CHAMPION CHESS CONGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 5

CHAMPION CHESS CONGRESS.

|BT TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] | Wellington, Sunday. The Chess Championship Congress opened yesterday, and play was continued until fc late hour in the evening. Tho Congress was formally opened by Mr. 0. W. Benbow, tho local vice-president of tho New Zealand Choss Association, who extended a welcome to the visiting players, and expressed pleasure at the largo number of entries, Ho also thanked. the Working Men s Club lor placing their ! large hall at the association s disposal. Mr. Ellison .(president of be Working Men's Club), in reply, stated that his committee had also voted £5 to the prize fund. Mr. Elliott (Palmerston) has withdrawn his entry, and Messrs. Gnerson (Auckland), Forsyth (Duinedin), and the Rev. Wvndham (Eareo) will not arrive till Monday. Play in tho first Bound proceeded as follows (the first-named having the move in each instance).- nd v. .T. Edwards, both cf Dunedin (Irregular Openipg): Positions even at tho noon adjournment. A weak move during the afternoon cost Edwards a piece and exchange, and he resigned to tho champion on tho 33rd move. AV Mason v. P. Still, both of the Wellington Club (Ruy Lopez) t Mr. Mason winning a queen and the game, his opponent never recovered from a cramped opening, and retired on tho 21st move. , W. Brown v. R. J. Barnes, both of the Wellington Working Men's Club (Ruy Lopoz): Positions equal up to tho <Wncl move Mr. Brown was subsequently much hampered for want of time, and lost a piece, which compelled him ' to resign to Mr. Barnes at the 31st move. Tho game, W. Mackay v. H. L. James (both of Wellington) is unfinished, and looks verv much like a draw. Mr. F. Kummer (Masterton) takes tho bye.