THE CHESS CONGRESS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1037, 15 January 1892, Page 8

THE CHESS CONGRESS.

SIEDEBERG CHAMPION.

(press association). Auckland, January 6. In the chess congress to-day, Ba.ke.well met Barnes. Bakewell opened with the queen’s Gambit, and after having repulsed a rather pr-mature attack on the part- of Barnes, won a piece and a pawn by a seri s of exchanges, which left him a winning game, black resigning at the 37th move. The game between Hookliam and Jovvitt proved a long and stubbornly fought contest. Hookham played the Ruy Lopez, Jowitt defending with 3 K K 1 K 2, which move is not in favour with the authorities ; nevertheless, Jowitt obtained a well developed game, thanks to bis own good play and to some weak moves on the part of his opponent. in order to support his attack, Jowitt exchanged queens, and after a time a very interesting end game canoe about, during tho greater part of which Jowitt appeared to have a decided advantage, but on the 71st move tho superiority was found to be merely nominal. Jowitt having a rook and a pawn opposed to Hookham a rook, together with a pawn, he discovered it to be impossible to pass the pawn to queen, and the game was therefore drawn. Malcolm v. Hookham Malcolm having the opening, chose the Ruy Lopez. The early moves were ver3 carefully played by Malcolm, but after a time his opponent obtained an attack, which, however, was more showy than real. In the prosecution of this attack Hookham made an oversight, which occasioned the loss of his queen straight off. He then resigned Mr Littlejohu had the move against Mr Sideberg in their match. The latter adopted the French defence, and early in the game obtained a strong attack, which Mr Littlejohn, boxv ever, playing a good defenoe, was able to parry successfully. At the luncheon adjournment the positions seemed to be about eqnal, and at the evening adjournment, the same was the case. After the latter interval, and before Mr Siedeberg s sealed move had been opened, the players announced that they had agreed to draw, each then having two rooks, a knight, a bishoD, and six Dawns. The Committee claimed the right to consider whether or not the game ought to be taken as a draw, but on the other hand the P la y ora contended that they, and they alone, had the power to decide the point. After the members of the Committee who were present had taken the matter into consideration,, the following notice was posted m the room : “The question of this game being drawn was submitted to the Committee, who resolved that as the question might affect the result of the Congress, it must be decided by a full meeting of the Committee. _ n Auckland, January 7.

To-day’s play in the Chess Congress was very interesting, several ot the games being amongst the beat that have been seen. Of those for the championship, in the match between Barnes and Malcolm, the former resigned at the 41st move. After some good play between Littlejohn and Jowitt the former resigned at the 52nd move. Bakewell in his match with Trimble, won a bishop at the 21st move. Play went on until the 56th move, when Trimblo, finding himself unable to prevant a pawn being queened, resigned. Ashton and biedeberg had a long amt keen contest, and up to the time when each was left with three or four paws only, the play was very, even. In the evening Ashton made a slip in his sealed move, and Siedeberg won. ... - The scores of the competitors for the championship are now as follows Siedeberg, six wins, one draw, no losses • Littlejohn, five wins, one draw, no losses ; Bakewell, four wins, three draws, no losses ; Hookham, three wins, one draw, four losses; Barnes, three wms, no drawfour losses ; Jowitt, two wins, one draw, five losses ; Ashton, one win, one draw five losses; Trimble, no wins, two draws, five 101 The play for the championship has now resolved itself into a contest between bideb 6 W it eg a r d "t o the question as to hoth ®* these two players should be allowed to taw their game of yesterday, the Committee have decided that they must play it to a finish. In a match between Littlejohn and Trimble, a dispute occurred regarding a stalled move made by the latter, as it wa. found that he had simply marked P to 3 ” without stating whether it was the king or the queen’s bishop. He moved, however, the king’s, bishop’s, pawn, Liotlsjohn accepting the move before the sealed envelope was opened, and the Committee, when the ob jaction was afterward taken, decided that the move must be recognised, as it was accepted at the time by Trimble s I A protest has now been lodged by john against this decision, and he has reBurned the game under protest further suggesting that the point in dispute be referred to Mr Benbow, of Wellington, or Mr Burns, of Melbourne. Auckland, January 8. The New Zealand Chess Congress, which has been carried on daily in Auckland during the past fortnight, ended to-day, when S Mr F. Siedeberg. of Dunedin won the chess championship of New Zealand, with Mr A. Littlejohn and Mr F. H. Bake-

well, both of the Wellington Chess Club, second and third respectively. Later.

At the Chess Congress to-day the disputed draw between'Siedeberg and Littlejohn was allowed, and the game was not further played. Barnes beat Ashton, while the match between Littlejohn and Irimble was drawn. Tho detailed result of the Congress is as follows -.—Siedeberg, 6 wins, 2 d-aws, no losses ; Littlejohn, 5 wins. 3 draws, no losses; Bakewell, 4 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss ; Barnes. 4 wins, no draws, 4 losses; Malcolm, 3 wins, 2 draws, 3 leases ; Hookham, 3 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses ; Jowitt, 2 wins, I draw, 5 losses ; Trimble, no wins. 3 draws, 5 losses ; Ashton, 1 win, 1 draw, 6 losses. Auckland, January 11. In gaining the Choss Championship, Siedeberg also wins a trophy of the value of £2O. Mr A. Littlejohn, who was second, receives a trophy valued a*: £lO, and the competitor who was third o C the list, Mr Bakewell, will receive a £5-trophy. the position of secretary for the Congress Committee having been resigned by Mr Kelling, it has been decided to ask Mr P. W. Tait, of Wellington, to undertake the duties. The next Congress is to be held at Christchurch.