Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2373, 24 August 1899, Page 48

Chess Items.

The old brigade of the days of Staunton and Paul Morphy is rapidly disappearing. Mr Kipping, one of the strongest amateurs of that time, died a few months ago, and now we have to record the death of M. Thorold — well known to all chess-players ffs the inventor of the Tho-rold-Allagaier, one of the strongest forms of attack in the Allagaier gambit — and of the Rev. G. A. Macdonnell,- an -equally -well-known amateur of the same era.- The Bristol Times and Mirror furnishes ■ • the- subjoined notice of Mr Thorold: — The death of this well-known obess-player, who has been one of the foremost figures in West of England ohess oircles for over a quarter of a century, requires more than a passing obituary notice in this column, to which the brilliant Bath amateur was a frequent contributor ; and coming so suddenly and closely upon the decease of another brilliant exponent, the Rev. G. A. Macdonnell, wo cannot help noticing what a loss has been altogether sustained of late in the cause of amateur chess by the removal also, not many months ago, of the Rev. A. B. Skipworth, and not long before of the Rev. W. Wayte. Edmund Thorold, M.A., and late Fellow of Magdalen, Oxford, was one of a distinguished band of cultured enthusiasts who fostered and encouraged university ohess among the different colleges, and still further promoted the practice of amateur chess by their support of the Counties Chess Association ;' and of this band the Rev. C. E. Ranken, of Malvern, and the Rev. J. Greene, of Clifton, are the only fellow workers with Mr Thorold left in this neighbourhood, the three having held high office for --nany years in the Bristol, Clifton, and Bath Clubs. What Mr Thorold has done for the Bath Club- and the Somerset County Club may be gathered from the history of the chess contests with Bristol, and the chess competitions of the Southern Counties Chess Union ; at the same time, for many years past, he was always ready to visit clubs at a distance for the purpose of simultaneous play. Mr Thorold was of a quiet, retiring, and unassuming disposition; in his intercourse with others ever a courteous gentleman and chivalroxis opponent. The Rev. G. A. Macdonnell died on June 3, at the age of 69. A native of Ireland, he gave evidence at tin early age of great talents for chess; and when he went to London in 1856 he took with him a local reputation. This be soon increased, until shortly after his arrival he wa3 recognised as one of the same class as Bird, Boden, Buckle, an'l Staunton. He distinguished himself in the London tournament of 1862 ; was a prize-winner at the Dxmdee Congiess ir. 1867; and 10 years later defeated the late John Wisker, champion of England, in ft match at Clifton. Mr Macclonnell was for a long time the chess editor under the norn de plume of " Mars " of the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, but resigned the position some three years ago because of ill-health. He was also the author of " Chess Life Pictures " and " Knights and Kings of Chess." These arc popular works in which he gives reminiscences of hiß chess career and of his personal acquaintance with many of the chess masters of the last 50 years. The London Congress (by the special correspondent of the Adelaide Observer). — The R.M.S. Oriental^ brought news to June 23, or two days after the beginning of the second round. Play on the thirteenth day, June 16, produced startling results. Janowski tried a Bishop's Gambit on Bird. The veteran was thoroughly roused by this fiery opening. He quickly foiled the attack, started a strong counter-attack, and compelled the French champion to resign at the 24th move. The previous day being an off day, all the competitors were taken for an outing, and in responding to a toast, Bird, in his usual genial style, warned the younger masttrs that he would yet make some of them sit up; and he kept his word. This defeat told heavily against Janowski, who had been cutting out the running, and it confirmed the lead obtained by Lasker, who was never again headed. Blackburne, by one of his inimitable combinations, forced Steinitz into a mating position. Maroczy, whose style of play is modelled on Lasker's, found his tactics would not succeed against Buch an impetuous player as Tchigorin. The latter was the first to administer a defeat to the cool and cautious Hungarian master. This loss was disastrous to Maroczy in the then state of the score. At that stage Maroczy, Pillsbury, Janowski, and Schlechter were trying strenuously to get on terms with the leader, Lasker. Pillsbury had an easy win from Tinsley, . and so had Schlechter from Lee. Showalter'a score was damaged by Cohn. The next day, June 17, witnessed the overthrow of Tchigorin by Lasker. The champion outgeneralled the Russian, who adopted an inferior defence to the Ruy Lopez. After the hardest fight of the day, Lasker won with a fine mating combination. Jnnowaki scored from Lee and Blackburne from Mason, but draws occurred between Pillsbury and Showalter, Maroczy and Schlechter, and Steinitz and Bird. The last drawing in the first half of the tournament took place on June 19. _ The most arduous game of the day was that' betwen Janowski and Maroczy. The latter avowed at the start that he would be content with nothing short of victory. A draw would have suited Janowski, but the Hungarian was not to be denied, and he achieved a difficult win at the 57th move. Lasker and Pillßbury had comparatively easy wins from Bird and Lee. Tchigorin scored from Mason, Blackburne from Tinsley, and Schlechter from Steinitz. As we were advisd by cable the next day, the leading scores at the end of the first round were — Lasker 11 wins, Maroczy 10, Pillsbury, Janowski, and Schlechter 9*, Blackburne BJ, Tchigorin and Cohn 8 each," and Steinitz and Showalter 6£ each. Play in the second round began on June 20. At the wish of the players the same pairings as in the first round were adhered to, the right to first move being reversed. Lasker was pitted against Blackburne, and avenged his former defeat with a clever win. Bird justified his previous warning by drawing a long game with Maroczy — a creditable achievement for the veteran against a candidate for top place. Pillsbury won from Cohn, Tchigorin from Steinitz, and Showalter from Lee. Janowski climbed a notch higher by an invaluable win from Schlechter. On the second day of the second round Lasker again outwitted Tchigorin by unexpectedly adopting the French defence. Tchigorin innocentlj replied with his own defence— White 2, Q to X 2—2 — which he employed with important results in his match with Tarrasch five years ago. Lasker evidently desired this, for he soon showed that he had studied the innovation to some puicpge, as ho introduced sev§r.al ggod cotw-

