Chess Hems.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 40

Chess Hems.

The death is announced of Mr Van Leaner, a younpf Hollander, for some time past resident in London, and the winner of the championship at the late touinty in Amsterdam. The match between Messrs Crane and Jacobsen for the championship of Australia ended in favour of Mr Jacobsen. with a score of 7 wins, 1 loss, and ldraw. Mr W. H Jones, of Sydney, has challenged the winner, aud the challenge has been accepted., Mr Jacobsen has played well, and deseives great credit for his victory, but we certainly think Mr Crane is able to do better than he has done in this la&t match. Mr Jacobsen was born in Hull (England) in 1862, where at the early age of 14 he was recognised as a first-class amateur. On March 7, ISB7, he won the championship of Queensland and the gold medal presented by Mr Justice Mem. He cime to New .South Wales in November 1889, since when he "has successfully taken part in several tournaments and matches. He is a pieblem composer and chess editor. He is a fast and brilliant player, and generally popular. . The annual congress of ihe New Zealand Chess Association began in Auckland on Monday last. Otago is represented by Messrs W. J. Mellor and J. Edwards. The other entrants are : Messrs W. Meldrum and A. Pleasante, from Hangitikei ; Mr I<\ H Smith, Wairaea (Mr Smith took part in the last congress in Dunedin) ; Mr J. C. Grierson, Auckland ; Messrs W. H. Smith and L. P. Smith, Glen Var, Auckland, and Messrs Barnes and Mason, Wellington. Canterbury, unfortunately, is unrepresented. Messrs Hookham and H. Andersen have tied for the championship of the Canterbury Chess Club. The Manhattan Chess Club has taken up the matter of raising a testimonial fund for Mr Steinmitz in consideration of his eminent services to chess through his studies and publications. La Strategic calls it " a testimonial which may place his age beyond the reach of want." A great opening ceremonial (of what kind is not stated) whs to take place on, the lCfch of October last at the Central Opera House, New York. La Strategic asks whether European amateurs will not follow such a good example. La Strategic, speaking of cases of players in tourneys who give up befere they have played

all their games, says:— "lt seems that- when a champion has not played the half of tho tourney all the games he has played should be suppressed. Perhaps" even it would be better to suppress all the games of a competitor who retire*, no matter at what point in the tourney, than that those uuplaycd should be scored by default." It certainly is very unsatisfactory to the other competitors that no unplayed games should be scored by default, and it would be well if players who enter a tourney would makeup their minds as a matter of duty and honour to play out all their games. In the late Berlin Congress there were two defaulters, MessM Bardeleben and Englisch— tho former leaving after having played only one gams, and the hitter retiring after the eleventh round. In both ca«e3 the cause of retiring was ill health, and in Mr Englisch's case the plea was unfortunately tno well founded, as he has siDce diel. Mr Btfrdelcben suffered f i om ill health at the Hastings Tournament, but did not, however, retire. It is perfectly inexcusable for a player to enter upou an important tourney knowing that it is doubtful whether he is strong enough to go through with it.

Messrs Eyre and Lelievre stand on even terms for the champiouehip of th<*. Auckland Chess Clnb, each having won 13 and lost 4 games, with one each still to play.

The annual picnic of the Otago Chess Club was held on Saturday, the ISth hist. About 70 persons participated in the festivity. Thj party enjoyed one of the fiuest drives to be found in the neighbourhood of Dunedin— namely, along the main Peninsula road as far aa Portobello. The way in which matters had been arranged by Mr Balk and the ladies of the club gave general satisfaction, and the day was passed very enjoyably. Great thanks is due to somebody— we do "not kuow whether it is to Mr.Paulin, Captain jrdwin, Mr Wragge, or the Right Hon. Richard John Seddon, P.O. — for the really magnificent weather provided for the occasion^

The game.Between Messrs Andersen and Hodkliatn, to decide the tie for the championship of the Canterbury. Club, \va^ resumed' last week. After an exciting contest Mr llookbam forced his opponent to resign on the 4's_t move. Mr Hookham is, therefore, club champion for the ensuing year. The game was watched with great interest by a number of member* , and the result was greetsd with hearty cheers.