Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 58

Chess Items.

'Tis gravely announced ihat the departure from Wellington of the southern competitors in tho New Zealand Ohess Championship contest per s.s. Maraioa produced quite an affecting scene on the wharf in the evening. Various incoherent accounts have floated around anent the tearfulness of the occasion, but the emotions of one well-known Wellington player were very aptly described by a southerner in a paiody on "Lord Ullin's Daughter": — "Come back! Come back!" he cries, " I'm nearlj hoarse with yelling ; I'll forgive you lots of lies — Don't leave your poor old Kelling!" After that we shall wait the northerner'a version.

In a match now In progress in Sydney between Mt J. K. Christenson and Mr W. H. Jonas, the score at the end of the seventh game was 3 wins each, and 1 draw.

Mr L. Hoffer is aboiit to issus a collection of the games of the Vienna Gambit Tourney. The book is to be printed at the Field office.

The games of the recent International Gambit Tourney in Vienna, fully annotated, with, portraits of the players and details of the contest, are announced, to appear in book form, this month. Price 2£ marks. It will be published by Wiener Schachzeitung, Vienna.

Simpson's, the famous chess resorb of London, will bo again open in a few weeks. The Cafe de la Regence, Paris, is now again open to chess players.

The chess editor of the Yorkshire Weekly Post notes that in the 376 th number of the " Craftsman" Lord Harvey wrote as follows: — " Chess is, perhaps^ the only game which is played at for nothing, and yet warms the blood! and brain, as anuch as if the gamesters were contending for the deepest stakes. No person easily forgives himself who loses, though to a superior player. No person is ever known to flatter at this game by under-playing himself. It is certain this play is an exercise of the understanding. It is a contention who has the most solid brain, who can lay the deepest and wisest designs. It is, therefore, rarely known that a person of great vivacity and quickness, or one of very slow parts, is a master of the game."