Game One: La Bourdonnais-McDonnell, London 1834 I approve strongly of rational games for they serve to perfect the art of thinking.This fiery bombast is a spectacular--but not atypical--example of the maniacally ferocious strategies employed during early 19th century Chess games. These encounters, which remind the studious observer of nothing so much as a mad game of schlagschach, were perhaps the first series of formally arranged matches to be preserved and published--for our amusement, no doubt. Louis Charles de la Bourdonnais went on to win this bloodbath--the 21st game of the series--by checkmating Alexander McDonnell on the 38th move. (La Bourdonnais was reported by George Walker to have "talked and laughed a good deal at intervals, when winning, and swore tolerably round oaths in a pretty audible voice, when fate ran counter to his schemes.") The match--suspended to allow La Bourdonnais to return to Paris on business--was never completed, leaving La Bourdonnais the de facto victor +45=13 -27. The unfortunate McDonnell developed a severe kidney ailment and died of Bright's disease on 14 September 1835. This auspicious tournament marked the highlight of La Bourdonnais' Chess career; after selling all of his possessions--including his clothes--he died penniless on 13 December 1840. La Bourdonnais and McDonnell are buried near each other in London's Kensal Green cemetery. |
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