Berthold Englisch

Berthold Englisch ( born July 9, 1851 in Hotzenplotz, Moravian- Silesia, † October 19, 1897 in Vienna ) was an Austrian chess master.

Berthold English was a professional stock brokers in Vienna and came from a Jewish family.

He won in 1879 in Leipzig surprisingly the first congress of the German Chess Federation against Louis Paulsen. This should, however, remain his greatest tournament success. The following year he shared the tournament in Wiesbaden with Blackburne and Adolf Schwarz the first place. In 1890 he was defeated in Vienna in a duel over five games to the eventual champion Emanuel Lasker ( 0, -2, = 3), while a draw at the same place a competition with Harry Nelson Pillsbury held in 1896 ( 0, - 0 = 5). Noteworthy were his even balance of six matches in tournament games with Wilhelm Steinitz ( 1, -1, = 4), and his victory over Adolf Anderssen in the Paris Tournament 1878.

As Englischs best historical Elo rating of 2690, the value was determined ( February 1897 ). However, he clearly already reached prior to that in August and September 1881, with second place his best position on the world rankings retroactively calculated.

He died in October 1897, just weeks after he had to cancel the international masters tournament of the Berlin Chess Club to illness.