The Paris 1878 chess tournament took place from 17 June to 31 July 1878 during the Paris World Expo. The participation of George Henry Mackenzie and James Mason made it the first intercontinental tournament in Europe.[1] Eleven double rounds were played. Wilhelm Steinitz was present as reporter for The Field.

First place was shared by Szymon Winawer and Johannes Hermann Zukertort, who had a play-off to decide the winner. They drew twice, so another play-off was necessary. Zukertort won both games and was awarded first prize. Mackenzie defeated Henry Edward Bird twice in the play-off for the fourth place.

The win of Zukertort, and non-participation of Steinitz, led to some suggestion that Zukertort should be called World Chess Champion.[2]

Winners of the prizes were: Zukertort (1000 Frans + two Sèvres vases), Winawer (500 F + one vase), Joseph Henry Blackburne (1500 F), Mackenzie (1000 F), Bird (500 F), and Adolf Anderssen (200 F).[1] Anderssen was in poor health and died the next year.[1]

The results and standings:[3]

# Player 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total
1 Szymon Winawer (Poland)x1 0½ ½0 ½1 1½ 10 11 1½ 11 11 11 116.5
2 Johannes Zukertort (German Empire)0 1x1 0½ 01 11 ½½ ½1 11 1½ 11 11 116.5
3 Joseph Henry Blackburne (United Kingdom)½ ½0 1x0 11 00 01 ½1 ½1 11 ½1 11 114.5
4 George Henry Mackenzie (United States)1 ½½ 11 0x0 10 00 1½ 00 11 11 11 ½13.0
5 Henry Edward Bird (United Kingdom)0 00 00 11 0x1 11 01 00 11 11 11 113.0
6 Adolf Anderssen (German Empire)½ 00 ½1 11 10 0x1 00 ½1 11 01 01 112.5
7 Berthold Englisch (Austria-Hungary)1 0½ ½0 ½1 00 10 1x½ ½0 1½ ½1 11 011.5
8 Samuel Rosenthal (France)0 00 00 ½½ 10 11 ½½ ½x0 11 01 11 111.5
9 Albert Clerc (France)½ 00 00 01 01 00 01 01 0x0 11 01 18.5
10 James Mason (United States)0 0½ 00 ½0 00 00 1½ ½0 11 0x1 11 ½8.5
11 H.W.B. Gifford (Netherlands)0 00 00 00 00 00 10 00 00 10 0x1 ½3.5
12 Karl Pitschel (Austria-Hungary)0 00 00 00 ½0 00 00 10 00 00 ½0 ½x2.5

References

  1. 1 2 3 "World Exhibitions". Archived from the original on 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2010-04-06.
  2. ↑ "We may mention that since Mr Morphy gave up playing public chess, and since Herr Steinitz refused to engage in tournaments, Herr Zukertort is entitled to the rank of chess champion of the world, having taken first prize at the Paris tourney last year." Irish Times, 6 March 1879, cited in Early Uses of ‘World Chess Champion’ by Edward Winter
  3. ↑ "Paris". Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
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