First tournament in England
-
- Posts: 141
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:50 am
- Location: London
First tournament in England
I have heard that the first chess tournament held in England was Oswestry in 1652. The organisers announced it a year in advance so word would spread. The tournament was won by a Mr G Burton a blacksmith from Cheam with 31/31 !!
According to the tournament book people were going up to his opponents and saying 'Are you going for a burton?'
According to the tournament book people were going up to his opponents and saying 'Are you going for a burton?'
- Matt Mackenzie
- Posts: 5191
- Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:51 pm
- Location: Millom, Cumbria
Re: First tournament in England
What?
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)
- MJMcCready
- Posts: 3140
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: First tournament in England
We've all heard all sorts of things but some documented evidence is obviously required.
What does 'Are you going for a burton" mean I wonder?
What does 'Are you going for a burton" mean I wonder?
- John Upham
- Posts: 7162
- Joined: Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:29 am
- Location: Cove, Hampshire, England.
- Contact:
Re: First tournament in England
PossiblyMJMcCready wrote: What does 'Are you going for a burton" mean I wonder?
this
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/gone ... urton.html
or this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_for_a_Burton
or something else.
British Chess News : britishchessnews.com
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
Twitter: @BritishChess
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/britishchess
- John Clarke
- Posts: 707
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:07 pm
Re: First tournament in England
Brewer's Dictionary Of Phrase And Fable offers a couple of other suggestions. Both are rather long-winded and (to my mind) a bit fanciful, so I won't waste space on them here. Anyone seriously interested can look them up.
"The chess-board is the world ..... the player on the other side is hidden from us ..... he never overlooks a mistake, or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance."
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)
(He doesn't let you resign and start again, either.)
-
- Posts: 1938
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:36 pm
- MJMcCready
- Posts: 3140
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: First tournament in England
I suppose the challenge is working out what it meant in 1652.
-
- Posts: 5803
- Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:28 pm
Re: First tournament in England
"I suppose the challenge is working out what it meant in 1652."
Assuming Francis was being serious, it's just possible the book was written somewhat later than 1652.
The RAF slang is the derivation which seems most likely, they were an inventive lot. "Gremlins" probably comes from RAF as well, and one suggested derivation is a mixture of Grimm's fairy tales and Fremlin beer. A theme is developing.
Assuming Francis was being serious, it's just possible the book was written somewhat later than 1652.
The RAF slang is the derivation which seems most likely, they were an inventive lot. "Gremlins" probably comes from RAF as well, and one suggested derivation is a mixture of Grimm's fairy tales and Fremlin beer. A theme is developing.
-
- Posts: 1938
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:36 pm
Re: First tournament in England
I don't think for one minute that Francis was being serious remembering his limericks that don't rhyme/scan thread.Kevin Thurlow wrote:"I suppose the challenge is working out what it meant in 1652."
Assuming Francis was being serious, it's just possible the book was written somewhat later than 1652.
The RAF slang is the derivation which seems most likely, they were an inventive lot. "Gremlins" probably comes from RAF as well, and one suggested derivation is a mixture of Grimm's fairy tales and Fremlin beer. A theme is developing.
1652 would place this so-called tournament firmly in the era of Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth. Perhaps he's thinking of the Cavaliers v Roundheads match of the previous decade where the former team lost their king?
- MJMcCready
- Posts: 3140
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: First tournament in England
Someone must have more information about this topic. I would like to know what the first recognized tournament in the England was.
-
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:59 pm
Re: First tournament in England
As far as I know a tournament played at Simpson's Divan early in 1849 was the first. In my forthcoming book on Henry Edward Bird I make mention of a few hints I found about a handicap tournament played at the same Divan in 1848, but I doubt if that ever took place.
- MJMcCready
- Posts: 3140
- Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:30 pm
Re: First tournament in England
Hmmm, does this mean I should now reject the claim that the claim that the first tournament in England was the 1989 Hitchin Open, as I was told as an impressionable youth.