxg6+fxg626. d6+Black resigned here 26... Nd527. Bxd5# –X fJ#,.@

Knight odds game: Ignatz Kolisch vs. Sabouroff St. James Club | 1860 | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh "Schachzeitung," Sept. 1860. Played in the Spring of 1860 1. e4d52. e5d43. Bc4e64. Nf3a65. a4Bc56. O-Of67. Qe2Nh68. d3Nf79. c3O-O10. b4Ba711. cxd4fxe512. dxe5Nc613. Bb2b514. axb5axb515. Bxb5Nxb416. Qe4Nd517. Bc6Rb818. Ba3Nc319. Qc4Ne2+20. Kh1Bd421. Rae1Nxe522. Nxe5Bxe523. Bxf8Qxf824. Rxe2Rb425. Qc1Bf426. Qc3Qd627. Be4Bd728. Ra2Be529. Ra8+Kf730. Qd2Rb231. Qd1Bb532. Qh5+Ke733. Qxh7Qb434. Qg8Rxf235. Qd8+Black resigned –X fJ#,.@

Knight odds game: Kolisch vs. Schröder London Chess Club | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh Max Lange's "Sonntags-Blätter für Schach-Freunde," March 31, 1861 1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Be74. d4d65. d5Na56. Bd3c57. c3b68. Be3Nf69. h3O-O10. g4h611. g5hxg512. Nxg5Nh713. Nxh7Kxh714. Qh5+Kg815. Rg1Bf616. f4c417. Bc2Re818. f5Kf819. O-O-OKe720. Rxg7Bxg721. Bg5+f622. Qh7Rg823. Bh6Qf824. Rg1Qf725. Bxg7Bxf526. Bxf6+Kf827. Rxg8+Qxg828. Qe7# –X fJ#,.@

Rook odds against Sam Loyd's oldest brother, Thomas- Ignatz Kolisch vs. Thomas Loyd Rook odds game | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh 1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Bc54. b4Bxb45. c3Ba56. d4exd47. O-ONge78. Ng5Ne59. Bb3dxc310. f4c211. Qh5Bb6+12. Kh1g613. fxe5Nf5 (13... gxh514. Bxf7+Kf815. Ne6+dxe616. Bh6#) 14. Bxf7+Ke715. Nc3gxh516. Rxf5d6Here Black announced Mate in 3 17. Nd5+Kd7 (17... Kf818. Ne6+Bxe619. Bh6#) 18. e6+Kc619. Nb4# –X fJ#,.@

The following game is a blindfold game between Kolisch and de Carbonnel at the Grand Café, Paris. The given score was cooked and I had trouble transcribing it into algebraic. Thanks to members GreenCastleBlock, Mathijs, MetalRatel, Slowhand99 and Owltuna who all did what I couldn't do.

Ignatz Kolisch vs. de Carbonnel Sanc Voir | Le Grand Café, Paris | 1-0 87654321abcdefgh 1. e4e52. f4d63. Nf3Nc64. c3Bg45. Bc4Nf66. Qb3Be67. Bxe6fxe68. Qxe6+Be79. Ng5Rf810. Nxh7Nxh711. Qg6+Rf712. Qxh7Rxf413. d3Rf714. Qh8+Bf815. Nd2Qg516. Qh3Qe717. Nf3Nd818. O-ONe619. Be3b620. Qh5O-O-O21. Ng5Rxf1+22. Rxf1Nf423. Bxf4exf424. Rxf4d525. Rf7Qe5Black resigns here due to the following... 26. Qg4+Kb727. Ne6 –X fJ#,.@

Comments 12 months ago AE1659 unbelievable 12 months ago batgirl Au contraire. Morphy was definitely retiring from public chess avoiding all formal matches and his rejection of Kolisch based on his recent mediocre performances against opponents Morphy handled easily was completely justified. His games with de Rivière were casual (sans façon) and private not public nor were they contradictory to his intentions. Kolisch was totally civil and proper. There was no fault, just bad timing. 12 months ago yureesystem The fault is on Morphy, he could of easily played Kolisch; he was in Paris on 1863 and played an opponent (De Riviere) he beat before. This doesn't sound like retiring from chess and a chance to play a much stronger opponent like Kolisch, any strong master would of took the opportunity to meet the challenge and play a match. It is truly sad that these two great players never played a match, I sure Morphy would of won; this base on Kolisch two matches against Anderssen and Paulsen which he lost to them. 12 months ago Spektrowski Another supplement. An off-hand game between Kolisch and one of the great Russian writers, Ivan Turgenev. Ivan Turgenev vs. Ignaz Kolisch Casual game | 1880 | 0-1

1. e4e52. Nf3Nc63. Bc4Nf64. Ng5d55. exd5Na56. d3A rare variation. 6... h67. Nf3e48. Qe2Nxc49. dxc4Bc510. Nfd2O-O11. h3e3!12. fxe3Bxe313. Kd1Re814. Qf3Bxd215. Nxd2c616. b3cxd517. Bb2Ne418. c5Qg5!19. Bc1Qxg2!20. Rf1 (20. Qxg2Nc3#) 20... Nc3+!White resigned. –X fJ#,.@