The World's Championship.

Otago Witness, Issue 2284, 9 December 1897, Page 40

The World's Championship.

Jordan v. stewart for £100. Final Scoke-Jordan, 4; Stewart, 2; DRAWN, 34 Fieth Day. There was a good'attendance when play was reBurned. The first section of restricted openings being concluded, the second eection was entered upon. This consists of all the possible moves for White in reply to 11 15 from Black, the latter move having to be played and met variously seven times by each contestant. This makes 14 games in the section. The first opening balloted was 22 18, which, played against 11 15, forms the " Single Corner," a well-known game and an old favourite. The game opened on the trunk line of Anderson. A.t sixteenth move, following the lead of Moir, the great authority on " Single Corner," Stewart played Drummond's move 28 24, and Jordan replying 10 14 instead of the orthodox 9 14 led the play into very critic il lines by 23 19. Black men on 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, 15; white men on 18, 20, 22, 24, 30, 31, 32. At the above position it was seen that some hard thinking was in store .for both players, and play proceeded cautiously tuTthe sounding of the time-bell. After 31 20 and 5 9 play went R8

Jordan now went 27 23, but could not hold the grip, as Stewart's king was dawn in time to rescue his single men and draw. The game lasted two hours and a-half, and there being too little time for auother game the sitting adjourned till six o'clock. Score :— Jordan, 3 ; Stewart, 1 ; drawn, 11. The evening's play opened with a "Flora Temple," a variation of the "Single Corner" which long held away as a prime favourite. The game, which was formed by Stewart with 9 13, proceeded on well-known lines. In the ending Jordan varied with 25 21, which led to the following position : -Black men on 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 20, 23 ; white men on 13, 15,' 18, 19. 21, 27, 32. Stewart (Black) to move. The game went aB follows :— 23 20 2117 27 24 24 22 8 3 1417 •27 23 3127 811 5 1 1014 610 26 31 1714 15 8 610 16 17 21 when the draw became apparent after an ending 'full of interesting play. The second opening balloted was the " Second Double Corner," formed by 24 19 in reply to 11 15, and considered a weak line for White. Play went carefully on a known line of Robertson's for gome

j time, but was ultimately led by Jordan into a I rather intricate" combination onco played' by Martins against Wyllie, the play on which has since been shown to be unsound. When!tho following position' was reached it was evident that Stewart had wrought White's position info one of considerable strength .'—Black men on 2, 3, G, 7, 12,20; white men on 13. ]9, 22, 23, 27, 29. Jordan (Black) to move. Jordan went 6 10, aud Stewart replied with 22 18, but Jordan going dB, 29 25, S 11, 25 22, cat by 11 15, made a safe draw.

1 AfterwAids drawn. Score :— Jordan, 3 ; Stewart, 1 ; drawn, 13. Sixth Day.

Play started promptly, when the "Second Do\ible Corner" was played for the second time, the weak side (White) being in the hands of' Jordan. An interesting departure was made from previous custom in a lady acting as timekeeper for one of the players— Mrs Gilbertson, wife of the referee, acting in that capacity for Stewart. The game.followed the line of the same opening played the night before up lo the 15th move, where Stewart varitd with 10 15 instead of 9 14. This move followed by 10 10 and 7 14 gave the nppearaucc of a- " Glasgow " to the position. Stewart, with a long shot which removed 10 men from the board, ultimately landed the game at the following strong position for Black :— Black men ou 2, 5, 7. 12 ; white men on 20, 22, 25, 2S>. Stewart (Black) to move. The game, after careful play, was drawn as follows :—

Jordan -hos the move,- with plenty of time to crown both his men. The uiulinsr, however, was critical, and Jordan drew with difficulty^ Black motion 2, 5, 12, k 25 ; White men on 10, 15, £0,529. Jordan with White to play. '

Stewart proposed a draw, and Jordan at once accepted. Time, 2 hours.

Extraordinary Incident. On resuming on Saturday, eleventh day of play, an extraordinary incident occurred. A large gathering awaited the appearance of the contestants. Mr 11. Henderaou kept time for Jordan, aud Mr W. Stewart for the Fife man. The ballot was appealed to, and 9 13 was drawn as the opening move of the 3ird game of the match. Thi« formed the "Edinburgh," an opening which leads to difficult and dangerous play. Stewart, in reply, played 24 19, which at once brought the game into a safe line of the "Paisley." At the sixth move, however, where 28 24 i 3 usually played, Stewart moved 25 22, introducing an interesting variation, which led to careful and deliberate play on both sides. At this stage the game seemed to traverse a line which was played as far back as 1867 in the Wyllie-Mnrtins match, stnd was also a favourite in the famous encounter between Wyllie and Freeman in America. The game went on strange lines ; aud the following position was ultimately reached :—: —

Black.. —Jordan.

White.— Stewart. ' '-'" i White to play.

Jordan had just played 23 27, and Stewart com* menced to study his coming reply. After a little, Jordan, who had been fuffering from toothache, apparently awoke from a reverie, and, imagining that it was his turn to play, moved again, crowning the piece in 31. The referee was appealed to, and it was adjudged that Jordan had lost the game under the rule which reads — "Either player making a false or iinptoper move shall instantly forfeit the game to his opponent without another move being made." This incident, which has no precedent in a big match, placed Stewart only onegtune behind. There was giea.t dissatisfaction among the spectators on the decision, but Mr Gilbertson knew his business and stood his ground.

Game 2710—" Dundee." Fourth Game— Stewart's move.

illows, and 32 28 9 13 24 19 15- 24 28 19 d a nice c 3 7 26 23 11 16 20 11 7 16 ending finn 18 15 10 14 15 10 14 17 22 18 ished draw 17*22 18 14 22 26 19 15 26 30 in : 23 18 31 27 10 7 3 11 15 8

1511 >G22 10 7 52 18 73 18 15 11 8 5 9 8 4 - 914 4 8 14 18 .29 25 18 23 ' 25 21 15 10 2117 23 26 17 W 2631 13 9 1015 9 5 3127 5 1 27 23 1 5 v

7 JO !5 21 10 21 15 17 15 17 19 14 £2 IS 26 30 IS 15 30 25

LS 11 716 13 9 10 14 1915 3019 2} 16 1219 Jo 10 19 24 27 23 24 27 22 18 27 31 18 15 3126 23 19

1216 24 20 812 28 24 914 2217 3 8 26 22 1115 2011 211 1410 ?4 27 30 25 7 16 22 18 , 6 15 31 24 22 18 24 20 14 23 1714 16 20 "25 22 1619 2718 1116 3 7 18 25 2316 15 22 1410 20 27 29 22 1219 2518 19 24 710 4 8 2016 1015 10 7 27 31 2218 811 1814 IS 23 10 20 811 16 7 15 18 7 3 31 22 Dnwrn. 1115 2218 15 22 2518 811 29 25 A 8 24 20 1015 25 22 1216 Game 2711—" Single Coiner." Fifteenth Game — Jordan's move. 2117 615 26 23 22 28 3 7 812 13 6 It 10 1915 20 24 1713 110 2011 26 30 711 710 3126 7J6 2318 24 27 2524 5 9 1815 3127 18 IB 1014 32 28 .1014 10 7 2318 2319 913 1510 211 1410 16 23 24-19 14 17 15 -8 Drawn. 2«10" 15 24 2218 27 23 , 14 23 2819" 17 22 83. 2718 3 7' 1814 1620