It was officially first played in 1923 after the formation of the Fédération Française des Echecs in 1921.
The first unofficial national tournament was played in 1880, in the Café de la Régence, where further edition were held in 1881 and 1883.
They ran under the name Championnat de France des amateurs (Championship of the chess enthusiasts).
Edouard, Vachier-Lagrave, Bacrot and Bauer were tied on a score of 7/10 going into the final round.
However then there was the shock news of the death of Christian Bauer's 4 month old child.