Ka cika wannan magana: Shekaru uku bayan ya koyi yadda ake wasan chess, Blackburne ya shiga rukunin 'yan wasa na farko a duniya
1862 London International Tournament (na farko a duniya da aka buga a zagaye na zagaye ko kuma duk wasan-duk wasan) kuma ya ci Wilhelm Steinitz a wasan su na mutum, kodayake Blackburne ya gama a matsayi na 9. Har zuwa wannan lokacin, ana auna lokaci da agogon yashi, kuma Blackburne ne ya ba da shawarar agogon chess. Wannan tafiya ta sa Blackburne ya rasa aikinsa a Manchester (lissafi ya bambanta game da abin da yake), kuma ya zama ƙwararren ɗan wasan chess.