1863 games

[Richard Pask]

Lees' Guide states that in the 1863 Wyllie-Martins match one particular line of the Glasgow - Martins' Rest - was repeated 21 times, but have the complete games of this match ever been made available?

[jimloy]

I thought that I had posted the 1863 games. Here they are. I found these in a notebook in the Cleveland Public Library, apparently written by Martins. I think the notebook dealt with repeated games without showing the moves, by a statement that this game was a repeat of game number 7 or whatever. I'm a little hazy about the details. The games:

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #1"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-13 17-14 10-17 21-14 15-18 26-23 6-9 19-15 4-8 24-19 2-6 28-24
6-10 15-6 1-17 23-14 9-18 25-22 18-25 30-14 7-10 14-7 3-10 29-25 11-15 27-23 5-9 25-22 9-14
31-27 8-11 23-18 14-23 27-18 13-17 22-13 15-22 24-20 22-26 13-9 26-31 9-6 11-15 32-28
15-24 28-19 31-27 6-2 27-24 2-7 24-15 7-14 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #2"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 21-17 8-11 17-13 9-14 25-21 11-16 24-20 15-19 20-11 7-16 22-17 4-8 29-25 3-7 25-22
7-11 22-18 5-9 27-24 10-15 17-10 15-22 26-17 19-26 30-23 6-15 13-6 2-9 24-20 15-19 31-26
1-6 32-27 9-13 17-14 13-17 14-9 6-13 21-14 13-17 27-24 17-22 24-15 11-27 20-4 22-31 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #3"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-13 17-14 10-17 21-14 15-18 26-23 6-9 19-15 4-8 24-19 13-17 28-24
9-13 24-20 17-22 27-24 18-27 25-18 2-6 32-23 13-17 29-25 17-21 31-26 7-10 14-7 3-10 25-22
5-9 19-16 10-28 16-7 28-32 7-2 32-27 23-19 1-5 2-7 8-11 7-16 27-24 18-15 9-13 26-23 24-27
23-18 6-9 16-11 9-14 18-9 5-14 15-10 27-24 11-15 24-28 10-6 14-18 6-1 18-25 15-18 28-24
19-15 13-17 15-10 24-27 1-5 17-22 18-14 22-26 30-23 27-9 5-14 25-30 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #4"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 21-17 9-13 25-21 5-9 29-25 9-14 23-18 14-23 27-11 8-15 17-14 10-17 21-14 4-8 24-19
15-24 28-19 8-11 22-18 6-10 25-21 10-17 21-14 11-16 32-28 16-23 26-19 13-17 31-26 1-6
28-24 6-10 14-9 17-22 26-17 10-14 17-10 7-23 19-15 23-27 24-20 27-31 15-11 31-27 11-8
27-23 8-4 23-18 4-8 18-15 9-5 12-16 20-11 3-12 11-8 12-16 8-3 16-19 3-8 19-23 5-1 23-27 1-5
27-31 5-9 31-27 9-14 27-23 14-9 23-18 9-5 18-14 30-25 2-7 8-3 7-11 3-7 11-16 7-2 15-10 25-21
16-19 5-1 19-23 2-6 10-15 1-5 23-27 6-9 15-18 9-13 18-22 13-9 14-18 9-13 18-15 5-9 27-31 9-6
31-26 21-17 15-19 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #5"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Comment "this game was played 7 times"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 19-24 26-23 4-8 17-13 8-11 22-18 5-9 25-22 10-15 32-28 6-10 13-6 2-9 28-19
15-24 22-17 24-28 17-13 1-6 30-26 28-32 31-27 12-16 27-24 32-27 26-22 11-15 20-11 27-20
22-17 15-22 23-19 22-26 11-7 26-31 7-3 20-24 19-15 10-19 17-1 9-14 13-9 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #6"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-8 11-7 2-11 28-24 11-15 26-23
12-16 30-26 9-14 24-19 15-24 31-27 24-31 17-13 31-22 25-2 1-6 2-9 5-14 29-25 8-11 13-9
11-15 9-6 15-19 6-2 19-26 2-6 10-15 6-10 15-18 10-17 26-31 17-22 18-23 22-17 23-26 17-14
26-30 14-10 16-19 10-15 19-23 15-11 31-27 25-22 30-25 22-17 27-31 17-13 31-26 21-17 25-21
17-14 21-17 14-9 17-14 9-5 26-22 5-1 23-26 1-5 26-31 13-9 22-17 9-6 31-27 32-23 14-18 23-14
