" Sandy" on the Chess Championship.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 29

" Sandy " on the Chess Championship.

Maister Editor,— There wis great excitement, not only amang the players, bit chess players generally when it wis known that Messrs Oharlick an' Oraue bad tied for the championship. The keenest interest wis tain in their playin' aff games, an' as draw succeeded draw the excitement became a' the greater, as each o' the players had his admirers.

After a desperate Btrugglo Mr Crane proved the victor, tho' it wis universally acknowledged that Mr Charlick deserved the highest praise for the wonnerfu' fecht he made tae keep a grip o' the laurels he won at the Adelaide congress.

It is pleasant tae be able tae say that baith the victor an' the vanquished shook hau's in the maisfc freeuly way after the battle wis owre, an' I hae nae doot they were heartily glad that the great contest had come tae an end at last, for the mental strain wis clearly telling an baith o'them, judgin' frae their careworn an' wearied looks.

it may no' be oot o' place for me tae tell yer readers that the players in the major tourney received the kindest hospitality during their veesic tae " Marvellous Melbourne," an' the gran' bauquet at Parer's Crystal Palace was a fitting coping stane tae a' the previous hospitality, Mr Goldernith, a leading solicitor, occupied the chair, an' in a verra happy speech enlarged on the beauties o' the game, an' his remarks fell on willin' ears, for he wis ane o' the best players o' Australia a few years ago, and still tak's the keenest delicht in the o' the interest o' tbe Royal Game's A number o' ither capital speeches were also given by tho gentlemen present, an' as these were interspersed by sangs an' recitations yer readers may easily gue^s that a very happy nicht wis spent tae celebrate the winding-up o' the second Australasian Chess Gongress. Indeed every ane seemed sac happy that it wis quite impossible for a stranger tae tell the winners frae the losers, an' that is aboot the best evidence c' the harmonious feelin' that characterised a' the proceedings frae the start tae the finish. I'll warrant that a' engaged in it will remember this !congresß wi' pleasurable feelings a' the days o1o 1 their life.— l am, &c, Sandy. Federal Coffee Palace, Melbourne, November 12.