TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 62

TELEGRAPHIC CHESS MATCH.

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY.

.Arbor a protracted contest, extending over Oiree nighrts, the chess match by telegraph between the Otago and Canterbury Cheso Clubs iaame to an _end on Saturday at midnignt. The representatives «f both clubs made a hard and strenuous fight for victory, and the keenness of the conflict may be more accurately gauged when it is mentioned that the majority of the games occupied 10 hours altogether, and the ultimate lesult was 4J wins for each side. Two games, however, remained unfinished, and have been, reserved for adjudication by Mr A. W. O. Davies, of Wellington, the present chess champion of Kew ZealaitfL on. whose judgment rests tho

victory for either Otago or Canterbury. A pleasant feature of the contest was the entire absence of consultation among the players oii- both sides, and this no doubt was due to tho strict &upsrvisio?a exercised by tho two umpires— Mr S. S. Myers for Canterbury and Mr J. Andersen for Otago. The detailed scores were as follow: — Otago. Canterbury. Wins. Wins. D. For&yth i.l W. S. King .. 0 J. Edwards .. — * J- Wood .. — * O. Balk .... 0 H. J. Nightingale .. .. 1 H. Lyders .- 1 G. F. Francis .. 0 J. H. F. Harnel — * J. Amtman .. — * J. Crow .. .. 0 Y. G-. Day .. 1 G. D. Wright ..0 T. Cooper .. 1 Rev. A. T. Chodows'ki .. .. \ F. WooJioi-1 „ J F. J. Mouat .. l" A. E. Cresswel^ 0 A. Ellis .... 1 F. J. Brooke-r .. 0 A. King .... 0 W. Roberts .. i Total .. .. 4J Total .. .. 4| * Reseived for adjudication. Poartdculars of individual play: — Board 1. D. Forsyth v. W. S. King (King's Gambit Declined). — On resumption of play Mr King made a weak initial mov*i. Mr Forsyth, with a fairly strong attack left over from the previous Saturday night's p'.ay, oon--tinued to make further leeway, aaid his opponent resigned on the fortieth move. Board 2 J. Edwards v. J. Wood (King's Gambit DeclinEd). — At the thirty-first move -Mr Edward'S-^had an advantage m position, and^ifhe had played Q-B2 instead of Q-Ql niust have won. Mr Wood was unable to .play on to midnight, and the game, which has every appearance of a draw, was j'eserved for adjudication. Board 3 O. Balk v. H: J. Nightingale (Giuoco Piano). — This proved tho most interesting game of the series. Mr Balk, who had six pawns as against his opponent's bishop and three pawns, at tho forty-fourth move waa confident "of victory, but a minute analysis demonstrated a- win for the Canterbury player, and Mr Balk accordingly le•ngned. • Board 4. H. Lyders v. G. F. Francis (Giuoco Piano). — Mr Lyders had & rook and two pawns as against his advorsoa-y's knight and two pawns. Qne of Mr Francis's pawns was posted a.t KB6, but, as there was no possibility of queening it, the Cantarbuiy player resigned. Boaa-d 5. J. H. F. Hamel v. J. Aniitinaii (Queen's Gambit Declined).— Mr Hajniel had a" knight to the good, while Mr Aimtman was two p."iwns up. The game was reserved for adjudication, but tbo Otago player has a slight advantage in position. Board 6. J. Crow v. V. G-. Day (Giuoco Piano). — Mi Crow lost a, knight aiid a subsequent exchange of pieces. Mr Day, who is wall known on tlie West Coast as a player of repute, pleased forward an irresistible attack,. and won on the thirty-sixth move. Board 7. G. D. Wrig'lit.v. T. Coop-or (King's Gambit). — At the outset Mr Wright was a knight up, but two pawns down. He sacrificed the kndght to save a rook, and Mr Cooper, who played carefully and made, no mistakes, gained a, distinct advantage in position. Mr Wright resigned gracefully at midnight. Boaird 8. Ray. A. T. Chcdowski v. F. Woodford (Giuoco Piaino). — The JRev. Mr Chodowski had two knights and a pawn as against Mr '"Wood'ford'a knight and^ two pawns. The Otago player tried every possible means to secure a victory, but without avail, and the game ended in a draw. Board 9 F. J. Mouai v. A. E. Cresswell (Centne Gambit). — Mr Mouait renewed a mierciless attack on his opponent's left wing, enfiladed the forces on that side, and scored the first win for Otago on the thirty-edighfh move, after an hour and three-quaa-tars' play. Board 10. A. Ellis v. F. J. Brookor (King's Gambit). — Mr Eclis, on resumption of play, gained an advantage of a bishop a.nd two pawns over his opponent. The game v/as stubbornly contested till midnight, wheat the Canterbury representative resigned. . Board 11. A. King v. W. Roberts (Irregular Of-ening). — With a pawn d-own, Mr King struggled bravci? to score a win, playing a hard gam© throughout, twit up to midnight he was unable to gain a material advantage and generously resigned.