17-1 11-16 1-6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #7"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 5-9 17-13 4-8 26-23 19-26 30-23 10-15 22-17 15-18 17-10 18-27 32-23 6-15 13-6
1-10 25-22 15-19 23-16 12-19 20-16 8-11 16-7 2-11 22-18 10-15 18-14 15-18 14-10 18-22 10-7
11-16 7-2 19-23 2-7 16-20 7-10 23-27 31-24 20-27 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #8"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-8 11-7 2-11 28-24 11-15 26-23
12-16 24-20 15-19 20-11 19-26 30-23 8-15 31-27 4-8 17-14 10-17 21-14 9-18 23-14 15-19
25-22 8-11 29-25 11-16 25-21 16-20 32-28 6-9 14-10 9-14 10-7 5-9 7-2 19-23 27-18 14-23 2-7
23-26 7-10 26-30 22-17 9-13 17-14 13-17 10-15 17-22 14-10 30-26 15-18 22-25 10-7 25-29
18-22 26-17 21-14 29-25 7-2 25-22 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #9"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Comment "this game was played 28 times"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 4-8 22-18 14-23 17-14 10-17 21-14 2-7 31-27 6-10 27-18 10-17 25-21 1-6 21-14
6-10 30-25 10-17 25-21 19-23 26-19 17-22 19-15 22-26 18-14 26-31 15-10 5-9 10-3 9-18 21-17
18-22 17-14 22-26 20-16 12-19 3-12 26-30 12-16 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #10"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 17-13 7-16 22-17
4-8 28-24 8-11 24-20 16-19 26-23 19-26 30-23 11-15 29-25 2-7 25-22 7-11 32-28 5-9 28-24
12-16 22-18 15-22 24-19 11-15 19-12 22-26 31-22 15-18 22-15 10-26 17-10 6-15 13-6 1-10
1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #11"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 19-24 32-28 5-9 28-19 4-8 20-16 8-11 16-7 2-11 17-13 11-15 19-16 12-19 26-23
19-26 30-23 15-18 22-15 10-26 31-22 1-5 22-17 14-18 17-14 18-23 14-10 6-15 13-6 23-27
21-17 27-31 25-21 31-26 17-13 26-22 21-17 15-19 6-2 19-23 2-7 23-26 17-14 22-17 14-10
26-31 10-6 31-26 6-2 26-23 7-10 23-18 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #12"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 17-13 7-16 22-17
4-8 28-24 16-20 26-23 20-27 31-24 8-11 24-19 11-16 29-25 14-18 23-7 2-11 19-15 11-18 32-27
16-19 30-26 12-16 26-22 19-23 22-15 23-32 15-11 32-27 11-7 27-23 7-2 5-9 25-22 23-19 22-18
16-20 18-14 9-18 2-9 18-23 17-14 19-16 14-10 16-11 9-14 23-26 13-9 26-31 21-17 1-5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #13"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 19-24 32-28 5-9 28-19 9-13 26-23 4-8 20-16 6-9 31-26 2-6 19-15 12-19 23-16
10-19 17-10 6-15 16-12 8-11 12-8 15-18 22-15 11-18 8-3 18-23 3-7 23-27 26-23 19-26 30-23
27-31 23-19 1-5 7-11 13-17 21-14 9-18 25-21 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #14"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Martins, R."]
[White "Wyllie, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 17-13 7-16 22-17
4-8 28-24 16-20 26-23 20-27 31-24 8-11 24-19 11-15 32-28 15-24 28-19 2-7 19-15 10-26 17-3
26-31 3-7 12-16 29-25 31-27 7-11 16-20 30-26 20-24 21-17 24-28 25-21 28-32 11-7 32-28
26-22 27-23 7-2 5-9 22-18 23-14 17-10 6-15 13-6 1-10 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #15"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 19-24 32-28 5-9 28-19 4-8 17-13 8-11 22-17 11-15 19-16 12-19 26-23 19-26 30-23
15-18 31-27 10-15 17-10 9-14 25-22 18-25 27-24 25-30 23-19 15-18 20-16 6-15 19-10 30-26
24-20 26-23 10-7 2-11 16-7 23-19 7-2 18-23 2-7 19-15 20-16 23-26 16-12 15-10 7-2 1-5 12-8
26-31 8-3 31-26 2-7 10-6 7-2 5-9 2-7 26-22 7-10 6-15 13-6 15-10 6-2 14-18 2-7 10-6 7-11 18-23
11-16 23-27 16-19 27-32 3-8 32-27 8-11 1/2-1/2

