Sorry if this is sent a second time.

I am wondering about the Meek Fuller series in the 1st round of New York 1857.

The sources I have give only 4 games; Meek is white in all 4, and each wins 2.

Was there a 5th game or a forfeit, and does anyone have access to the score?

Thanks for any help.

Jerry Spinrad

Subject: Meek vs Fuller New York 1857

On 20 August 2004 (Jerry Spinrad) wrote in
Message-id:

-snipped-.

I am wondering about the Meek Fuller series in the 1st round of New York
1857.

The sources I have give only 4 games; Meek is white in all 4, and each wins
2.

Was there a 5th game or a forfeit, and does anyone have access to the score?

Thanks for any help.

Jerry Spinrad


There must have been a 5th game or possibly a forfeit win, since Meek advanced
to the second round after defeating Fuller, 3-2, (three wins, two losses). Game
1 was played on 6 October 1857, but your sources must say that the players
contested two more games on the same day - 9 October. It is unclear whether the
two played on 7 or 8 October. The dates of the last two games are unknown, as
far as I can find out. Also unclear is why Meek had White in four games. The
pairings were done by lottery, with Meek drawing a numbered white stub that
gave him the choice of color and first move, which corresponded in number to
that of Fuller's yellow stub.
I hope that someone can dig up the game score of the fifth game or at least
explain Judge Meek's 3-2 win.

George Mirijanian

Don't know if this helps, but the New York Times October 9, 1857 reports that as
of 8 o'clock the previous evening the score was 1-1 in the Meek-Fuller match. An
October 14th report simply gives Meek as having advanced to the 2d round.

Jerry Spinrad

In article , (Miriling) writes:
| Subject: Meek vs Fuller New York 1857
|
| On 20 August 2004 (Jerry Spinrad) wrote in
| Message-id:
|
| -snipped-.
|
| I am wondering about the Meek Fuller series in the 1st round of New York
| 1857.
|
| The sources I have give only 4 games; Meek is white in all 4, and each wins
| 2.
|
| Was there a 5th game or a forfeit, and does anyone have access to the score?
|
| Thanks for any help.
|
| Jerry Spinrad
|
|
| There must have been a 5th game or possibly a forfeit win, since Meek advanced
| to the second round after defeating Fuller, 3-2, (three wins, two losses). Game
| 1 was played on 6 October 1857, but your sources must say that the players
| contested two more games on the same day - 9 October. It is unclear whether the
| two played on 7 or 8 October. The dates of the last two games are unknown, as
| far as I can find out. Also unclear is why Meek had White in four games. The
| pairings were done by lottery, with Meek drawing a numbered white stub that
| gave him the choice of color and first move, which corresponded in number to
| that of Fuller's yellow stub.
| I hope that someone can dig up the game score of the fifth game or at least
| explain Judge Meek's 3-2 win.
|
| George Mirijanian
|
|
|
|
|

My thanks to Neil Brennen for providing the answer to these mysteries. On page
168 of the book of the 1st American Chess Congress, a note states: "The second
game between these players was not recorded, It was won by judge Meek." On page
169, Fiske confesses "We do not understand how one of the players retains the
first move through the whole of these games...but we follow the record."

Jerry Spinrad