BRODIE v. GARDINER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 58

BRODIE v. GARDINER.

VICTORY FOR GARDINER

Tn our last week's column the sixth game of the match was left undecided. At a. late hour, however, Brodie scored a win ircm the following position • Black men on 6, 9, kings 11, 15, White men on 12, 17, kings 3, 4. Play proceeded —

Seventh Game. — On commencing the e\eninfr sitting Biodie had to nominate, and he announced the "Double Cornei.' 1 Thi^ is an or.imng on which Gardiner has on prr-vious oci-jmoi's proved himself very well posted, and it had be»n naturally anticipated that ho would, during the couiae of the match, nominate it as ora of his own selection. When, theieforc, Brodic pHyed tlio " Doublo Comer," spectators felt justified in expecting- boinethmg particularly good. In thi«, hoy. bvtr, fxpectations were not, realised for some timr For the first hour the game proceeded uiip.vmt fully, with nothing to break the monotony but an occasional shuffling of feet, the creak of tlio door spring, and the sepulchral toiifs of tho vatchhclder's "Time 1 " But, shortly aftei 8 o'cloik, the strugsle began, when the game had ."spumed the following position — Black men on 1, 2, 30, 14, 18, 20, "White, men 33, 17, 21. 23, 27. :». White- to play. Immediately softer this Brcdie tcok the wrong road, and it gradually became apparent that nothing could save his gamethat ll 11l 1 - to say, nothing but the unexpected, and Ihat fm?l!y intervened, and ga\e Brodie the draw. Tin*? was the ending — B'a< k on 13, 14, 15, 16, 20. White on 21, 23, 27, 31, king 6. Black (Brodie) played 15 19, and all Gardiner had to do was to wove 0 10. r>nd win .ii'tcad '>f which he play, d 6 9, and ihe panip was druwn.

Play in t^e m&tcli was re=uinf>d on "Wednesday morning at 9.30. The fLst sitting was distinguished by a recurrence of Tuesday nionimg's performance- -oi.e qu "kh-plr.v»d drawn game and a hard-fougin win fcr Onrflma-. The afternoon and evening's tittinp* only produced one draT.n game each. lea\in«» th" kot at the < loao . Brodie. 2 Gardiner 2, dr-ivu 7 Following are the detail? of the play Eighth Game.— This was the «p-nnd game cf Rrodie's orron'l nomination. tht» " Double Corner,' fiardmrr ha- nicr th Black side. Both players followed book lm< s for west of tho game, although at pevcr.il st?e<M care had to be ex< n sc-d on account, of the tru kv nature ai the p'i-v. The wnole gaun , however, ouU r Ltiwt-'l {'lout 35 nmnr.C'S, when a dr.iv. was doclart-d. Ihe following shov. ? how the game was concluded — Blctk men c 3, 12, 20. I<i, Kjjia 21. Wlutc men jm 7. 10, 2i, 23. 3i

Brodie, with White, cut off by 32, 27, ajid only a few more moves were then required.

Ninth Game. — Gardiner decided to play the " Cross " opening for ms third nomination. The game developed on somewhat unusual, but not unknown, lines. To the p!«yer9 themselves it was an original line of play, and eventually proved disastrous for Brodie. He played » weak move at a critical juncture, and lost from the following position: — Black men on 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 19, 20; White men on 13, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 31. Gardiner played 16, 22 18, 9 14, 18 9, 5 14, 27 24, and Brodie afterwards lost the man on 26.

