TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7654, 30 August 1886, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

CLYDE AND CROMWELL v. PUNEDIN

AND PORT CHALMERS. A very enjoyable chess match took place on Friday night, the : 27th. inst., between six players choscu by Mr J. K. Stevens from the Clyde nnd Cromwell districts and an equal number selected by Mr David B. Hay from Dunedin and Port Chalmers. '

Play commenced at 9.20 p.m., and the match was finished at 3.3U a.m. The town players were kindly .given tbe use of Mr J. K. Logan's room, the inspector of the Telej*rai>li Department, who is always most obliging en these occasions ; and Mr A. D. Lubecki, the ofiicer-in-charge, did everything in his power for the comfort ot the players. The pairing was as follows: — ; At iso. 1 board the two captains wero opposed to one another. Mr Hay having the firat move played IP to Xl and 2Kt to KB3; Mr Stevens played IP lo Xl and 2P to Q3, thus adopting thn Philidor defence. For the iirst 15 moves or so the game was uncommonly even, a. buth players are known to have studied the openings pretty well. By and-bye Mr Hay gradually gaiw-d ground by the advance of his X aud X B pawns. His opponent warded off the attack with rare skill, but at the .'!sth move he was forced to succumb to rutin r a neat mate.

At No. 2 board Mr J. Mouat had to face the attack of Mr' li. A. Cogan, who opened with the king's knight's gambit, which was at once nccepted. The play was very good and interesting, but, at the 23rd move Mr Cogau made a miscalculation in one of his counter attacks, which.was soon taken advantage of by his opponent, who gained a bishop in the scries of fcxehanges which ensued, and after about 20 more moves the game was won by Mr Mouat in goodsryle. At Nq. 3 b:>aid Mr W. S. Angus opened with the king's gambit, which Mr Holmes accepted. About tlie middle of the game the town olayer had decidedly the best i-f the position, but it was not until after a stubborn resistance that Mr Holmes lowered his 11 <g. At No. 4 hoard Mr D. A. Jolly, of Cromwell, played the Scotch gambit against Mr D. A. de Maus, of Port Chalm-rs. Mr de Maus not into a very cramped position, but by dint of careful and scientific play he fairly worked himself out of his troubles and" gob into equally as good a game a- his opponent'after playingabout 30 moves. This was the only unfinished game, but as the forces and positions were very evenly balanced, the umpires declared it a draw.

At No. 5 board Mr W. B. Eyre opened with the bishop's gambit, which Mr H. Behrens accepted and followed up in rather an original fashion, which, unfortunately for him, led to tlie loss of a rook at an early stage of the game and his final discomfiture in spite of all he could do to wriggle out of his diffieult'es.

At No. 6 Mr W. Corbett, of Cromwell, opened witli the centre gambit, which Mr J. Wright gladly accepted. For a long time this game was slightly in favour of Mi- Corbett, with a pawn ahead, but his opponent played steadily and stubbornly, and his efforts were ultimately crowned with success.

The match tlnouguout passed ait in the most harmonious and friendly greetings were exchanged between the two captains belore the play commenced and after it wis finished.

A special w >rd of praise is due to Mr IV. Heney, the operator at Dunedin, f r the extreme arcuracy and despatch in transmitting tho moves, not the slightest error having occurred during the match, and no one conld have been more courteous or attentive to the wishes of the players. The scores were as follow:— Dunedi.v axd Port Clyde and Cbomweli.. Chalmers. Wins. Draws. Wins. 0 J.B.Stevens ... 0 D.R.Hny ... 1 0 IS. A. Cogan ... 0 J. Mouat ... 1 0 J. Holmes ... 0 W. S. Angus ... 1 0 D. A. Jolly ... 1 D. A. De Mans ... 0 0 11. Behi-ens ... 0 W. B. Eyre ... 1 0 W. Corbett ... 0 J. Wright ... 1 0 1 . 5 Dunedin therefore fully retrieved tlie laurels lost on tlie last occasion. It is very gratifying, however, to lind that there arc so many enthusiastic votaries of the game in our goldiields townships. Mr Henry Allen acted as umpire for Cromwell, aud Mr Spence 11. Turton lor Dunedin, but fortunately their duti s were of a very light and agreeable nature. Mr Edwin Ilerbert acted as scrutineer for the town players, and it was greatly owing to his care and attention that no errors occurred in receiving and transmitting the moves. Taking it altogether, the match was very enjoyable both to the winners and losers.