CHESS CONGRESS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 20

CHESS CONGRESS.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

! The following representatives met on Monday evening to elect umpirc-a and decide the number of games to be playvd, as well as the manner ia which the score and' time were to be recorded: — Christokurch, Mr J. C. Veel, president of the Christchurch Chess Club, in the chair ; Messrs Hookham, Bray, and JacobBen. Mr Newman, who is also cue of the representatives, was unavoidably alieent. Dunedin, Mr Hay ; Kumara, Mr Janion ; Clycte, E,sv. T. Ash. All present were animated by the moat friendly feelings, 'aud the couvenier. cc of eveiyone was studied an far as possible. The arrangements are admirable. The players meet every night at half-past; 7 o'clock, and aro paimd by lot. Tfle games mu»t be finished ab one sitting, but half «n hour is allowed every two hours to take a spell, and a cup of coffae if so in el ned. In order to facilitate the progress of the match, the players cm arrange among themselves to play during the day, but; so as not to interfere with the games at ni^ht. Games played diyring the day, if not fiuished, must be xe^nmegf the following day. It was expected tbat Mr ]pusk, of Auckland, wonld have takea part in this contett for the championship, but Mr Jacobsen, honorary secretary Co»gre33 Committee, received a telegram expressing Li* regret at his unavoidable abs.-uce through bu'-ines-i engagement*. A lottor was nlrfo received from Mr, Benbow, stating his inability to come, but offering to ilay fcho winner. Tbe cool presumption ot Mr Benbow was appre iatea at its proper worth. Considering tbat tho CongrebS was postponed a fortnight specially to suit Mi- Benbow, and tte fact of hia baviug lost evfry game in a c. weapoudence match with Mr Hookham of Canterbury, tbe presumptuous tone of his lrtttr wa« cunuderdd ia very bad taste. Tho Committee have been fortunate in securing tho oil Provincial Council Chamber for the ma'ch, which is aduinvb'y ac"a toi for the piirposti. On account of Mr Vt'Pl Lot being able to play for the fir-tt twonigUt«, there were only tiirea boai-ds engaged laft nig':t whoa the contest com>ueiictd. Tin re are ei^ht eompetators, and eich one has to play two games with every other competitor, and tho three highest scorers will, ot' Gourde, bo th& prizewinners. Tbe pairing for the h'r&t round ww as follows : — B,uv. Mr Aah played Mr Bray, and opened wir.h the Scotch gambit. The Otago representative seemed to have a fine game, with a formidable attack, and it was generally thougut that ho w<ts going to win ; but somehow or another be al'owerl the attack to graiually &iip through his bands, and the Canterbury representative, t^y skilful manoeuvring of hia pawns, compleloly i-quashedl the attack that; had been for so 10/jg Larasaing him, and succeeded iv capturing t'ro or three of his opponent's pawns, which completely turned tho tabk-s, and he eventually wou after a three hours' flgLt. Mr Jaobsen had to face Mr Janion, and he opened with a liuy Lopez, which is a favoi.rife game of his. Through an oversight, Mr Jaoion lost a ceufcre pawn at a very esrly st>go of tho game, which placed him at groat disadvantage. He Btiuggled gamely, and played very carefully to regain his lost ground ; but tiie handicap waa toogreat for hita, bo he ha-1 1o BKccumb after a. prolonged Htuigjjle of four hour.-. This game was rather a long on<s G9 moved having been made ou each anle. ' Mi-D. U. Bay played Mr Hookhaoo, ar.d opened wish the king* k ambit, but his opponent did nob accept iv. This game proved the mont livJy of all, and possessed points of great interest. Tho onlookers ssomed to tako special interest iv its. progress, and it was difficult to decide who was likely to win, whv.n the players adjourned for half an hour at half-past 9 o'clock. You could hear oue nay that White bad rath*r the b«st ef it ; others again favoured Black ; but no one ever dreamt n& that time that it wa3 not going to be ■fiais''ied until a quarter past 2 ia tne morning, but siic'i wa* the case. The game wa< a utifst critical one from tho beginning. Being rataer cautious, players took plenty of tini9 to consider their moves, though they were both much within the time limit. However, it ended in a draw after playing 66 moves, and all the pieces on the board were a white ki'ight aud n blaclc pawn which could not po?sibly gst queened, Wedne^dav afternoon. The Rev. Mr A 4 h played Mr Janion today, and after a keenly-contested g&ine, won. Thursday, 3 a,m.

I can now advise you rf the rosuit of the play last night. Mr Janion played Mr Hookham, and in the early pjut of the gamt> had de-cide-lly the beat of is, but unfortunately he loafe rook for a queen.-svhich cuat him the game. Mr Ash played Mr Jacobsen, and after a very interesting game, which at oue time looke 1 much in his lavour, he had, after a four iiouru' keen contest, to avrik« hi 3 fhg. Mr Bray pl.-vyed Mr Hay, and ultimately won after five an'l a-hnlf hours fight. Tbe interest manifested by the onlookers seems to be on the increase. Chhistchuboh; Friday.

The interest in the congress is becoming greater as the match progresses. The visitors seem to take quite a keen interest in the plaiy, as the same faces may be seen every night, a»id inaay of them watch the proceedings to ,the finish. One lady paid a vn-it last night, and was evidently mucu amused at the earnestness of the playern over their respective boards. At board No. 1, Mr Ash ODened with tbo Scotch gambit, which was aaref ally moL by Mr Hookham, but after two hours' play Mr Ash had decidedly tho best of the position. Mr Hookham, however, plays the middle ( f th^ game extremely well, and, as he is extremely ( autious, he coolly waits tr his opponent to nube the attack, and very cf tea succeed-! in b&ffl'ns» the onslaught, and improves hia own position ia the meantime. After the game lasting for over three hours, Mr Hookham ev«ntually Avon. At board No. 2, uvo old members < f tho Dunedin Club were er.gA?ed ' Mr Jairinn, the West Coast repres^uiative, opened with pawn to king's fourth, a .d Mr Hay replied wiih the favourite reply of pa n to king's third, v.hen a hard fight ia expected. Mr Janion played extremely weil in the earlier part of the game, bnt iv making a too impetuous attack be loafc a. bishop, which he tried bard to recover but without avail By degrees Mr Hay improved hia position, and succeeded in queeoing a pawa and won the game. Tim«, 3£ lioura. At board No. 3, Mehsrs Veel and Newman enierwd the lists for the first time. Mr Veel opened with the Scotch gambit, and in tho earlier part of the gamo gained a piece, which Mr KevMnsn rather ingeni >rsly w..n l>ack agaiu ; but Mr Veel proved tba victor in the cud, after a four hours atd a-half struggle. At board No. 4, Meiers Bray and Jacobsen faced each other. Mr Bray opened with fcteusual move, pawn to king's 4th, aud Mr Jacobsen adopt au the Fr-tich defence. !W a while Mr Jacobseu had the besc of it, but by a miscalculation which the best piastre areliable to at times, ho co lost the advantage that after a few more move s ho struck his flag to hia< opponent, the game kiting only two houia.