The 1870 chess tournament in Baden-Baden can be regarded as the first strong tournament. In comparison with London 1851 chess tournament, London 1862 and Paris 1867, three main changes were made: a) first chess clocks used (20 moves had to be made per hour), b) draws counted as half points, c) only top international players were invited. Ten chess masters participated in the double round-robin tournament: Adolf Anderssen, Wilhelm Steinitz, Gustav Neumann, Joseph Henry Blackburne, Louis Paulsen, Cecil De Vere, Samuel Rosenthal, Szymon Winawer, Johannes von Minckwitz and Adolf Stern. The tournament lasted from 18 July until 4 August 1870.
Ignatz von Kolisch held the function of secretary in the organising committee. Prince Mihail Sturdza of Moldavia was president, and Russian writer Ivan Turgenev was vice-president. The committee of appeal consisted of Hungarian Baron Maythény and Baron von Kolisch.
In that time, France declared war on Prussia on 19 July 1870. The southern German states, including the Grand Duchy of Baden, took the side of Prussia and its North German allies. The Franco-Prussian War came close to Baden-Baden. An international incident nearly occurred. More serious was Stern’s mobilisation, as a Bavarian reservist, after four rounds. Like Johannes Zukertort, he fought in the war. The finish of Baden-Baden 1870 marked the end of the beginning of hostilities. The thunder of the artillery could be heard at a distance of 30 km in Baden-Baden. Adolf Stern sent a card from the fields near Sedan on 4 September: "Emperor Napoleon has been mated".
The results at Baden-Baden 1870 were as follows:
Anderssen won 3000 francs, Steinitz - 600 francs, Neumann and Blackburne - 200 francs (each).