Michell Stomps Blackburne

    In April of 1909, explorer Robert Peary almost reaches the North Pole, a long elusive dream, when he, assistant Matthew Henson and four Inuits reach what they determine to be the North Pole. Decades after Peary’s death, navigational errors in his log indicated that in all probability he was a few miles short of its goal. 

    In 1909, new technologies like the phonograph meant that music like ragtime became popular. Broadway musicals and vaudeville also gaine dpopularity. Formal clothing was the norm, women were wearing corseted dresses and large hats, and men suits. For men suits were the standard. Girls wore dresses with lace and stiff material and boys wore shorts, knickers, and tunics. 

    In the chess world  the St. Petersburg tournament, a highly prestigious event, and the Lasker-Janowsky match took place. Akiba Rubinstein and Lasker tied for first in St. Petersburg. The match against Janowski was an important step in Lasker's career; he crushed Jamowsky +7 -1 =2.

 

    Joseph Blackburne (1841-1924) is pretty well known. He came to be known as "The Black Death" and enjoyed a great deal of success in England. In his later years British players provided pension in the form if an annuity for him. In 1923, he suffered a stroke and the next year he died of a heart attack. 

    Reginald Michell (1873-1938) is not so well known. He was British Amateur Champion in 1902. He died in London in 1938. His wife Edith Michell won the British Women's championship three times and participated in a number of World Women's championships.

 

[Event "British Champ, Scarborough"] [Site ""] [Date "1909.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Reginald P. Michell"] [Black "Joseph H. Blackburne"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17.1"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "1908.08.09"] [Source ""] {C10: French Defense} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 Nxe4 7. Bxe4 Nf6 8. Bd3 Be7 9. Qe2 a6 {So fat the opening moves have been pretty standard, bit now black should probably castle and play ...c5. The fismcheoot line he chooses gets the B into play, but, being somewhat passive, in practice it does not work out too well,} 10. O-O b6 11. Bd2 Bb7 12. c4 O-O 13. Bc3 Bd6 (13... Nd7 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. d5 Nc5 {White's position is very promising, close to being decisive, in fact. Efimenko,Z (2439)-Blatny,P (2547) Ohrid 2001}) 14. Ne5 g6 {This safery precaution shielding h7 is not necessary and only weakens his K-side.} (14... Qe7 15. Rad1 Bb4 {is solid.}) 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rfe1 Rad8 17. Qe3 Bxe5 {A surprising blunder from a player of Blackburne's strength. Correct was 17...b5 with Q-side play.} (17... b5 {was worth a try.} 18. b3 b4 19. Bb2 c5 {White is better, but black is still in the game.}) 18. Qxe5 $18 Ng4 19. Qf4 f5 {The dark squares around black;s K are fatally weak as Michell demonstrates.} 20. h3 g5 21. Qg3 Nh6 22. d5 {[%mdl 512] The knockout blow. With both Bs aime at black's weakened K's position the end is near.} f4 23. Qf3 {Heading for e5.} g4 24. Qe4 Rf7 25. Qe5 Kf8 26. hxg4 c5 27. dxe6 { Black resigned. A well played and froceful attack by Michell.} 1-0