ter moves. He ultimately initiated a strong attack, and won at the 42nd move. By this valuable victory Lasker increased his leacMo 1J points, for his rivals, Pillsbury and Marocz'y, could only draw against Showalter and Schlechter respectively. Janowski retained second place by beating Lee, Steinitz won from Bird, and Blackburne drew against Mason. As the committee decided not to score Teichmann's forfeits in the second round, it is evident that Lasker r must have won all his games in that round except one and a draw, or else he may have had three- draws. We learned by cable on July 17 that he had been challenged by Janowski to play a match for the championship. The probability,, therefore, is that Lasker lost to Janowski in the second round. Such an eventuality would act as a spur to the brilliant and mercurial young French champion. At this time last year in the Vienna Congress Pillsbury and Tarrasch, after running a necfe-and-neck race from the start, had cleared out from their opponents, and wound up with a tie, which, after a contest of four games, ended in favour of Tarrasch, who subsequently retired from serious chess. This year Lasker at the beginning refrained from over-exertion, and playing into form acquired th« lead half-way, and, increasing it as h« went on, won with consummate ease in the same manner that Zukertort did in the London Congress in 1883. In the latter competition there were 14 competitors, and Zukertort's score was 28 wins put of a possible 26, Steinitz being second with 19 wins. English critics give Lasker the palm for accuracy and sound judgment in his play. Janowski was sharp, shrewd, and brilliant. His style pleased the gallery. Pillsbury fatigued himself by over-exertion to win, and this mistake told against him as the tourney progressed. Some of his combinations were maaterly efforts. British players were gratified at some fin© exhibitions of play on the part of Blackburne, who inflicted the only defeat sustained by Lasker. The toxirney was creating a good deal of interest. Amongst the visitors was Lord Chief Justice Russell, whose interest in the royal game dates back to the Morphy era. The Death Roll. — Of the 10 players who competed in the major tourney at the Adelaide Congress 12 years ago, three have already passed in their checks — viz., Messrs Henry Hookham, the amiable and veteran champion of New Zealand, Mr W. Tullidge, the fine, manly, robust representative of Victoria; and a week or two ago Mr P. Eiffe, whose trenchant, original play was a surprise on that occasion. Mr R. C. Earl, Semaphore, who was a prize-taker in the minor tourney, is also dead. — Adelaide Observer.