Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 62

Chess Items.

A chess match by telegraph will be commenced, next Saturday evening between teams of 10 a-side, representing the Otago and Oamaru Chess Clubs. The players for Dunedin will be selected from the following: — The Rev. A. T. Ohodowski, Messrs F. J. Mouat, J. H. F. Hamel, J. Crow, G. D. Wright, S. S. Myers, J. Stone, J. C. Ponsonby. G. Rankin, A. King, Dr R. Church, and J. Hall. The- contest is to start at 7 p.m. sharp. ▲ chess clubuwriih a. membership of over 30 players is in process of formation at Newton, Wellington. Mr J. A. Connell, secretary to the New Zealand Chess Association, is at present on a visit to Nelson. The long-deferred association meeting will probably be held shortly after his return. W. E. Mason, ex-clhampion of New Zealand, and R. J. Barnes, another ex-champion, have commenced the contest ior pride of place on rung 1 of the- ladder tourney at the Wellington Working Men's Chess Club. The tournament for the shield presented by Mr E. W. Petherick, the well-known Wellington, chess patron, started yesterday, the 30th inst. Thirty-six players participated in the sides match at the opening of tihe chess season in Auckland. Mr J. M. Lennox, president, captained one team, and Mr A. Hosking, vicepresident, the other. The president's team won by a game. Mr F. W. Smith, treasurer to the Auckland Chess Club, met with a rather serio.us bicycle accident recently, and is confined to his horn* A series of friendly contests in which set openings are adopted is in full swing at the Auckland Chess Club. These practice matches will be continued during the winter months. Chess stories and chess references are, just now, finding much favour in the monthly magazines. The current number of the Royal gives chess a. splendid advertisement. The cover has a brilliant representation of a red and white chess board, and a Brobdingnagian black Staunton knight. This is very attractive and worth preserving by those interested in chess. The April number of The Idler also has a chess story called "The Detective's Move," with an illustration of the detective and another playing a game of chess.

While temporarily insane, as a result of adelicate operation, Henry Nelson Pillsbury. the American champion chess player, tried to jump from a, fourth-storey window of the Presbyterian Hospital, and was only prevented by Mrs Pillsbury, who calmed him after several physicians and nurses had been struggling with him for 10 minutes. Janowski, champion of France, naturally enough, is not satisfied with the outcome of his recent match with Marshall, and has sent him the following inimitable "defi" : — Paris, 7th March, 1905. To Mr Marshall— I think the result of our match far from establishes our respective strengths. On the contrary, considering that in the majority of the games I have let slip either a win or a draw, I am convinced that ordinarily I should have won easily. I have now the honour to challenge you to a return match on the following conditions: — The winner to be the first who scores 10 games, draws not counting. I offer you "the advantage of four games, that is to say, that the first four games I win are not to count. The stakes not to exceed 5000 francs. Awaiting your prompt reply, will you accept, sir, my cordial salutations. (Signed) D. Janowski.