GREAT CHESS PLAYERS AT WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1043, 8 September 1883, Page 4

GREAT CHESS PLAYERS AT WORK.

Describing a visit paid to the international chess tournament recently played in London a writer says :—On Mppday I paid my concluding visit to tHp,,Criterion, for it was the last opportunity of seeing all the masters engaged, the reihaining days of fall being demoted’ to the playing off of the vari-ous-drawn games, as I thus looked for. the last time at the various players, ppt help contrasting the scene wi^t^t,.presented in the same room at‘tW-beginning of the fight. Then eapfectation heat high in their breasts, and J; “ hope told its flattering tale ” to willing ears. 'Now the die was almost cast, the conclusion of the whole contest was about at an end, victors and vanquished alike knew with tolerable accuracy their respective positions. Once againdejr-rme jot down* some characteristics' of the players as thus I gaze upon them for the last time. Sleittitz and Mackenzie are engaged in their 1 last struggle, and very noteworthy and characteristic are the diffepsnt, demeanours of the two masters, sits somewhat sideways to the itable, .with his right leg crossed over his left knee. His right arm ' lies negligently upon the table, but it is raised from time to time to remove his cigarette from his lips. His attitude is . at times of rapt attention, for the game is going against him. When he moves a piece, lie>dbes if gracefully and with precision, and the movement is almost invariably followed by a curling wreath of arnoke eniitted.from his lips. It is aldufef impossible to describe the variolis“po;sitions assumed by Stienitz. He is , settling down, fair and square* to the board ; but he leans so far over

his massive head and broad shoulders act' as a perfect screen to those* behind him, and as I happen to be Qpeiof those unfortunates, it is only by, .stretching ,wy neck, now to the right*and; now to the left, that I cattghtsa glimpse of the pieces, even at Mackenzie’s side of the board. Anon he ibises, .slightly from’his chair, and, plaCihg his left leg upon it, gradually pushes it far behind him, still, however, rfistihg his arms outspread upon th'e u ‘table, and his bulky form overshadowing the board. Then he draws the chair towards him again, then pushes it from him, then takes his leg from'it and for a moment stands, but Uoterect, but bent and almost sprawl-' ihJj|oyer the board, as with intense interest he f makes up his mind to.a.certain » cdrhbinatxon. This done,- he leave? the board for a time, Whilst Mackenzie moves, but only to return and perform* a similar series of manoeuvres aSUirf' kijd again; If I were to sumnraiffse’the (wb men, I would.apply the \?ord 7 { ” to Mackenzie, and ‘Strength” to Steinitz. The game was agßuy Lopezi. opened by Steinitz, who early won a Pawn - and though Mackenzie afterwards recovered it, it was aFiHe ekpens.e pf apposition' which.gave hftn a lost gaifce. . Very noticeable! ,alsoV, was the contrast between Blaqkburhe and Engiisch. The great Englishman sat with both his elbows resting on the table, his head supported by his upraised bands, arid his hat pushed slightly back from his forehead, amf with an abstract and dreamy look iar.his .eyesj JLugligch on the other hand, is lively and mercurial. Some tjas said he does everything with a jerk ; arid this is very true. He sits down-With. ;a' jerk, he rises up with a jerk ; his pieces pop . across the board with a jerk; and as for the jerk with which.*,he captures a piece, it must be seertHo be understood. It is the fire of repressed energy that is in him which must find verit, somehow, or I believe

he would go /off like a bottle of overheady“Bass.” The game was a * Giuoco Piano, and at one time it lp|}k£d as if Englisch could force, a b'ut Blackbume was never, afraid, for he saw his way at any time to force a block, and this at length happening, the gdfoU was drawn. *