Brodie's Nomination.

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

Brodie's Nomination.

bixtecnth Game. — When Gardiner took the Black men in the some opening, play followed an entirely different une, and neither player scmed to be in search of draws, but accepted the hardest Isfck at every fctago. Brodie was en familiar ground, and quiti? at his ease, and, a& the follow. ng score plioks oaplured the gume nicely —

Sf\mteen>h G.'rr.e.— At the evening sitting (Jr-rdmer i.omin.itcd the "Switcher, a great fc\ountc of tin- famous "Herd Laddie, and an op*nii.? admitting of much trapny play. IJ-odic, unfoi-tuiiately for himself, adopted a weak wnu of pry in opening, and Gaidincr Lr^a.ll lo iicti Jnra \cry liaid. An ex- < pt-dingly int- retting game ensued, and „iter :i I'frrs and 45 ffliimtes' play (;ardiii r -r wjs ali'e to put the finishing („[ll, and «cvi, the game. Beth pi.iyers were M-- bly fxhau-ted at t!i3 c'.os?. S'-\er»l experts in the loom wtje ut cpiniwi lhat Brodie shpned the draw, but t 1 v hour \\?s too late lo admit ( f jn aribly^i" Great intcrf-' v.i« manifested in the contest i. n Haturd.-\. < * u:q J.irs-'c'y to the fact that the s-co.cs \\U'' equal— Jour wins e^ch -ar.d r ii iv >-e\cr. i;jmo wr-rc to be played. The " turnrboiit" /c.iturc of the sc inrg was continued i,n S.iturtuy. Brodic effecting a fine win at tlie s.ftcrnooii s-'ttiiig and the other two games ]• laved beuig drawn This kit the sc-ores - ]3rodie 5, G«"'din«r, 4; dHwn, 11. The aticr.d»uccs «cr.^ 'arpc-r than u-u«ii in the .ifteri.con ai.d cveniiij. several lauu-> displaying jMirtt, intcro«-t in tlu gainch. rollouixig arc dclaili of the dd> s play — Ei~hlctnll' Ginic. -This wai the second!

first one being won by Gardiner. Brodie had the Black men, and both players kept on safe lines, taking no unnecessary rißks. The middle of the game showed the following -position: — . Black man on 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13 ; White men on 14, 20, 22, 23, 26, 81, 32, and play proceeded :22 17, 13 22, 26 17, 48, 23 19, 8 11, 31 27, 10 15, 19 10, 5 9, 14 5, 7 21, and half an hour's play brought the draw. Nineteenth Game. — This brought Brodie's fifth nomination, and he named the " Maid of the Mill," an opening with which he used to be very familiar some eight years age. His knowledge in this case stood him in good stead, and two excellent games came from this nomination. The following is the full score of tha first of the pair: —

Then 27 23, 11 7, 32 28, and Brodie won. (a) 19 16 draws. (b) Black misses a pretty win here by 13 17j 21 14, 27 32, 11 18, 32 28. ((?) Only move to win. Twentieth Game. — Gardiner, at the evening sitting, took the Black aide of the same opening for this game, and the spectators wers greatly pleased with the interesting bout that ensued. There were great possibilities of disaster on both sides, but extensive knowledge of tho opening served to guide the players psjsfe all dangers, until the draw was announced, after a most critical ending, in which Gardiner, had to make siire of every move to dra-w. Tha l»3t stage is sho«m thus: — Black on 17, 20, 27; White on 28, kings 11, 23. ' The match was continued on Monday morning at the Chess Club's Rooms, and waa brought to a conclusion in the evening at 9.40, Gardiner winning the contest by one game. Brodie lost the game played in the afternoon, thus again making thn scores equal. With, 1 only -two games to play when the evening sitting started, and so much depending on the result, the strain upon both players was quite evident, and even among the spectators there weie signs of nervous tension that made the breath come short. When, however, Gardineß won the first game of the sitting in less than; an hour and three-quarters, the result of the match was practically "placed beyond doubt. The last game of the 24 occupied only 35 minutes, Gardiner successfully piloting his pieces to a drawn conclusion, leaving the scores: — Gardiner, G; Brodie, 5; drawn, 13.

The winner is only 21 years of age, and possess"? a genial, xinassuming manner, which; has earned for him great popxilarity wherever he J5 known. He has never before played n. act match, but has been a very successful tournament) player. At the present time ho holds the championship title of Xew Zealand 1 , and by his clefea,t of Biodie he places his right to tho title beyond the shadow of a doubt.

