A little later that year he lost a short match ( 2 Â 1\/2 -3 Â 1\/2 ) in London against the visiting French player Saint-Amant , who was the best French player at that time . A little later that year he lost a short match ( 2 Â 1\/2 -3 Â 1\/2 ) in London against the visiting French player Saint-Amant , who was generally regarded as the world 's strongest active player .