Maróczy in England – Blackburn’s boat excursion
Submitted by
cgs on Fri, 08/08/2008 at 3:18am.
Between 8, November, 1924 and 18, December, 1924 Géza Maróczy participated in a tour of simultaneous games in Great Britain. On the 24 scenes of games he won 509, draw 70, lost 4 games from London to Edinburgh.
Maróczy wrote in his book „I began in this way…” : Joseph Henry Blackburne was the most excellent master of England. There he surpassed everybody in ingenuity. He dedicated his total life to chess and won in several tournament. Between 1862-1892 he was the most successful match-player. His master companions called him as „black ruin (death)”…. Blackburne who had born in 1842 proved to be dangerous opponent still in his 70th year. He was sitting at the game motionless, without a voice, didn’t proclaim his feeling, not moved a muscle, and didn’t proclaim the ideas which were developing in his mind. His sight glanced just at that moment and a slight smile flitted across his face if his adversary fell into one of his brilliant pitfalls and he was up to the neck in trap.
His short English pipe hung down fom his mouth and was estinguished always, and didn’t occur to him that the pipe should burn and smoke. Blackburne as each maritime travellers liked the hard drink, but he remained sober always. The whole England knew, honoured and loved him. His friends with ordinary care paid attention for his health, and they came to a decision considering that he is an advanced age – he came near to 80 – that they will disaccustom him from hard drink. The assembly of wiseacres took counsel together, and as a result of discussion: they sent the old man to take a holiday in a cargo-boat to India. The boat had put into port nowhere, and the commodore was convinced teetotaller, he didn’t drink alcoholic beverage.
About half year after his friends were waiting the return on the mole. Blackburne returned in vigorous health, takeing the commodore by his arm, who was standing on unstable legs. Blackburne accustomed him to drinking. When I heard this episode occured to me and understood his saying in Hastings. I inquired at him after strenght of Bird and he replied this: „I could give preference to him by one bottle whisky.”
Maróczy met with Blackburne at the chessboard in 8 instance. The rersult is 5 victory and 3 draws. The next game was played in London.
Analyzed by Géza Maróczy
On the picture there isn’t Blackburne, there is an old fisherman who was painted near to this game’s time. Painted it the famous Hungarian plan-air painter Tivadar CSONTVÁRY-KOSZTKA. (1853-1919) The „Old Fisherman” was painted in Castellammare (Near of Naples, Italy) around 1902. The parallel between Csontváry and Maróczy will be readable before the Csontváry Gallery. The Gallery of this other great Hungarian globe-trotter artist there is visible in my blog. (new)