Howard Staunton
Howard Staunton ( * April 1810 in London, † June 22, 1874 ) was an eminent British chess player, chess journalist and Shakespeare scholar. He was 1843-1851 as the strongest chess player in the world.
Life
Born as the illegitimate son of the Earl of Carlisle, Staunton grew up poor and learned to play chess until the age of 20, relatively late for a great chess champion. It was not until 1830 he appeared in the London Chess Club. Previously, he was active as an actor and appeared inter alia, with the great actor Edmund Kean in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, in which he in his role as Lorenzo certainly could survive alongside Kean's Shylock himself. In addition, Staunton employed for many years with the works of Shakespeare and also served as editor of his works spending.
Staunton dealt in detail with the opening theory, which hastened his considerable achievements on the chessboard. He became a brilliant analyst and spent the first opening of the first c2 - c4, which became known as the English Opening in chess history. The name was also a variant of Dutch Defence, the Staunton Gambit.
Staunton has quickly become one of Europe's best chess players. In 1843, he called in the famous Parisian Chess Cafe Cafe de la Regence French master Pierre Saint Amant at a contest out. From 21 games, he won 11, lost six and played four times in a draw. After that, he was regarded as the strongest player in the world.
From 1841 Staunton was the chess magazine " The Chess Players Chronicle " out and led until 1852. She was by the French magazine " Le Palamede " the second chess newspaper at all. He often presented here own games, where winning plays to be over-represented. From 1845, until his death wrote Staunton chess column in the " Illustrated London News". He reported on the evolving chess life around the world and published chess problems and games. This chess section is now considered a valuable source of information. He also published several chess books, including in 1847 his influential textbook, The Chess- Player 's Handbook. The recommended him the form of chess pieces (Staunton- figures) is now used in almost all official tournaments.
Merits
Much credit Staunton also gained by the fact that due to his efforts in 1851 in London at the same time for the World Expo, the first major international chess tournament came about. He called on chess friends in England and the colonies on donations and thus provided the financial base for the tournament. The organizing committee comprised leaders of London society. The wealthy chess club St.George addressed invitations to the leading chess master of Europe. The tournament had finally sixteen participants, including Adolf Anderssen and Lionel Kieseritzky. Staunton, previously traded as a favorite, lost to Anderssen, who unexpectedly won the tournament. Staunton was only fourth. Thinking time 12-16 hours per batch were common in this tournament, as was played even without chess clock and no time limit.
The failure could not cope Staunton. In his journal, he sat down his opponents and led an alleged illness as an excuse. In 1853 Staunton lost an unofficial match against von der Lasa and then retired from the international chess scene back. When the new rising star on the chess heaven, Paul Morphy from the United States, asked him in 1858 for a competition, he dodged a duel. His best historical Elo rating was 2706th This he achieved in November 1846. He was more than six years at number one in the world rankings. In 1874, Staunton died in London of a heart attack.
Works
- Digital view of the vintages of The Chess Player's Chronicle
- The Chess Player 's Companion. London 1849
- The Chess Tournament. London 1852
- Chess Practice: A Supplement to the Chess Player 's Handbook. London 1860