CHESS.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1904, Page 6

CHESS.

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON. The above match by telegraph was concluded on Saturday evening, the position when play ceased at midnight showing 8 wins for Wellington, 1 for Auckland, 5 draws, and 6 games unfinished. The outstanding games will be adjudicated on by Mr. David Forsyth, of Dunedin, an ex-champion of New Zealand, who is well known throughout the chess world as the inventor of the "Forsyth notation." His cix decisions cannot alter the result, but as the Northerners showed improved form on Saturday, and made good a lot of the ground previously lost, the Wellington Club's win will show a smaller margin than was generally expected a week ago. There was a good attendance of spectators to watch the play, amongst others being Mr. Justice Denniston, the President of the New Zealand Chess Association. The teams were captained by .their respective Presidents — J. 0. Grierson and C. W. Benbow — and' the umpires' duties were discharged by Mr. M'Kiniay, of the Working Men's Chess Club for Auckland, and Mr. M. Connolly, Chess Editor Auckland Weekly News, for Wellington. Messrs. Bull (Auckland) and W. R. Howard (Wellington) were again in charge of the operating. The Aucklanders regret the absgace from their team of Messrs Lelievre, Eyre, S. White, Lye, Ashton, Young, and Sloman, but the local twenty ■were also short of several leading players, notably Messrs. Benbow, J. Mason, H. L. James, Ryder, Chapman, Allen, and C. Barraud. The eleven unfinished games proceeded as follows, the Auckland name coming first in each instance : — Griereon (ex-champion of New Zealand) v. W. E. Mason (present champion). — The latter made the most of a very difficult end-game, and picked up a bishop for two pawns. Grierson has two rooks and pawn against queen, but his king is exposed to many checks, and as the pawn has only beeft moved one square, the game has rather a drawn appearance. Miles v. Lictlejohn. — Miles tried to re^ coyer the exchange, but lost a bishop in doing so, and resigned an indefensible game early in the evening. Trimble v. Davies. — Trimble is a pawn up, but this game is full of attack and counter-attack, and there are several lines for the adjudicator to examine. The position is said to be too desperate to admit of a draw. Jowitt v. W. Mackay. — The forces are even (rook, bishop, and five pawns «ach), but Jowitt's position seems to be the becter of the two. Pope v. Connell. — The local player increased his advantage, aijd witn pawn and bishop against the bare king, obtained his opponent's resignation at midnight. Little v. W. F. Barraud.— This is a xace for a queen between Barraud's one pawn and Little's two pawns. The latter are not so far advanced, but Little may possibly be able to win by sacrificing his rook for the opposing pawn at the right juncture. The result will be looked for with great interest. F. W. Smith v. Kelling.— The latter won a second pawn, and then gave up a knight for » very exciting attack. Bis shells, however, gradually fell shorter, and he resigned at midnight, when an irresistible attack was in Smith's hands. Prieatly v. Brown — The latter, with queen and pawn against queen, had to submit to a draw, Priestley havhig cleverly worked his king into such a position that no longer needed to avoid exchanging queens. M'Kay v. Laae. — The former was ultimately reduced to two pawns against Lane's four, and had to resign a hopeless struggle. Spencer v. Jessup. — Spencer is a pawn to the, good, and has the better of a wellcontested game. Dutton v. Gyles, sen. — Another tough bout. Dutton, however, won an important pawn late in the evening, and the award will most probably be in his favour.