Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 224, 28 May 1896, Page 40

Chess Items.

Mr Steinitz was, according to latest advices, engaged in a match with Schiffors, the Russian master, at Rostov-on-Don. The terms agreed upon weie 12 games to' be played, draws to count half a point to each, the winner to receive j£Bo and the loser £40. So far five games h»ve been plated, of which Steinitz won three and Schiffers two. The Woodville Chess Club, of which Mr Thomas Sexton is the leader, is attracting members from the neighbouring clubs, no doubt because of Mr Sexton's connection with it. On 'the opening night of the season Mr Soxton played 10 of the other members siuiultineoufly, winning six games, losing two, and 'drawing two, a result which spe.tks for itself. The Town and Country Journal (Sydney) in its issue of the 9th inst. contains a capital likeness of Mr Hookhain, the first chess champion of New Zealand and cheia editor of the Canterbury Time 3. It alio gives some interesting particulars of Mr Hookham's career a? a chess player. " Henry Hookham, the first chess champion of New Zealand, now in his 72nd year, was born in London in 1824, at No. 15 Old Bon. I stu-et, the hou«e where for a century was carried on the business known as Hookham's Library. He was taught the moves at chess when a boy at school, about 10 years of age. From 1845 to 1850 he frequented . Starey'a Philidorian rooms, Rathbone Place, London, and contested games with Falkbeer, Zytogorski. and Jannsens, first-rateß of the day, who together with Bryan, Campbell, and many others of note were in constant attendance there. Hool£h«m's Library became a limited company in 186*, and the following year Henry Hookham left England for the Canterbury province of New Zealand, where he has since re»ided. During the past 4K> yean he has bten closely con*

nected with New Zealand chess and chessplayers. He gained the championship of the Canterbury provinc^ in 1870, contending as the representative of the Kaiapoi Chess Olub against the representatives of the chegs clubs of Chrißtchureh and Lyltelton. In 1878 he took first place in a. tournament for the championship of the Chris ohurch Chess Club, subsequently oftlled the Canterbury Ch«ss Club. At Chiiatchurch in 1879 be won first prize (j£so) and the championship of New Zealand in the first chess championship congress held in New Zealand, which was also the first chess congresa held in Australasia. He competed in the first Australian intercolonial congress, which took place in Adelaide in 1887 ; and though not a prize-winner, drew his game with the South Australian champion, H. Charlick ; also drew with the second prize-taker, F. K. Kaling, .champion of Victoria ; and won from Gossip, who took third prize. Hookbam retained the championship of New Zealand until 1888 ; but was defeated in that year at the first annual New Zealand Championship Congress which met at Christchurch. He regained the championship at the second annual meeting, held in 1889 at Dunedin ; but lost it at the congress of 189 l) at Wellington. He took second prize in the fifth annual tournament, 1893, at Christchurch ; and third priz? in the eighth meeting, 1895-6, at Wuniianui. He has ably edited the chess column of the Canterbury Times since 1882. Mr Ilookham was elected president of the Canterbury Chess Olub in 1884, on the death of the Hon Johu Tanered, the former president, and has been re-elected annually ever since. Mr Hookham is highly esteemed as a chegs player and citizen in that fair city on the Avon, and his chess analyses command careful attention from critics on both sides of the Tasman Sea."