Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 48

Chess Items.

The Bristol Times and Mercury gives the following interesting items regarding the London International:—ln spite of the disappointing composition of both teams, the play of the competitors from the first has been of a spirited and attractive character; the remnants of the old guard who competed in the major tournament of the famous London Chess Congress (1883) are playing up to their reputation with all their force and brilliancy. The gam6,(6o moves) between Steinitz and Mason is held to be the finest piece of chess of the week, and, in fact, a masterpiece of the kind, the winning of which can only add lustre to the name of the ex-champion of the world. The ever sturdy and brilliant English champion created no little excitement by defending a. Ruy Lopez successfully against the champion Lasker by a grand combination, which involved the giving up of his X Xt P, and then the startling sacrifice of a rook on his thirty-first move; this compelled the loss of Lasker's queen to save immediate mate! Bird, the Murat of old time chess, ha 3 so far not faired well, having had to yield to younger opponents in -the first four games. Janowaki rushed the second game with Steinitz by an unsound, sacrifice, which was amusing to some, but not to the veteran. By a recent cable message it was announced thta Lasker had taken first prize in the above tourney, for which there were nine prizes viz., £250, £166, £100, £80, £65, £50, £40,- £30, £20, besides special prizes. The tourney has been concluded sooner than" expected, as, according to advices by the San Francisco mail, it was anticipated that July 10 would see the termination. Sixteen players were selected for the two-game tourney, representing England, Russia, Austria, Hungary, France, Germany, and America. Burn, the winner of the Cologne tournament, was included in the list given above, but his name disappears after the first round; Teichman also retired after the fifth round, his remaining adversaries thereby scoring a win in each case. The names and respective nationalities of the competitors and their final scores were as follows:—Lasker (Germany), 22|; Janowski (France), 18; Maroczy (Austria-Hungary), 18; Pillsbury (America), 18; Schlechter XAustriaHungary), 18; Blackburne (England), 15 J; Tchigorin, 15; Showalter, 12J; Mason, 12. By the winning of the London International Tourney, 1899, Lasker has demonstrated his superiority over all other aspirants to chess fame. His mathematical studies prevented him taking part in at least two or three international struggles, but previous to that he was first prize-winner at Nuremburg in 1896, St. Petersbxug in the same year, New York in 1893, without losing or drawing a game, and both the tourneys held in London in 1892. Altogether his careei, since wresting the championship of the world from Steinitz, will bear favourable comparison with that of his predecessor. In matches, besides badly beating Steinitz in two encounters, he has vanquished several other eminent players—Showalter, Bird, Vasquez, Blackburne, etc. Blackburne did not win a game in his match with Lasker, but ho had his revenge by winning the only game lost by the champion iip to the end of the ninth round. In tho single-round tournament the entries were:—H. Erskine, J. F. S. Esser (Holland); E. M. Jackson, E. O. Jones (England); Dr Kilmsh, G. Marco (Vienna); J. F. Marshall (America); J. Mieses (Germany); O. C. Muller (London and Berlin); T. Physick (City of London C.C.); Dr S. F. Smith, Professor Tabountschikoff (Russia). The Sporting and Dramatic News announces the death of the Rev. G. A. Macdonnell, and gives the following abort notice oJE him;--"Wo