Following are details of the day's play: — Twenty-first Game.— This was Gardiner's last nomination, and in view of the s-tate of tho scores it was expected that he -would select some essentially weak opening in hope of turning the tables on his opponent when ha (Brodie) had the weak side. That is exactly what- transpired. Gardiner, decided to m*ke his effort with the " Edinburgh," art opening considered weak for the Black sido, vhichr Gardiner had to play first. Play piocooded evonly for some time, but after the midtlla oi the game Brodie seemed to get a grip on. the game. This is shown at the followhig position . —Black men ou 2, 16, 19, 20, king 30; White men on 23, 26, 28, 31, king 5. Black 2: ad to pley, ar.d it looks as though; "White 'could manage a win: but, after trying for bomo time, Brodia had finally to accepß the draw. Twenty-second Game.— This game exemplified the* renn.rka on the jiieceding game, as Gardiner, with the White side, was enabled to r'tiie%c iiis position. Brodie's eleventh move was weal:, ri d led io his defeft, as will ba aeen by the following play: —

Gardiner won. Twenty-third Game.— This brought Brodie's last nomination, and everyone with a knowledge of the game anticipated he would select; some opening that would confine play to wellknown path ., and thu3 hold the draw in hand. Contrary to expectations, he chose a difficult game, nominating the " Paisley," full of intricacies The game was short, and sweet — for Gardiner,— as the following play shov.s —

Gardiner won. Twenty-fourth Game.— After a short rest, the players settled down again, and the finaL tusslo took place Gardiner had the Black pieces, and showed him*, if a master tactician, refusing to t-nke any but the easiest road to a draw, notwithstanding Brodie's endeavours. In consequence the game was of an uneventful character, and was drawn at 9.40, Gardiner being declared the winner of the match. He received the hearty congratulations of the spectators with becoming modesty. The following gi%-es the summarised Result of Games Played No. Opening. Result. 1— " Second Double Corner . . Brodio won 2—" Second Double Corner " . . Drawn 3— "Dyke" Drawn 4 — " Dyke " Drawn s— "Denny" Gardiner won 6—" Denny " Brodie won 7 -"Double Corner" Drawn B—"Double8 — "Double Cojner " Drawn 9— "Cross" Ghidiijerwoa 10—" Cioss "' Drawn 11— " Fife ' Drawn ] 2— "Fife" B-rodie wen 33 — "Centre" „ Drawn 14— "Centre" .»... Drawn 15— "Kelso" «. Gardinerwou 16 — "Kelso" Eiodie won 17-" Switcher " Gardner won J6 -"Switcher" . Drawn 39-" Maid of the Mill " Biodie won 20—" M?id of the Mill " Diawn 21-" Edinburgh ' Drawn 22 -"' Edmbuigh " Gardiner won 23 " Paisley " Gardiner won 24 — " Pmsley ". . Drawn

10 15 21 17 7 10 17 id 9 14 25 21 3 7 •29 25 11 10 2d 19 11 15 26 2JI IS 21 15 24 19 16 4 8 32 23 26 10 12 19 30 25 20 27 811 23 16 5 9 31 24 22 18 15 25 22 811 16 20 22 17 15 18 23 19 18 !i 7 11 22 15 11 15 5 14 16 7 11 18 19 16 25 22 2 11 27 24 15 >8 18 22 19 15 (Jardine: won.

30 15 24 19 15 24 QO j(J G 10 22 17 !) 14 15 02 11 15 27 24 & 11 23 18 14 23 17 14 10 17 21 11 11 10 19 30 7 11 24 19 •26 19 20 24 16 23 22 17 29 25 2 7 4 8 17 13 22 1H 23 27 1* 16 32 23 25 22 24 28 16 20 13 9 2S 32 9 6 b 12 6 2 11 15 2 ll 15 22 11 16 22 26 31 22 32 27 23 18 27 2-4 8 15 24 27 16 20 Brodie won.

Sixteenth Game— " Krlso

11 i& 22 17 8 11 17 13 L 518 23 14 9 18 24 20 L 014 28 24 11 1O 26 22 5 9 30 26 7 10 32 28 3 7 26 23 4 8 24 19 10 z» 28 19 7 11 22 15 11 18 31 26 8 11 19 15a 10 19 23 7 25 22 18 25 29 22 1 5 22 17 14 18 17 14 18 22 26 17 17 14 7 5 12 16C 31 % 27 24 3 I 18 22 816 1! 13 9 8 1i 6 13 19 2f 14 10 20 1( 22 26 28 3! 10 7 16 1]

9 13 22 18 6 9 23 22 11 15 18 11 8 13 23 18 7 11 2i 20 12 16 27 24 4 8 26 23 8 12 29 25 3 7 21 13 15 24 93 19 9 14 18 9 5 14 22 18 1 5 18 9 5 14 25 22 14 17 21 14 10 26 31 22 J1?J 1 ? 32 28 10 14 22 18 13 17 18 9 17 22 0 5 22 26 30 25 26 31 25 22 81 26 22 17 27 31 5 1 31 27 17 13 27 18 19 15 16 19 15 8 18 15 1 6 2 9 13 8 15 11 8 3 19 23 6 2 23 27 3 7 11 8

'• Edinburgh."— Brodie's move.

11 16 24 19 8 11 22 18 10 14 26 12 4 8 ■22 17 7 10 30 26 !) 13 18 0 13 22 25 18 6 14 18 9 6 1". 20 25 10 14 20 22 1 5 2-2 13 5 9 25 22 16 20 28 2i 2 6 19 15 3 7 15 10 b 1 23 1! 27 H 20 2 19 :

" Paisley."— Brodie's move.