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Paul Morphy
came out victorious in the
"1st American Chess Congress",
which was held in New York City from October 6th to
November 10th, 1857. The format for the event was a 16 Player, 4-round knockout tournament.
Morphy won the competition by winning fourteen while
losing one with three draws. In the final round, he
defeated the strong German-American master
Louis
Paulsen winning five games, drawing two, and
losing one. It was said that Paulsen was an extremely
slow player and that made Morphy nearly cry while
playing with him.
Morphy was now the chess champion
of the United States, and such was his strength of
play that many urged him to test his skill abroad.
First prize was $300, which Morphy declined, feeling
chess for money, that is chess as a profession, was
somehow very low class. Instead he accepted a prize of
a silver pitcher, four goblets, and a salver. |
