Centennial Chess Problem Tourney, 1877
The problems will be compared and judged upon the following points of merit: ingenuity and beauty of trick or design, one to fifteen points; for difficulty of solution, one to ten points; for beauty of construction or position, one to five points.
2 pr. S. Loyd (Themes)
3 pr. J. Elson (Stand and Unfold Yourself)
2 pr. H. Boardman (Second Thoughts, prb. 1)
3 pr. J. B. McKim (The Homestretch, prb. 1)
2 pr. J. Elson (Stand and Unfold Yourself, prb. 2)
3 pr. J. W. Finlinson (Labore et Perseverantia, prb. 2)
2 pr. S. Loyd (Ideas, prb. 3)
3 pr. J. W. Finlinson (Labore et Perseverantia, prb. 3)
2/2 (June 1877), p. 30: main tournament: abridged advanced report; list of prize winners.
v. [3], p. [165] (Oct. 1878): sample pages of tourney book
The problem tourney was originally planned to be part of the Centennial
Chess Congress, held in Philadelphia, 1876.
The plans failed, but a group of problemists and chess editors decided
to organize a problem tournament on their own, and issued a proposal
for the competition.
Several chess editors joined in, some subscribing to the prize fund of
the tournament, some adding their own prizes for entries submitted to
their columns. (For a list of editors, see the letter from many, possibly
all of them, reprinted in Scientific American Supplement,
referenced below, a propos the tourney book.)
88 sets of three problems, and 12 single problems were entered.
45 sets were found to be faulty, and 6 additional sets disqualified
due to "doubles" (duals). 4 single problems were faulty, and one
additional one disqualified because of duals.
According to A. C. White, Loyd did not receive any of the prizes he was awarded.
This is the more remarkable as C. C. Moore, as Secretary and Treasurer pro tem.
of the tourney committee, announced that he personally guaranteed the prompt
payment of the full amount of the prizes.
In Scientific American Supplement (1877-08-25) part of a letter
of thanks from several chess editors to C. C. Moore and E. B. Cook
is reprinted. The letter also expressed the hope that either or both of
the addressees take charge of the proposed tourney book.
While no definite information on responsibility has been found,
a Centennial Problem Tourney book was planned, subscriptions for it were
announced, and sample pages were printed in American Chess Journal. It
was also announced as one of the prizes in the monthly solution tourneys
of American Chess Journal, so its publication must have appeared to
be reasonably secure. However, as no bibliographic trace of it has been found, it appears not to have reached publication. This means we do not
know about the honorary awards, which the report of the
tourney Secretary (C. C. Moore) mentions would be reported in the
tourney book.
The difference in sources in the 2 Prize set (Cleveland Leader on
the hand and Cleveland Voice on the other) is because the column, edited by J. B. McKim, changed newspapers between the dates the problems
were published.
Awards:
Section A: Sets
1 Prize: S. Loyd
2 Prize: S. Loyd
3 Prize: J. Elson
Section B: #2
1 Prize: S. Loyd
#2
2 Prize: H. Boardman
#2
3 Prize: J. B. McKim
#2
Section C: #3
1 Prize: S. Loyd
#3
2 Prize: J. Elson
#3
3 Prize: J. H. Finlinson
#3
Section D: #4
1 Prize: S. Loyd
#4
2 Prize: S. Loyd
#4
3 Prize: J. H. Finlinson
#4
Section: Best problem
Prize: S. Loyd
#4