NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11307, 28 December 1898, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS.

The.-annual '.Cliess. (Wgress. "was fixed.to beheld at Dunedin this year,- but as no one appears to' bo -responsible for its management; little or1' no publicity'was "given to the fact. This may possibly'JMicouht,for ihe r clisappo|nt- , ingly'Drnairlpumber-'ofJeatries,'received, .neither ■ Auckland, .Napier, Wanganui, nor the. Wellington.. Chess Olubs being represented. ■ None of the playors outside Dunedin who did enter put in an appearance-on* Monday at 2^30.^ This is attnbuted:to a rnisunde-tßtaiiclmg as'to tjie daiie!' of the opening, arid: it 'ia expected'they will be' in attendance to-day;- The. enitries are.,as. 'fol-.. lows: —Mos'srs *E." A:- Cleland; J. Edwards, J.1 Mouat, H.'Lyders (Otag'o Chess; Club), C. Banks',' W.-S.&ing (Oamahr Chess Club), K. JVBarries (Working Men's -Club, Wellington), and HvL. Anderson (Christchurch. Chess Club). It was decided by the* players, .that the hours of play should bo from lb.-a.in. to 1 ; p.m.>'2.30 p.m. to 5.20 p.jiu, arid'7:3o..to 10 p'.in. -.••■ : The following v/aavthq order of play arranged for yesterday:—Mr J.- Edwards v. Mr K. A. Cleland;.MrJ. Mouat -v. Mr H. iyders; Jlr.C. Banks v. Mr,W. S. King; Mr K.J. Barnes v. Mr.H.L. Anderson. ~ -,- -, ... --.... Play between the Otago players commenced at 2.30 p.m., Mr X Edwards opening with the Ku'y Lopez against'Mr B". A.": Cleland, and Mr J.. Mouat adopting;the 'Scotch Gambit.against Mr Lyders.-.The ,ganle between Messrs Kdwards' and 'Cleland was very .'even up to the 21st rnqvo, wh'en'Mr Edwards, through an oversight, lost a 1 rook for a bishop; and although he continued the game to'tKe-61tli move'he had ultimately to Euccumb. ■. Mr Mouat likewise gave his opponent an opportunity of 'forking his rooks, which gave Mr Lyders a decided advantage. Despite- the: odds against him, Mr Mouatoffered a stubborn.defence until the 50th move;-when ho. reaigued... Mr. Mouat had the opportunity, of . winning .a . piece on his 16th move, but' seeing, •as.ho ■' thoiight, a winning continuation, he allowed .the opportunity, to pass, and this'proved his downfall. . ... ■■■";,., kEG'OND :DaV—TUESDAY. ' ' ■ The second rouaid in this contest was commenced at 10 a.m. yesterday.." . ' '■• "■ Mr.'H.'Lyders opened mth a Ruy Lopez against; Mft'E.'A.; Clela»id;': and speedily1 ob:'i;uri^d''a :strong ''attack;- .which''he vigorously: lnaintamed, linally- winiiing-.the ; exchange by;a. smart piece^of play^and remaining with-a rook and 4' pawns againsirMr'.Clelftnd's.'knight;and. i -pawns;- wliich should have resolved-itselfi into a certain,winifcir.ithe attacking player;'.but by; a piece of bad play Mr Lyders allowed his opponent. to - fork his king and rook, and lost the game on tho..39th move. .. .' Mr Mouat-opened with the Scotch Gambit, which Mr .Edwards defended. White's attack was' very and' he ,coon obtained a strong lattack, to; which Black, with his.hampered forces,-seemed unable'to reply to.^ Tlie tension ;of :tho attack was, however,' relieved,' enabling^Black to obtain temporary relief. The game'proved very interesting- up to the 58th on'ove^-when Mr Edwards,- by the'sacrifice.' of" a rook fora knight, queened a pawn. Mr Mouat resigned next move.-ivith a pawn on the. 7th file r which Black could.prevent from queen-, ing iby-.a- series of " cljecks-.'" This game, presented.many interesting-features, and will be: published- in-the columns-6£ the Witness. . - Throe of the players; who have entered^ have not ■ yet put ml an . appearance, and for their benefit tho - time has . been .extended till 10 o^clock on .Wednesday morning. . . . The following are the fixtures for to-day:-V. R. A. Cloland plays R. J. Barnes, H..Lyders' plays J. Edwards, and J. Mouat gets a'bye. :