Chess Items,

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 44

Chess Items,

An intercolonial match between New South Wales and South Australia was played on the 9th inst , but the result is not yet to hand. A telegraphic match with 20 players a-side between the Wellington and Aiickland Chess Ciubs was begun on Saturday, the ICth inst. It is four years since the last match was played between these two clubs. Tin final result of the Canterbury • Oaniaru match was, C*nterbiuy eight whi3, O-imaru two wiuc. Four games were drawn The winners for Canterbury were Messrs Ollivier, Hunter, Mason, Scott, Jakins, Wood, Clutten, and Turroll. For Oamaru, Mr Clayton and the Rev. Canon Gould. The British Chess Magazine for October contains an interesting, gossipy article entitled " A Day at the Touruament." The occasion was August 30, when the contest was getting near its end and the interest in the then doubtful result was at its height The writer speaks of Mieses as "a, young German about 30 who speaks English well, and would readily pass for a handsome, courteous and pleasant-mannered English gentleman, with a small habit of blinking when in deep thought" ; of Vergani as "a thorough It.uian, good looking, deep oUve complexion, luminous dark eyes, but unfuituuately a cripple using crutches" ; of Teichman as "a square-set youug m.in with good features, squarish foiehead of English type, age 26, born the same day as Lasker" ; of Janowski as "a good-lookiDg gentleman from Paris, but of Polish birth " ; of Pollock as "a tallish, good-looking fellow, courteous and pleasant, with poetic fancies both in cheas and words" ; of Jchigorin as "of moderate height, wellknit frame, oliye complexion, high round forehead, jet black hair, and most penetrating eyes — very quiet and affable in manner." Schltchter, " the youugest of the masters, aged 21, is slim of figure, with a clever and aitistic head, and a habit ot walking round to view the games of others, or read a paper between'his moves." Marco is " a finely-built Roumanian, tall and military in carriage, courteous,- genial, and excitable, voted a jolly fellow by all. Steinitz is "small in btature, somewhat delicxte in body, needing the assistance of astirk in walking ; ha 3 a ma sivehpad indicative Of great mental power, brownish hair, and , light brown luminous eyes ; of a lively, social disposition, with good powers of repartee and much courtesy; a rather nervous tendency when at play, producing an insistance on silence ; nearsighted, consulting both clock and score sheet, and when working out deep combinations both hands- are slightly upheld, the index finger of the left hand gently m.uking the mental moves " The same writer describes Walbrodt as "a geutlennn of small person and exceedingly youthful appfarat.ee " Albin— A rupged, Bohemian style of gentleman, genial and humourous, with loose neckerchief, and a decided taste for music and artistic "lings. El<ickbnrne-"A tall strougly-built man, of rather rough visage, with great powers of combination and memory ; much given to smoking a pipe during play." Mason-" Ot Irish birth, a suull, s.ight man, with a worn expression of countenance, and given to walking round the room with his hands in his pockets at intervals during the game." Bird— " A Nestor of Britißh ches* players ; has thorough English features ; in his early days he must have been a tall, well-built man, but now he suffers from partial paralysis and walks with difficulty, lean-* ing heavily upon a stick." Schiffers— " A splendid specimen of ripe manhood, tall, welt proportioned, with a flue head, and a shock of iron-grey hair; large but beautifully-shnped hands ; a constant smoker of cigarettes through a long cane tube ; courteous and pleasant, of deep- toned voice, and who might, without offence, be likened to a civilised Hon. A trembling of the left knee betrays a busy, cxci ed mind." Dr Tarrasch — "Of moderate stature ; a perfect gentleman of very quiet demeanour, with very dark hair, atd brown beard and moustache ; a pleasant face, and forehead indicating a man of ta^te and great energy." Lisker — " Of amall figure, with handsome, somewhat Jowish cast of face, the <-kin and every feature of a'inostp<-rfei;t type ; a it io ho id. showing great critical, con3trucuv^, ;vi i m-nUI abilities ; exceedingly reserve i and al'nost haughty in U3£.nner, and giving very little indication of oxciteinentinplay. Piilabury— 'Twenty-two yeawof age, of fair halght and wiry figure. unJ well-cut features of the true typa [? A.-aericic] clear eyea, and straight, darkish hair ; quick to grasp a ttituation, free and e»sy in taanuer, an inveterata smoker, frequently consuming 12 to 15 cigarettes during a game ; pleasant and chatty in play." Tinsluy— A tallish g.-ntlem-jn, xith iron-grey beard and hair ; round, weil-developed forehead; given occasionally to a little chalhag. and sometimes accompanied by a huee shilielah. whi«t h.e deDOSLta under the

table, as though to warn his antagonist to beware, I but assuredly too kind-hearted ever to use the I weap >n except as a walking stick." Gunsberg— | Of moderate height and fairly rotund figure ; a very round head ; placid, quiet, and courteous in j lnanner. ' B-mleleben— " A very reserved gentle- ' nun, wi'h somewhat wearied look, probably from ; ill health ; fragile figure, suggestive of highlystrung nervous temperament/ 1 j