“[Bird] was a frequenter of ‘Simpson’s’ Divan at the age of sixteen. “For Clubs may come, and Clubs may go,And make us ask what’s next to see;But Simpson’s ever should remain,The place for Chess in ecstasy.”In many ways, Simpson’s was the crucible in which modern chess was born. La Bourdonnais subsequently took up the position of chess professional at Simpson’s, but as Divinsky notes, he died soon afterwards. MacDonnell wrote in Life-Pictures in 1866: “The chess players were relegated to a higher region and less commodious room. It is published each month by the London Chess Centre and is edited by IM Richard Palliser and Matt Read.