1862 London Tournament
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The 1862 London Tournament was the first international round-robin chess tournament, introducing both modern tournament structure and timed play through the use of sandglasses. Held during the second British International Exhibition, it attracted players from across Europe. Adolf Anderssen of Prussia won convincingly with a score of 11 out of 12, reasserting himself as the strongest player in the world during Paul Morphy’s retirement.
Winner: Adolf Anderssen
Born: July 6, 1818, Breslau, Prussia (now Wrocław, Poland)
Died: March 13, 1879, Breslau, Germany
Adolf Anderssen was the undisputed torchbearer of the Romantic chess era, revered for his dazzling attacks and fearless sacrifices. Already immortalized by legendary brilliancies like The Immortal Game and The Evergreen Game, he had claimed global recognition by winning the inaugural London 1851 Tournament. By 1862, with Paul Morphy out of the spotlight, Anderssen stood alone at the summit of European chess.
His showing in London was a masterclass—11 wins from 12 games, yielding just a single loss. Anderssen’s bold creativity, combined with razor-sharp calculation, reaffirmed his dominance and left no doubt that he was still the player to beat.
«In Anderssen’s games, the chessboard becomes a canvas, and his moves, strokes of genius. His sacrifices are not just daring; they are works of art.»
– Chess Player’s Chronicle, 1862
Key Opponent: Louis Paulsen
Born: January 15, 1833, Blomberg, German Confederation
Died: August 18, 1891, Germany
Adolf Anderssen was the leading figure of the Romantic chess school, known for his breathtaking attacks and spectacular sacrifices. He was already famous for The Immortal Game and The Evergreen Game, and had won the inaugural 1851 London Tournament. By 1862, Anderssen remained the central figure in European chess, especially after the temporary retirement of American champion Paul Morphy.
His performance in London was nothing short of dominant—11 wins from 12 games, conceding only one loss. Anderssen’s combination of tactical fireworks and sound calculation cemented his status as the best player of his era.
Louis Paulsen was known for his defensive resilience and early contributions to positional thinking. His style contrasted sharply with Anderssen’s flamboyance, and his second-place finish was a testament to his precision and focus. Paulsen would later be recognized as a forerunner of the hypermodern movement, laying groundwork for players like Nimzowitsch and Réti.
Match Overview
🗓️ Dates: June–July 1862
📍 Location: London, United Kingdom
✅ Format: Round-robin, with 13 participants. All games played to a decisive result—draws were replayed.
⏱️ Time Control: Sandglasses were used to limit move times, a precursor to modern chess clocks.
💰 Prize Fund: Total £210 (approx. £26,000 in today’s money)
🏆 Prize Distribution:
1st: Adolf Anderssen — £100
2nd: Louis Paulsen — £50
3rd: John Owen — £30
4th: George A. MacDonnell — £15
5th: Serafino Dubois — £10
6th: Wilhelm Steinitz — £5 + Brilliancy Prize (vs. Mongredien)
Historical and Cultural Context
The tournament was held alongside the Second International Exhibition, underscoring chess’s cultural prestige in Victorian Britain. It marked a shift from informal gatherings to internationally organized events with rules, structure, and scheduling. The use of sandglasses reflected growing efforts to professionalize competition and ensure fairness.
Though Paul Morphy had retired, his legacy loomed. Anderssen’s triumph helped reaffirm Europe’s leadership in the chess world.
Final Standings
| Player | W | L | D | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolf Anderssen (Prussia) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| Louis Paulsen (German Conf.) | 9 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| John Owen (England) | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| George Alcock MacDonnell (Eng.) | 7 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Serafino Dubois (Italy) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Wilhelm Steinitz (Austria) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas Wilson Barnes (England) | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| James Hannah (England) | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Joseph Henry Blackburne (Eng.) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Johann Jacob Löwenthal (Hun.) | 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
📌 Draws were not recorded, as games were replayed until a decisive result was achieved.
1862 London Tournament Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Game 13
1862 London Tournament
Adolf Anderssen, Prussia
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1862 London Tournament Sources
Quote Sources
- Chess Player’s Chronicle, 1862: Commentary and coverage of Anderssen’s games. (British Library Archive)
General Sources
- Wikipedia:
- London 1862 Chess Tournament – Prize distribution and tournament details.
- Adolf Anderssen
- Louis Paulsen
- New in Chess Historical Edition: Insights into the significance of the 1862 tournament.
- 365Chess: 1862 London Tournament
- Edward Winter, Chess Notes: London 1862
- British Chess Magazine (1862): Archival issue – coverage and player profiles
- Deutsche Schachzeitung, 1862: Coverage in German via Google Books
- Olimpiu G. Urcan’s Historical Chess Blog: London 1862 retrospectives
- W. Steinitz: The Modern Chess Instructor (commentary on early career)
- Hooper & Whyld – Oxford Companion to Chess: Entry on 1862 tournament
- FIDE Archives: Early historical event references
Photo Credits
📷 Adolf Anderssen Frans Peeters from Roosendaal The Netherlands CC BY SA 20 via Wikimedia Commons
📷 Louis Paulsen, 1860s
Cleveland Public Library: Hesler (License: Public domain – United States) via Wikimedia Commons
Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.