Yorkshire Chess History

Contents:

Huddersfield v Wakefield Correspondence Game, 1840-41

Home Narrative Organisations Events Games People Graves Buildings Competitions Trophies Made in Yorkshire Miscellaneous Sheffield Sub-Site

The Leeds Mercury of Saturday 23rd January, 1841, reported as follows: Chess. – The following game played by correspondence, between the Huddersfield and Wakefield Chess Club[s], has been recently concluded in favour of the former, Wakefield having resigned at the 16th move. The present Huddersfield chess club dates back to 1852.  This Huddersfield Chess Club was a predecessor which fizzled out.  It predated the era of John Watkinson and Walter Parratt. The Wakefield consulting team, or “committee”, is likely to have included one or more from Edward Shepherd, William Ledgar Robinson, Rev. Edwin Colman Tyson and John Morrell France.  The leading player on the Huddersfield team is likely to have been Thomas Parratt, father of Walter Parratt.  Another possible Huddersfield player is Joseph Brierley. The report did not state the date of commencement of the game, but it’s fairly safe to infer from its brevity that it started in 1840.  The game ran as follows: Huddersfield v Wakefield, Correspondence, 1840-1841 White: Huddersfield, Black: Wakefield, 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O-O gxf3 6. Qxf3 Qf6 7. e5 Qxe5 8. d3 Bh6 9. Bd2 Ne7 10. Nc3 Nbc6 11. Rae1 Qc5+ 12. Kh1 d6 13. Bxf4 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 f5 15. Nd5 Kd7 16. b4 Black resigns. (See also Wakefield-Huddersfield correspondence game, which may have been played in parallel with the above game.)

Created 25/04/2012

Copyright © 2012 Stephen John Mann

Last Updated 25/04/2012