You are here: Home › Archives › Player Biographies › Alexander McDonnell

De la Bourdonnais versus McDonnell, 1834
Summary
De la Bourdonnais versus McDonnell, 1834
The Eighty-Five Games of Their Six Chess Matches. Louis Charles Mahé de la Bourdonnais and Alexander McDonnell played six chess matches in 1834. Biographies of the combatants illuminate their place in the game’s history, and their historic venue is examined. The 85 games are analyzed using modern theory; there are numerous diagrams and previously published commentary. The merits of the openings, middle- and endgame maneuvers of the two are weighed. Nine appendices present selected games against other opponents; excerpt a contemporary account of the games’ ambience; provide other interesting documents; present statistics; and provide a schematic of mistakes made by both contestants. Bibliography, notes, indexes.
James O'Fee's Article
The following article was kindly contributed by James O'Fee of Bangor, Co. Down, in 1997
Biography on Wikipedia
Alexander McDonnell (1798-1835) was an Irish chess master, who contested a series of six matches with the world’s leading player Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais in the summer of 1834. It was the first match of any importance in the history of chess and is still referred to today as the World Championship of 1834.
The Greatest British Chess Player
Article on McDonnell in the Northern Whig 14th May 1914
Selection of Games
This record of the games of the Belfast born player Alexander McDonnell was originally published in 1836, shortly after his death in 1835. It was intended as a memorial to his skill as a player and includesa large number of games played at odds as well as his match games against de la Bourdonnais. As the book is a facsimile reprint of the original it is in very old style descriptive notation (Q.B. to K. third etc).
News
Lisburn Chess Club shares with deep sadness the news of the passing of young Gopi Marengo Nov 18, 2025
Ulster Masters 2025 – Results A 5 round FIDE-rated classic event was held at Lisburn Chess Club, Friday 14th November – Sunday 16th November. Nov 16, 2025
An afternoon of brilliant chess and puzzle solving was held at Methodist College on 1st Nov 2025 The first of our 5 Childrens Chess took place on Saturday. These feed into a grandprix with top players being invited to... Nov 08, 2025
The LJCC Belfast Qualifier took place at Methodist College on 25th Oct 25 The first of the UCU monthly childrens tournaments took place on 25th Oct 2025 after being postponed due to the storm. 3... Nov 02, 2025
UCU Tournaments: A Critical Moment for Volunteer and Arbiter Support This report, prepared by Tournament Director Karina Campbell and presented to the Ulster Chess Union Executive Board, ou... Oct 26, 2025
More news…
« October 2025 »
October
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Upcoming Events
Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2025 Come and challenge to become the Ulster Schools Chess Champion 2025. 6th December at Methodist College. Dec 06, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Second Executive Board Meeting Agenda tbc Dec 09, 2025 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM — Playback Conference Room, Maynard Sinclair Pavilion
January 10th 2026 Childrens Chess 12:30 – 5:00 Monthly Chess Tournaments Continues at Methodist College. Jan 10, 2026 12:30 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE-rated Williamson Shield 2026 Jan 23, 2026 - Jan 25, 2026 — Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Upper Newtownards Road Belfast BT4 3TA
Sligo Chess & Culture Festival Jan 30th - Feb 8th 2026 The Sligo Chess and Culture Festival will have entertainment, social, cultural, and sporting activities, chess talks, wo... Jan 30, 2026 - Feb 08, 2026 — Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscrone, Ireland
Upcoming events…