Paul Morphy: The Chess Champion

More about the book

This historic book may contain numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can typically download a free scanned copy of the original book from the publisher. Not indexed or illustrated, the 1859 edition includes an excerpt from a chapter discussing Paul Morphy. On the last day of August, the author woke Morphy early for a train to Folkestone, which left London Bridge at 9:55 A.M. Despite the urgency, Morphy remained calm, took his time at breakfast, and ultimately delayed their departure, leading to their arrival just as the doors closed. With no other trains to Paris that day, they decided to wait until half-past one to take a different route through Dover and Calais. The crossing was unpleasant, with Morphy suffering from severe sea-sickness; however, his thoughts were focused on his upcoming matches in France. He expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Harrwitz, believing he would perform even better than he had against Lowenthal, despite Harrwitz being a stronger match-player. Morphy's comments reflect his deep understanding of his opponents and his own capabilities, rather than any undue pride. Those familiar with Morphy recognize his self-assuredness stems from experience and skill.