the Deutsche Schachzeitung, on the basis of its tabulation of players' percentage scores in all major international tournaments from London 1851 to Cambridge Springs 1904, ranked Gossip the number 62 living player in the world. Diggle writes that despite his faults, Gossip was "a man of dauntless courage and infinite capacity for hard work", which enabled him to become a recognized author despite the disastrous reception that the first edition of his Chess-Player's Manual received. His literary style was vigorous, and shows him to be an educated and well-read man. Notable games Showalter vs. Gossip, New York 1889 The following game was played between future five-time U.S. Champion Jackson Showalter (White) and Gossip (Black) at the Sixth American Chess Congress, New York 1889.1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d5 7. e5 7.exd5 is correct.Steinitz 1889, p. 66. 7... Ng4 8. 0-0 Bc5 9. Bf4 9.h3 Nxe5 10.Re1 fails to 10...Qf6 11.Qe2 0-0 12.Qxe5 Qxf2+ 13.Kh1 Bxh3! 9... g5 10. Bd2 White is already in serious trouble. 10.Bg3 is met by 10...h5! 11.h3 h4! 12.Bh2 Nxh2 13.Kxh2 g4! 14.hxg4 Qg5 15.Be2 Qf4+ 16.Kh1 (or 16.Kg1 h3!) 16...Bxf2 and wins. 10... Nxe5 11. Re1 Qe7 12. Nc3 Bd7 13. Qh5 0-0-0! Since 13...h6 would still be answered by 14.Bxg5, Gossip sacrifices the pawn, anticipating a killing along the g-. 14. Bxg5 f6 15. Bh4 Qg7 16. Ba6+ Kb8 17. Bg3 Rhg8 18. Qd1 Ng4 More accurate was 18...Bg4 followed by ...h5, initiating the same attack that Black begins on his 20th move. 19. Bf1 Ne5 20. b4 Bg4 21. Qb1? 21.Be2 was better than this attempt at . 21... Bd4 22. Qb3 h5! 23. Rab1 h4! Steinitz writes, "The initiation of a masterly combination eight moves deep." 24. Bxh4? 24.Bxe5 holds out longer. Now, writes Andrew Soltis, "Black crowned his play with one of the most beautiful combinations ever played." 24... Nf3+! 25. gxf3 25.Kh1 Nxh4 leaves Black a ahead with a won game. 25... Bxf3+ 26. Bg3 Qxg3+! 27. hxg3 Rxg3+ 28. Kh2 If 28.Bg2, 28...Rxg2+ 29.Kf1 Rh2 and mates. 28... Bxf2 29. Bh3 Rxh3+! White resigned. 30.Kxh3 is met by ...Rh8. Fred Reinfeld calls the game "a glorious masterpiece". Steinitz proclaims, "One of the finest specimens of sacrificing play on record. Mr. Gossip deserves the highest praise for the ingenuity and depth of combination which he displayed in this