Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 56

Chess Items.

The following has been going through the European continental che3S joxvrnals, and may prove interesting to some persons although confessedly it seems hardly a fitting way of treating an awfxil subject. We give the Italian version from La Rivista. Scachistica Itahana : '" One of the most attractive fables told by the favourite Hungarian poet, Maurus Jokai, in the 93 volumes of his collected works, among the traditions and legends of the Arabs, is the following: The Creator and the ccrrupter of the world weie once seated opposite each other at the chess board, and were playing for the salvation or the' damnation of humanity. The moves sxicceeded each other at intervals which according to human reckoning would hi an age. By a clever combination Satan succeeded in capturing his opponent's queen. She was Eve. Adonai (a Hebrew name for the Creator) notwithstanding this cross, did „not abandon the game, and made use of the castle against Satan. This was Moses. Satan placed all his reliance in his own qxxeen, Astarte, by which he hoped to be able to entrap the castle. Adonai in the meairtime, by a well reasoned calculation, by sacrificing the castle, pushed forwaid a pawn to the eighth rank and thus provided himself with a new queen. The new queen was Maria, the Holy Virgin. With this new queen, Adonai conqxiered and completely overthrew his adversary for ever." The editor of La Rivista adds: It is unnecessary to give any explanation to show Christians the profound ethical meaning of this fable. We have to thank the editor of L'Eco degli Scacchi for a copy of the October nximber of this small but well condxicted chess magazine. It is pxiblished in Palermo, in Sicily, and the fact that x-he capital of this comparatively small island can support a chess magazine when the island continent of Australia cannot do so, speaks well for the- enthusiasm of the people in the cause of chess. The editor is Signor F. Abbadessa, who is assisted by a. large staff of collaborateurs in different parts of Exirope, chiefly, of course, in Italy. The Netherlands Chess Union (Ncderlandsch Schaakbond), has opened aa international problem competitioa for direct mate three-move xmpxiblished unconditional problems, with four prizes of 25, 15, 10, and 5 fici-ins respectively. Competitors may each send three compositions, addressing them on the usual motto system to Herr H. D. B. Meijer, Geldersch Kade, 37 Amsterdam, Holland, not later than Ist January, 1901. The British Chess Magazine for October says : The oldest known chess problem dates from the ninth centxiry, and was ascribed to an Arabian caliph. Naturally a large nximber have long been lost, doubtless including many of before the ninth century. Those of old chess still preserved — numbering possibly a thousand, not counting duplicates — are all, probably, of Arabian or European origin, with one doubtful exception. That is ihe Hindu position with a genuine Hindu legend given in the B. C. M. last October. The first match by telegraph between Victoria and West Australia was played on Monday, November 12, the result being that West Axistralia secured an easy victory by 6 games to 3 : one game was xinfinished, and will be referred to Mr Charlick for adjudication. The following is the full score of the match : — West Australia. Victoria. Board. 1. W, S. Viner ... 1 T.Taylor 0 2. J. Hilton ... 0 Rev. R. Betts - ... 1 3. Dv Lancaster... § J. E. Crewe * 4. H. P. Colebatch 1 D. R. Hay 0 5. W- Stihenhaar 1 H. T. Grant 0 6. A. B. Parker... 1 S. Linrlells 0 7. F. Grosveuor... 0 R. Mayston 1 8. F. Domela ... 1 C: Alston 0 9. J. H. Cochrane — J. Clczv — 10. W. Farrington £ T. Bradshaw i