I think the first usage might have been for the first American chess congress of 1857. I can't find any usage of "congress" in contemporary accounts of the earlier London tournament of 1851.
The 1857 American congress was not just a chess tournament, it was also supposed to be a meeting of representatives of chess clubs throughout America to discuss the development of chess and any revisions the rules. In this sense it was truly a "congress", i.e. an assembly of representatives to discuss issues and problems.
See https://archive.org/details/bookoffirstameri00fisk for a digitized version of Fiske's famous book about the first American chess congress
I think you are correct Fat LAdy.
BTW
This evening (Wednesday 15th January) British Chess Champion David
Howell will be talking to Simon Mayo on his Drivetime radio programme from
5.00pm on BBC Radio 2. David is scheduled to crop up at 5.20pm or
thereabouts, discussing chess in a live interview.
Just about to tune in.
Originally posted by Fat LadyCuriosity quenched. 😀
I think the first usage might have been for the first American chess congress of 1857. I can't find any usage of "congress" in contemporary accounts of the earlier London tournament of 1851.
The 1857 American congress was not just a chess tournament, it was also supposed to be a meeting of representatives of chess clubs throughout America to discuss the ...[text shortened]... eri00fisk for a digitized version of Fiske's famous book about the first American chess congress
Cheers
fc
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78 percent of all professional and semirpofessional chess players are secret agents, working mostly for the government, some of them being free lancers.
At the time fat lady mentioned, it was reign of Pinkerton (*National Detective) agency. Hence - congress, because thez considered themselves governmenet employees.
Today there is another term in use - Literary symposium.
