Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 66

Chess Items.

Mr G. D. Wright is the winner of the junior championship of the Otago Chess Cub. Master Charles Collin, a youth of 15, has won the handicap tourney in connection with the Brisbane School of Arts Chess Ckib. The Melbourne Leader relates the following anecdote regarding Mr H. C. Brockelbank, who was at one tinno a prominent member of the Auckland Chess Club, but of whom little has been heard for a, number of years. He was siibsequently a. member of the Melbourne chess circle, and was on one occasion playing a casual blindfold game, when a humorous incident occurred. We are not sure whether it ever got into print ; but anyhow, it is -worth recalling. The following position -w*s arrived at in the game, -which it must be admitted is dead against the unseeing performer: — k4Q2, 8, p7, Pp6, 2pq4, «, 3, 7K. White (Brockelbank) had just checked with hisQ ait B 8, whereupon Black light'y played K. E. 2, not observing the requirement for Xt Xt 2 instead. White then asked his opponent if he would accept a draw. This was refused with an air of surprise and derision, j which appeared to fit in also with the view of the "gallery." "Then," said White, "I'll force you to do so," and announced a. move which at once forced the draw, and also other things which we may perhaps leave unchrooicled. y- — The Morning Post says :— A match between Teichmann and Napier is in course of arrange- , ment, and is likely to prove the .most interesting event of what remains of the winter season, for which, so far as this country is concerned, no other fixture of exceptional importance is- in preparation. In Paris, however, the match between Marshall and Janowski is likely to begin before long, and as this is certain to occupy a large share of attention it may be anticipated that the NapierTeichmann contest will not take place immediately. It is understood that Na.pier aJso has other matches in contemplation, and it is evident that he is not content to rest on the ia/urels that he won in the London and Hastings tourney. Japanese chess is the most intricate game in th£ -world. The board has 81 squares, 20 pieces are used, and the pieces change in value when they arrive at a certain position on the board. ifrs W. J. Baird, the celebrated problem composer, who has lately devoted her attention more particularly to what are called "retractors," says that a friend who has shown great interest in her retractors has recently "got married," and he has sent her some wedding cake accompanied by the following: — "White may not retract his last move. This is a direct maite!" Tchigorin recently paid a visit to Moscow, as the guest of the chess clubs of the city, and met seven of their strongest players simultaneously. His score sheet showed 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 lose. »