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| Men gathered around a table as Philidor plays a game of chess wearing a blindfold. Photo : wellcomecollection.org |
In the late 18th century, the French chess genius François-André Danican Philidor captivated London with something truly extraordinary blindfold chess. An engraving from that era shows Philidor calmly playing a match, blindfolded, as a group of men gathers around him in awe.
Among the onlookers is a man in a turban, Yusuf Agâh Efendi, the first permanent Ottoman ambassador to Britain, who arrived in London in December 1793. His presence highlights the global curiosity Philidor’s exhibitions inspired. These matches were often held at Parsloe's in St James’s and open to ticketed spectators, blending entertainment, intellect, and diplomacy in one room.
Philidor's feats weren't just games and they were groundbreaking demonstrations of memory, calculation, and strategy. Today, this image remains a powerful reminder of how chess has long united minds across cultures.