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #17"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 19-24 32-28 5-9 28-19 4-8 20-16 9-13 26-23 6-9 31-26 2-6 19-15 12-19 23-16
10-19 17-10 6-15 16-12 8-11 12-8 15-18 22-15 11-18 26-22 18-23 21-17 23-27 17-14 9-18
22-15 27-31 15-11 31-27 25-22 27-23 11-7 19-24 7-2 24-27 8-3 27-31 3-7 31-27 30-25 23-26
25-21 26-17 21-14 1/2-1/2

[Richard Pask]

Many thanks for this Jim!

Facts and rumours are often so different.

Lees' Guide says Martins' Rest was played 21 times.
Willie Ryan in SCME goes for 37 times.
48 times has also been bandied about.

Judging from DEO's Ency, I would imagine these games were largely played at the end of the match, although that is speculation.

Perhaps someday someone will come up with the missing games from the 1953 Wiswell-Hopper match: one gets the distinct impression that both players were happy with a drawn match when the score got to 2 wins each, but surely all of the games are on record somewhere?

[George Hay]

Richard Pask, the 1863 Match was published in More Memorable Checker Matches: a sequel to Gould's Historic and Memorable Matches by Jim Loy. I'm looking at my hardcopy of More Memorable Checker Matches and on page 1 it lists the matches including:

1863 R. Martins--J. Wyllie (WCM) 0-0-50

The 1863 WCM is covered on pages 13-16, games 65 through 80 out of a total of 749 games of all the matches.
Jim Loy has posted all the games in the match in his above post.

Notable are the repeat games:

69: Game 5, J. Wyllie--R. Martins, "(this game was played 7 times)"

73: Game 9, J. Wyllie--R. Martins, "(the original Martins' Rest, this game was played 28 times)"

By my count 49 games out of 50 are accounted for, including the repeat games. Is Game 16 missing, or is it a repeat game?

The 1863 Martins vs Wyllie WCM concludes, "Martins retained his title by drawing the match. Martins 0-0-50"

My Forgoton Books paperback of Lees' Guide (revised by Dawson) has the familiar trunk game Glasgow opening on page 74 that is a transposition of the original moves of Martins' Rest Game 9. But Var. 4 on page 77 brings us to Martins' Rest Game 9 of the 1863 WCM.
As you stated, Lee's Guide gives the game as repeated 21 times. Thanks to Jim Loy, we now know it was repeated 27 times, for a total of 28 games.

Lees' Guide page 74 starts out the Glasgow opening with:

1. 11-15, 22-17; 2. 8-11, 23-19; 3. 11-16, 24-20;
4. 16x23, 27x18x11; 5. 7x16, 20x11; 6. 3-7, 28x24;
7. 7x16, 24-20; 8. 16-19, 25-22; 9. 4-8, 29-25;

Then on to Var. 4 on page 77, the game continues, But even at Var. 4 it takes one more move on each side to get back to the original game.

10. 9-14, 22-18;

We are now merged with the original game.

By the magic of cut and paste, here is game 9 from above:

[Event "World Championship Match 1863, Game #9"]
[Date "1863"]
[Black "Wyllie, J."]
[White "Martins, R."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Comment "this game was played 28 times"]
11-15 23-19 8-11 22-17 9-14 25-22 11-16 24-20 16-23 27-11 7-16 20-11 3-7 28-24 7-16 24-20
16-19 29-25 4-8 22-18 14-23 17-14 10-17 21-14 2-7 31-27 6-10 27-18 10-17 25-21 1-6 21-14
6-10 30-25 10-17 25-21 19-23 26-19 17-22 19-15 22-26 18-14 26-31 15-10 5-9 10-3 9-18 21-17
18-22 17-14 22-26 20-16 12-19 3-12 26-30 12-16 1/2-1/2

Look for 14-23 17-14 in the second line, that is move 11 on each side. From move 11 on Lees' Guide follows the original game precisely.

From Jim Loy we get the original Martins' Rest Game 9, and from Lees' Guide we get a delightful opening transposition!

--George Hay

P.S. Richard Pask, for me it is a delightful opening transposition due to your positive influence, and your many transposition posts!

[George Hay]

I got ahead of myself and have to backtrack one ply for Lees' Guide to converge with the actual Game 9 moves of the 1863 WCM. That would put the convergence after the opening transposition right after Black's 10th move (not White's). For in both versions, White's 10th move is 22-18, that seems so obvious now!

This is the point of convergence with White to move:



I have posted this link before that follows the Lees' Guide version of Martins' Rest Game 9, but it seems appropriate to post it again. Titled "The Perfect Game?" it has a diagram with a comment for every move:

http://www.quadibloc.com/other/bo1211.htm

Just to review, Martins' Rest Game 9 was played 28 times (not 21) and the match lasted 50 games (not 40).

--George Hay

[jimloy]

In the 1953 Wiswell-Hopper match, my recollection (which may be faulty) is that, when Wiswell evened the score, Hopper withdrew, claiming that he had business to attend to. I have no clue where I read this, perhaps a news item in some checkers publication? It would seem that Wiswell, in the annotated games sheets, erroneously explained the abrupt end of the match by claiming that the remaining games were published play.

[George Hay]

I found yet another one of my mistakes, a transposition as white moves 23-19 first, not 22-17. In Lees' Guide the Glasgow starts out with the familiar:
11-15, 23-19, 8-11, 22-17, 11-16 a
'(a) This move forms the "Glasgow." '

https://archive.org/stream/completeguid ... l#mode/1up

The above link is to Lees' Guide by James Lees, revised and enlarged by John W. Dawson.

--George Hay