Tenth Game — Brodie had Ul3 Black side of the second " Cross ' game, spectators witnessed the beat contest of the match so far. Soon after the opening Brodie struck^oxit on an original line, and every move had to bs carefully studied; but neither player -was able 1o Raan any advantage, and a draw was announced in less than two hour 3. The following illustrates an interesting stage of the game : —Black men on 2, 5, 9, 15, 18, 19; "White men on 10, 11, 21, 24, 26, 08. Play proceeded: 18 23, 26 22, 23 27. 11 7, 2 11, 22 18, 15 22, 24 8, etc. Eleventh Game. — To commence the evening sitting Brodie had to nominate, and selected the- "Fife." The game opened thus:— ll 15, 23 19, 9 14, 22 17, X 9, 26 23, 9 13, 24 20, 15 24, JJB 19, 13 22, 25 9, 6 18, ajid proceeded to a drawn conclusion without any feature of note. In a. protracted ending several players present expressed the opinion that Gardiner had missed a. win, but on a.tleniptihg the task it waa not made evident. With five meil aside, the game showed this position :— Black on J, 2, 19, 20, 21 ; White men on 14, 25, 27, 30, King on 8. White (Gardiner) to play: 14 10, 19 24, 27 23, 24 27, 10 7, 2 11, 8 15, 27 31, 23 19, 20 24, 25 22, 24 27, 22 17, 27 32, drawn. Thursday's three sittings only produced 'three games, but theee were of a specially interesting character. Brodio won the game played in tha morning, and the. other two games vere drawn, making the score : —Brodie, 3; Gardiner, 2; dr<t\ro, 9; 10 to play. Following are details of the play. — Twelfth Game. — When Gardiner with the Black iide opened the second " Fife " game — Brodie's nomination — both players manifested great caution, especially aiter Brodie, early in the game, took a. lir.e of play not generally adopted. The pama opened thus .—ll. — 11 15, 23 19, 9 14, 22 17, 5 9, 26 23, 9 13, 24 20, after -which both phiyers were repeatedly called to time. For two hours the game progressed slowly, v.'hen it became evident that Gardiner was in a hopeless position, and although he struggled manfully on, not a chance waa> gi yen > and the game ended thua: — Black (Gardiner) on 4, 20, 21, kings 6, 29; AVhito on 7, 27, 30, king? 16. 22. Play proceeded —4 8, 7 3, 8 12, 16 19. 6 10, 27 23 10 6, 3 7, 6 9, 7 10, 9 5, G3 18, 5 9, 18 15, 9 5, 10 6, and Gardiner resigned. Time, 2hr 40min. Thirteenth Game. — This brctight Gardiner's fourth nomination, for -which he selected the " Centre," which 13 iformed by the moves 11 15, 2-3 19, 8 11, 22 17, 15 18; then Brodie went 39 15, and thenceforward each player exercised great caution. After half an ho-jr's play Gar1 diner seemed to have » ponaewh»t "weak position, but he cleared his lines by a neat stroke, ivhioh removed eight pieco3, and left hkn with thi advantags :n position. Then a long, -wearying struggle began, Gardiner striving for a win by holding tw:> of his opponent's men m a single corner with a king. With four king's in play against two kings and two ?mgle mtn, the gpme continued until 5.30, when Brcdie got fclie chance of two for two, and placed the draw beyond doubt. The general opinion among the experts is that Gardiner should have won, but ! after playing hard for soms three hoius, it is no wonder if he missed it in a difficult position. Time, 3hr 30min. I Fourteenth Game. — For the evening sitting | came the second " Centre," Brodie having the Black sida. The game opened along the same line as the preceding one, and then kept along fumiliar paths, a neat draw resulting. Near the | end a twc-foMwo left the following position- — Black man ou 5, 7, 17, 22; White men on 8, 20, 28, 31. Black had to play, and » few moves oi. iv wers made.

Friday was an eventful day. Tlace games were pkyed, and remitted in Gardiner seiuriny two v;,rn and Biodie one. The scoics of the fir-.t. two games are appended, and they will be found of special interest. The third game, played at the evening sitting, lasted n^arlv four hours, being finally won by Gardiner, this again bringing the scores level — three wins each and 11 draws, with seven to play. The attendances havj boen well maintained, the Fpectators on several occasions including a. rTumber of ladies. Following are detai'a of the play: — Fifteenth Game. — On resuming play in the morning, Bro-die had to nominate, and selected Ul3 " Kelso," an opening the myswries of which have not yet been fathomed, and which therefore admits of more onginahty of play. Brodif, with the Black men, was not long in getting into difficulties, as will be seen by the following Fifteenth Game— " Kclso. '

LO 1U / J.J. 38 3 8 11 7 9 14 17 13 8 3 LO 15 14 18 83 3 8 8 3 23 26 3 8 26 30 8 3 3 8 26 23 8 3 23 18 3 8 8 3 14 10 3 8 10 7 8 .i 3 8 7 3 Blsu:k wins.