deeply regret to* announce the death of the Rev. G.-A. Macdonnell, which occurred- on "the Ist July, in his seventieth year, after a long and painful illness. He f«r many years conducted the chess column of this paper, under the norn de plume of ' Mars,' but three years ago was obliged, owing to failing health, to relinquish the work he had so long carried on with conspicuous ability. His gifts as an attractive and observant writer were recognised by a large circle of our readers, and were strikingly exemplified in his two books, " Chess Life Pictures ' and ' Knights and Kings of Chess.' Both as a writer and a speaker Mr' Macdonnell had a happy faculty of winning the regard of those whom he addressed. His recollections extended back to the players of the old school, and he possessed a fund of anecdote and humour that made him a welcome guest at all chess festivals. His stories of Staunton and his contemporaries were inimitable, and it is no exaggeration to say that by his- fascinating reminiscences he made that remarkable man live again in the imaginations of the younger generation. He was also a brilliant player, who came prominently to the front in »the tournament of 1862, and since then took part in many other contests with distinction." The Victorian chess championship for 1899 has been won by E. B. Loughran, chief .of j " Hansard " staff.. This white-haired, yet young-looking, stenographer plays a game of; the sound, steady,, but unbrilliant order. Last j year's champion, Marriott AVatson, studying f«ra law examination, did not enter; -nor did Esling,'the real Victorian champion. . j The Bradford Observer says: — " The London International Tournament opens on Monday, but the secrecy observed by the officials as to the identity ot the competitors is still maintained. It is rumoured that Charousek will riot be able to play, but this is the only item of gossip forthcoming this week. It is not known whether the players will wear iron masks or be otherwise uiaguised when they appear, but the mystery hitherto surrounding them warrants the suspicion. The prohibitive price which the executive committee of- the International Congress has put upon the right of publication of the games played has created amusement and indignation in about equal proportions amongst the chess editors of the country. The attempt to reap a harvest at the expense of the press is both unfair and unjust, and is bound to fail. It is unfair, because the press, when it was asked to give its assistance in raising the necessary funds — which it did willingly and gratuitously — was not warned that such unprecedented demands as those now made were in contemplation ; it is ill-advised, because if the promoters of chess tournaments begin to play the game of grab' they will do immeasureable harm to chess by arousing the hostility of newspapers ; and it is useless, because the publication of his games being of the first importance to the professional, and not withotit interest to the amateur seeking for fame, the newspapers can find means of getting any games they really want in spite of the executive committee and its ' bluff ' about ' copyright.' Upon this subject the chess editor of the Illustrated London News writes : — ' A demand so exorbitant, not to say preposterous, has nevei been advanced before in any cheas competition, and where it might have been thought that the interests of the game, would be best served by the utmost publicity as regards tho proceedings of the Congress, some .influence suggestive of Shylock decrees otherwise. We do not profess to be lawyers, but ive have yet tp learn that a spectator reprodiicing a game from memory is guilty of any breach of copyright."" The final results of the chess, tournament between Auckland and Wellington have been received. Auckland scored seven wins, Wellington two, and six games were drawn. All the games sent to Mr Cleland, of Dunedin, for adjudication were declared to be draws. DEATH OF MR W. RAVENSCROFT STEPHEN. We record with much regret and deep feeling of personal loss the death on Wednesday, the 28th June, at the age of 74, of this distinguished chess veteran. He was the second son of the lats Sii George Stephen, himself an enthusiastic lover of the game, and has been identified with the history of chess in Victoria for the last 40 years. He formed one of a coterie of players who before the formation of the Melbourne Chess Club for some years frequented a coffee house in Bourke street, called the City Buffet. After participating in the tournament held in 1868, he in that year took active part in founding the Melbourne Chess Club, and for the next 30 -years was a very valuable member, filling the office of secretary foi several years, and being a member of committee for nearly the whole of that time. He entered as a competitor in almost evejy tourney held at the club, and, though he could hardly be ranked among the first flight of players, he was a strong player of thd second class, receiving pawn and move from the first class. He was, however, sufficiently strong to be selected as one of Victoria's representatives in many of the intercolonial matches against New South Wales, and " always acquitted himself with credit. For the last 10 years he has practically retired from the arena, residing, as he' did, at a _ distance from the city, and to the present" generation of players he is only known by reputation. Apart from chess, Mr Stephen ' was much esteemed by his brother "members as an agreeable companion, and a' man of the kindest (disposition. During his long connection with the club we do not think he ever made air enemy, and among the older members especially, who had so onany opportunities of knowing his worth, his loss will long be lamented. — Melbourne Leader.