the lewis chessmen [Copyright Photograph, The British Museum)
NOTABLE CHESS PLAYERS
charles xii, who consoled himself with
chess after his defeat at Pultowa. Turkish
bullets took a hand in his famous game with
Christian Albert Grothusen, and removed
first his white knight, after which he prom
ised to win in 3 moves; then his white pawn,
after which he managed to win in 5 moves.
the emperor napoleon bonaparte, a Con
stant but not very strong chess player. The
greatest strategist on the battle-fields of
Europe was not a genius of the Board, per
haps because here Timehis most trusted
allycould not be brought into play.
benjamin franklin, whose earliest games
of chess were played for the privilege of
setting Italian exercises. His are the first
recorded games of chess in U.S.A. and his
love of the game was utilized, through his
friendship with Governor Lowe's wife, to
further diplomatic manoeuvres. He was one
of those who played with the famous fraud,
the Automatum chess player, in Paris.
The World's Chess Champion, alekhine,
playing an exhibition game in a Paris
cafe, against 80 players.
