N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS CONGRESS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7243, 1 January 1889, Page 6

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS CONGRESS.

Fifth Day—Monday, Dbckmbbb 31.

The Congress was continued yesterday morning, and during the day two games were finished. A good many visltor s attended, and the greatest interest wa_ evinced in the game between Mr Sexton and Mr OUivier, for had Mr OUivier lost it Christchurch players would have been practically out of the hunt. At one time Mr Oil-Tier's chance was a very gloomy one, for his opponent had he played properly must have won, bat great good luck attended the local man, and he pulled the game out of tbe fire. The result of the other jgame, too, Was a great surprise, for it was the universal opinion at one time that Mr Brown had a won game, but the ill-luck which has attended him all through the tourney still stuck to him» and the game was recorded against him. Only two games now. remain to be played, that between Mr Hookhamand Mr Brown, and one between' Mr Benbow and Mr OUivier. Whichever of the latter two wins the game will gain the championship, but if the game, should happen to be a draw the Committee of management will be on. the horns of a dilemma, for the four leaders will be equal, with a score each of 3_ won, 14 lost. The game, therefore, between Messrs Benbow and OUivier will be the most interesting of the whole series, and should be watched with the greatest gusto. So far everything has gone smoothly, and the umpires have had nothing, to do. During the luncheon adjournment yesterday the six competitors were photographed in a group by Mr J. Spiller, and this should be an Interesting memento of tbe first annual Congress. To-morrow evening a treat is in store for the members of the local Club, for Mr SextOn has kindly consented to give an exhibition of blindfold play at their room. If Mr Benbow's game is finished in good time to-morrow it is probable he wiU play simultaneous games with some of the members.

The following are details of yesterday's play:- . _

Mr Brown v Mr Mouatt.. Mr Sexton v.Mr OUivier. . Mr Brown played the English opening, and his opponent replying with PtoQB 4, both players were left to their own resources. . Mr MduattV strange defence soon left him with a fearfully cramped game, having" no less than four pieces blocked on his own side.; However, by sacrificing a piece he opened his game somewhat, and shortly won back the piece. A lively game > then ensued, both men playing very quickly. Mr Brown, when he looked like winning, played badly, and his opponent .playing a fine game soon got a strong attack, and pushing his game with great vigor won on the s_rd move. '•'".-- Mr Sextou opened with the King Lopez, which was met by Mr OUivier with the Berlin defence, and after-a'-few moves the former won his adversary's centre pawn. A series of exchanges followed, which left the Christchurch player a very cramped game, whilst his opponent- got the attack. At a critical point of tbe game. Mr Olllvier made a blunder which Mr Sexton took immediate advantage of, and won the exchange. Shortly after the proceedings were diversified by a peculiar bit of play. Mr OUivier poshed on a Sawn and left, a :piece en prise which lr Sexton .promptly took. The Christchurch player uttered an exclamation pf disgust at his own carelessness, but on looking again he could win his adversary's queen by checking with his bishop and opening an attack' on the latterqueen. This he did, gaining her Majesty for two pieces. At the luncheon adjournment Mr OUivier bad queen, rook and six pawns against two rooks, bishop and six pawns. Mr Sexton got his rooks doubled, and playing a fine game.seemed to imErove his position every move. Soon after, owever, he made a weak; move, allowing his adversary to get a series of checks -with his queen and rook. Socn after Mr OUivier was-able to announce mate in three moves. -■-,■-■ The last two games will be played today, and are..... ' ■*■•■■ Mr Benbow V Mr OUivier. Mr Brown v-Mr Hookham. Tbe fallowing* ara the gomes played yesterday:— • .. . , Rwz Lopz-,

WHITE. ■; BLACK. . Mr Sexton Mr OUivier (Ashurst). (Christchurch) 1 PK4 1 PK4 2 KtKB3 2 KtQBS 3BKtS 3KtB3 4 Castles 4PQS SPQ4 68Q2 6 KtBS 6 PQR3 7BxKt ' 7,8x8 BPxP ' BPxP 9KtxP 98Q2 10 Ktxß lOKtxKt 11 884 11 RQBsq 12 QB3 12Kt84 13 QRQsq 13 QB3 14KtQ5 14QQ83 laKRKsq 15KtK3 168K5 168Q3 17 BBS ' _7PKB3(lhr) 18QKt4 * 18KRKtsq 19KtB6ch 19KK2 v» 20 Ktxß . 20 RxKt 21 RK3 21 KBsq _2R(K3)Q3 22P83 __QxKt _3BxPch 24KxB 24QxQ _SPKKt3 25K82 26 PB3 26KKt3 27 PR. 27 QBS 28KKt2 28PKR4 29R(Qsq)Q2 -9RKRsq 30 PKt3 30 QB3 31RQsq 31 PRS 32 R X R sq 32 X Xt 4 33PxP, 33 KKt 3 34 KBsq 34RK4 35KK2 35PKt4 36PKt4 36QKt3 378Q4(1hr) 37QKtsq 38885 ' SBQKsq(2hrs) 398Q4 39QK3 40KQ2 . 40KR2 41 882 . .1 QK4 42 RKtsq • 42'QK2 43RKt2 438K4 44 BKt3 44 RK3 45 KBsq 45 PKB4 48PK5 46RQ83 47 B B 4 47 RB 5 4SBK.S 48 PBS 49 88. 49 QxKP50RKt5 60QB8ch 51 X Q 2 ,51 QKt 7 52 RKsch 52-0-Kt3 53RKt5ch 53KR3 54 R(KtS)QS 54 fixßPch 55KKsq 66 RK7ch 56 KBsq Sdßxßch 57 Resigns ,

English Opening, white. ; black. Mr Brown MrMouatt (Wellington) (Dunedin) IPQB4 IPQB4 2QKtB3 2QKtB3 3PK3 3PK3 4PQR3 4KKtB3 SKtKBS SPQR3 68K2 68Q3 7 Castles 7 Castles BPQRB Q Xt X 2 9PQS 9QQB2 10 P X Xt 3 10 P Q Xt 3 11 PK4 IIKcKKtS 12KtKsq 12PK4 13 Xt X Xt 2 IS B X 2 14PK84 14PQ3 15P85 15KtRsq 16BKKt5 16BQKt2 17 B x Xt 17 B x B 18PKR. 18PKR3 19 Xt X 3 19 Q Q sq 20 Xt X Xt 4 20 B x P 21 P x B 21 Q x P 22R82 22PK83 23 QQ3 23 Xt B 2 24 X Xt 2 24 Q Xt 4 23QRKRsq 25__RKsq 28QKt3 ~T 28KBsa _7KKtsq 27QQ83 2-BQsq 28KK2 -IQEr 29BEBsq -ORKBsq 90QRQKtsq 31R82 31PKR4 32Kt82 32PKt4 33PxP-»pa» SSRxP 3_B__t2 34RxBch 35KxR 35QxP 36 KtK2 36 KtKt4 37KtKt3 S7QBO 38KtB5eh 38KQ2 39KtKt4 SOKtxKP 40KtxPch 40QxKt 41BQR4ch 41K82 42KRsq 42RKtsq 43QxP 43KtKt4 44QKt4 44 BEsq 45882 45BxKt 46RxB 46RRsqch 47.KKtsq 47QB7ch 48KBsq 48QxB 49KKtsq 49KtKQch 50KBsq(lhr) BoQßßch 51 KKt. 51QKt8ch 52K83 S_-CB2ch 53KK4 EJKKsqqb 54 Resigns Time—lhr lmin . Tlme-?4Brrifftj