The Time Traveller

 In the early 1860s two matches had been played by telegraph between the Belfast Chess Club and Dublin (Victoria) Chess Club. After the second of those matches there had been suggestions that the two teams meet over the board. However nothing came of this for well over 20 years. Then in the early part of 1887 the possibility of a match between the Belfast Chess Club and the Dublin Chess Club was mooted. This was a different Dublin Chess Club than the one that had played the matches in the 1860s. That club had ceased to exist not long afterwards and a new Dublin Chess Club had been formed in 1867 and exists to this day. The Belfast Chess Club, which had been founded in 1840, continued until 1970.

The chess column of the Northern Whig for 10th March 1887 reported that the Belfast Chess Club had extended a formal invitation to the Dublin Chess Club:

Two weeks later in the Whig's chess column for the 24th March came news that the invitation had been accepted:

A short time ago we announced that the Belfast Club had invited the Dublin Club to play a match here at such time as might be most convenient to themselves. We are now in a position to state that this invitation has been accepted, and that we shall see a metropolitan team here at an early date, most probably during Easter week. The Dublin chess club, still perhaps more familiarly known under its former name "The city and County" is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in the United Kingdom, and embraces in its ranks, with few exceptions, all the strongest players residing in Dublin and its neighbourhood, as well as many scattered throughout different parts of Ireland. The task, therefore, before our local club, if it means to come out victorious, is by no means an easy one, and will require all the skill of its very strongest players. "This match" says the Irish Chess Chronicle, "will be an important event in Irish chess annals. It is now twenty-seven years [sic] since a similar combat took place. We trust that a like interval will not separate future contests, but that the friendly rivalry now inaugurated will become an annual event to be looked forward to and prepared for by the enthusiasts of the respective clubs."

The Northern Whig for the 7th April previewed the likely members of the two teams:

We understand that as at present arranged, the team which is to represent the Dublin Chess Club in their match on Wednesday [13th] and Thursday [14th April] with the Belfast Chess Club will consist of Captain Woollett, F. Hobson, A. S. Peake, Charles Drury and Rev. H. Hill. The Belfast team has not yet been finally selected, but it will probably include Messrs. James Neill, A. Hill, E. L. Harvey, W. Godwin, Robert Tennant, Joseph Carey, and S. A. Thompson.

The chess column of the Dublin Evening Mail also previewed the match on the 14th April, apparently unaware that the match had actually started the previous evening. The editor of the Mail's chess column T. B. Rowland had some doubts about just how representative the Dublin team was:

No such doubts were being entertained in the Northern Whig however. Its chess column of the 14th April had no doubts about the importance or significance of the occasion:

A Match between the Dublin and Belfast Chess Clubs was commenced last night in the rooms of the latter, Murray's Terrace. This is, we believe, the first occasion of which representatives of these two old clubs have met over the board. Some twenty-five years ago a match between them was played, but it consisted of one or two consultative games, the moves being sent by telegraph. [In fact there were two such matches, with play on an individual basis - on 6 boards in the 1861 Match and on 8 in the 1862-3 Match - Ed.] Were Dublin and Belfast in telephonic communication - as, surely they might be - such consultative matches might be of frequent occurrence. The team playing for the Metropolitan Club consisted of Messrs. Samuel Gunning, G. D. Soffe, F. Hobson, Captain M. S. Woollett, Messrs. A. S. Peake and Charles Drury. Mr. Gunning's name has long been known in Belfast as that of one of the strongest players in the country. He is opposed in the present match by the veteran upholder of local chess, Mr. James Neill. Mr. G. D. Soffe is a player of very great brilliancy. There are probably only one or two others in Dublin of his strength. When some time ago Zukertort visited Dublin and played twelve simultaneous games over the board, Mr. Soffe won; and we believe of three other games played against the same distinguished master he won two, the other being drawn. Mr. Soffe is a late acquisition to the Dublin Club, having previously belonged to the Dawson Street Chess Club and to the St. Patrick's Club, now out of existence. He plays an ingenious open game. Mr. Soffe's opponent is one of the most able and brilliant members of our local club, Mr. A. Hill. Mr. Frank Hobson's play is very similar to Mr. Soffe's, dashing and attacking. At the recent meeting of the Irish Chess Association in Belfast, he played several games with Mr. Burn, who thought very highly of his style. He is opposed by Mr. E. L. Harvey. Mr. Harvey is now secure of the first place in the tournament in progress at the Belfast Chess Club, having played all his games but two, and not as yet sustained a single defeat. Captain Woollett is the hon. treasurer of the Dublin Club, and to him the present match is in large measure due, as without his energy and perseverance we fear a Dublin team could not have been brought to Belfast. He is a sound, steady player, always well up in his club's tourneys, and in simultaneous play against Steinitz and Zukertort he has held his own. His opponent is Mr. Robert Tennant, whose skill is well known in Belfast. Mr. A. S. Peake, the hon. secretary of the Irish Chess Association, requires no introduction from us. In him Mr. Godwin has a formidable opponent. The only remaining member of the team, Mr. Charles Drury is an exceptionally steady player, a very hard nut for his opponent, Mr. Carey, to crack. Play commenced last night shortly before eight o'clock, the Dublin team having previously dined with some members of the Belfast Club in the clubrooms.

The match was played over 6 boards with each player playing his opponent twice. After the first evening's play the visitors had already sealed a convincing victory having scored 8.5 points to the home side's 1.5. The only winner of an individual game for Belfast was James Neill, who had played in both the telegraph matches in the 1860s. Only the games between Ernest Harvey and Frank Hobson had not been completed on the Wednesday. When their encounter was completed on the following day Harvey scored a win and a draw to allow the Belfast team a measure of consolation. The final score was therefore Belfast Chess Club 3.0 Dublin Chess Club 9.0

The Dublin Evening Mail for the 21st April 1887 again downplayed the importance of the match:

However it is to that newspaper that we are indebted for the only record of the actual play in the match, a fragment from the latter stages of the first game between Tennent and Woollett.

If 4...Bxf7, then White would take the Bishop with 5.Rxf7+, and mate in three moves.

This apparently gives White a chance of winning by 7.fxe8N+ Rxe8 8.Qxe8 etc. But though he has recovered his pieces and is a pawn ahead, a win is not so clear. White therefore repeated the checks and drew.