Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 40

Chess Items.

The Pillsbury-Showalter match for the championship of the United States terminated in favour of Pillsbury by a score of seven wins to hie opponent's three wius and three nr= ws. There are two fairly interesting scores, the others being dull— oppiessed, doubtless, b\ the weight of the stakes .

The first game in ihe Jacoftw- Jonas match for the so-called championship of Australia and a 6take of £25 was begun on tho the 9i,h iust. and adjourned. The score up to the time of adjournment, taken from the Sydney Mail, appears in this column.

Messrs R. A. Cleland and O. Balk, of the Ofago Chess Club, are engaged in playing a ladder challenge match. The first game was won by Mr Cleland.

The team selected for New Sputh Wales to play 'In tlia Birthday match, adjust Victoria consists

of E. N. Wallace, ft. B. Hall, A. W. Britton, P. M. Scott, H. D. Vane, W. J. Miles, and A. H. Courey, 0. Linden, 3?. J. Wallis. S. Henderson and J. A. Pietzek&r will play off for the tenth place iv the teajp. Jaoob-en and Crane ara not included, as it is doubtful whether they will be able to take part in the match, but should they elect to play the list will be re-arranged so as to include them.

The Briii&h Chess Magazine for A.prjl is vp to its usual sTnndard. The analysis and illustrated games of the Two Knigh's' Defence, by " Hobart " (Mr y. J. Youpg, of Tasmania), are specially interesting.

At a largely-attended committee meeting held last week the allotment of the trophy presented by Mr Throp was reconsidered. It was resolved that it be played for by handicap tournaments, tho winner to receive 5 points, the second 4 points, third 3 point?, fourth 2 points, and fifth 1 point; the first to gain 10 points to win the trophy. For the comiDg tournament (to be played wilh "odds") entries close on the 21st inst. Mr E. Lasker, champion of the world, wrote acknowledging receipt of £2 for the Sfceinitz testimonial. A letter was read from Mr E. A Oleland offering a donation of £0 5s for a championship trophy, or for separate trophies for l»dy and gentleman championships ; the championship to be won three times before the trophy becomes the absolute property of a member, and to be competed for only in championship matches. The generouf offer was gladly accepted. Two new members weie elected. »

The January, February, and March numbers of the British Chess Magazine ara exceptionally interesting. The-y contain " Chess Eecollectiona," by Messrs Wenter Wood and the Rev. W. Wayte, in addition to the usual games and . pioblems. Probably the most interesting portion, however, is that which contains the British Chess Magazine's " Guide to the Openings," by Hobart. The selection of variations aud illustrative games is excellent, and it is scaicely possible that anyone giving them a little careful study can fail to be both amused and improved. The January number deals with the Giuaco Piano, February with the Evans's Gsmbit, and March with the Max Lange Attack, an opening almost equal in interest to the Evans's Gambit, and not as yet so fully analysed. Studious chess plajere should not fail to subscribe to this excellent chess journal, which is published monthly. The subscription is only 8s per annum, payable in advance, and it is therefore one of the cheapest as well as one of the best chess journals now pub- : lished. Tbe issue for the present year is, more- | over, a distinct advance upon forraer years, j Always good, it is now better than ever. j The Daily News of March 21 contains % full account of the third matih by telpgraph bstween | England and America, which took place on March 1 18 and 19. England agjin succeeded in scoring a 1 victory by 5£- games to 4i, thus retaining the coveted trophy won last year. The following j table shows the pairing of the combatants, with the result of each game :— i ■ : 1 i !

The chief interest centred in the game at hoard 1, between Blackburne and Pillsbury, which, like last year's contest between the same players, resulted in a draw after some fine play on both sides. At board 2 Showalter played well, and defeated his opponent, Burn. At board 0 Mills, the champion of Scotland, asserted his right to bs included in the team by scoring in [ excellent style against the veteran Delniar.—Mclbourne Leader.

England. Elackburne ... Burn Caro ... ,„ Atkins Bellingliam. ... Mills ... .-, Locock... .i. Jackson .A Jacobs... ... Trenchart America. ... 0J Pillsbury ... 0 Showalter ... ... 0 Bavry ... ,\. ... 0£ Hymes .',. ... 0 Hodges ,^ ... 1 Delmao ... ... OJ Baird ... .[. „. 1 Young... .r. „, 1 Robinsou ,J, ... 1 Galbreath .5. ... 0* .;. o ..-. o ... o i 4i