AClarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi Sunday, March 14, 1937 - Page 34 — School's First Chess Tournament Is Named After Master of Game — The Central High Chess club has just held its first annual tournament, exactly one hundred years after the birth of the south's greatest chess player, Paul Morphy. In tribute to him the tournament was called the Paul Morphy chess tournament. The semi-finals are now being played to decide who receives the honor of being Central High's first chess champion. Broadus Holt has won his way to the finals and will play the winner of the Roy Matthews-George Gillespie match.
Paul Morphy, was born in New Orleans on June 22, 1837. He was the son of Alonzo Morphy, a distinguished lawyer, and his wife, Thelcide Louise Le Carpentier. The paternal grandfather was a native of Spain, possible a descendant of an Irish “emigre” named Murphy. The mother's family was French, having come to New Orleans from Santo Domingo. At the age of ten Morphy was taught to play chess by his grandfathers. At the age of twelve he was recognized as the strongest player in New Orleans. In May, 1850, he played three games in New Orleans with the famous Hungarian expert, J. J. Lowenthal, winning two and drawing one. He prepared for college at the Jefferson academy in New Orleans, entered Spring Hill college, Alabama, in December, 1850, and graduated with honors in 1854. He continued there until October 1855, studying chiefly law and mathematics, then attended the law school of the University of Louisiana, graduating in April 1857 and being admitted to practice as soon as he became of legal age. In early life he acquired a fluent command of French, Spanish and German.
By much persuading on the part of the committee of management he was induced to participate in the first American Chess congress, meeting at New York City in the fall of 1857. His overwhelming success here and his later games with American experts gave him recognition as the foremost American player. An enthusiastic reception awaited him upon his return to New Orleans at the end of 1857.
In June 1858 he sailed for England, having a desire to test his skill against Howard Staunton, the foremost English player and writer on chess, who had refused an earlier challenge, and other European experts. As Staunton again declined to play, a match was arranged with J.J. Lowenthal who had defeated Staunton and Morphy was the winner. At a congress in England, he played eight games blindfolded, winning six, losing one, and drawing one. In Paris, matches were arranged with the first-rate players. All of these Morphy won decisively.
In April 1859 he sailed for New York, acclaimed as the recognized champion of the world. The war between the states proved disastrous to him and considering chess as an amusement and wishing to please his devoted mother, who opposed his playing, Morphy never thought seriously of the game as offering a career. During his stay in New York he formed an editorial connection with the “Chess Monthly”. In 1860 he withdrew his name as an editor of the “Chess Monthly” and terminated his connection with the “New York Ledger”, in which he had conducted a column since August 1859.
Returning to New Orleans he settled down to live a quiet life with his mother, playing chess only privately. The final recorded game being played in 1869. Morphy died, unmarried, at his home in New Orleans in 1884. He is universally recognized as the greatest chess genius of history.
A bronze tablet marks his home on Royal street in New Orleans and the large Paul Morphy chess club of New Orleans is named for him.
