CHESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2145, 11 May 1914, Page 8

CHESS

TELEGRAPHIC MATCH

Tlie amiunl ten-a-sido telegraphic chess [ mateii. tK-twDcii Wellington and Canterbury lias been set down to bo played on the evenings of May 23 nud 30. »U: W. M. Mason, the present New Zealand champion, captains Wellington, ami Mr, E. 11. Sevens, tho presitlent of the Canterbury Chess Club, captains tho Canterbury team. Mr. Severno passed j through "Wellington on his way to Auckland on Wednesday last, and advantage of this was taken to commence his yanw with Masou. Whan piny adjourned- that day tiio forec-s ot f.rath men were equal, each having two minor pieces and scren pawns. Unless Air. Mason's further efforts to make his Knight- tell against Mr. SereniD'a Bishop are suecessfnl, the game will probably end in a di'ttu-. Tho play in this game will be resumed when Mr. Severne returos from Auckland. Mr. Severne wo.n the toss between tlic two captains, ami Canter* bury will have the first move cm the odd bostrd numbers. WELLIXGTON SOUTH CLUB. At tho recent annual meeting of tbe Wellington South Chess Club regret was expressed that there had been very few ladder matches during tlie past .vrar. This is to bo rectified during the comI ing season, sis 110 few?! , than seven i challenges have heeu issued tho [ past fortnight. These are as fellow:-— I'isrchase to Atten, Harper to Annstrong; Thompson to Peiroti, Weine to Lone.v, Bcrrj- to Clark, Booth to Bland, and Do'j/jlas to Lfiwtoii. Ti\e first p;amo iti tho niatcli between Purchase and Allen, which involves the championship of the c-lub, was appropriately drawn, after each player Mad in turn'held tlie advantage. The first gamo for rimg three (Hnrper and Armstrong) was also drawn. Til© second ended iii favour of Harper. These matches will be continued on Friday evening. Over half the members of tlie club nre engaged bow in Jaddor contests, and the results will be of no small assistance to tlie handicapping committee during the season. ST. ■PETEESBURG™CH.VMPIONSiIJT. are now 'coming to hand, at regular intervals, in regard to tho great international tournament which commenced at St. Petevsbarg 011 April -0. As those who fellow the gaffio know, chess has niado tremendous strides in Russia during tire past 20 years. In 1690 Kussia only had three players entitled to rank as, wasters— to-day _sho < lias 25, a number tbat is oftiy slightSy exceeded by Germany diid Austria, and. not, even remotely npproaehed by any other country, 'it was therefore natural that tiro Russian Chess Association, in celebrathie its jubilee, should hit upon the idoa.*of holding a big international townainoat. Tlie re-j suit Jias been ail that could he desired, I for it is generally conceded that tlioj tournament now in progress is the most ■ important of all tinies. All the lealling iwasters of the .day aro participating,; mcludma tlic world champion, Pr. Las- ! Icor, When two full rounds af<x completed tho four highest players urts to contest a further round to decide tho prizes, which are 12G0, 900, 500, and 800 roubles respectively. The Tsar has donated 100Q roubles to the prize fund. (A roubi-s is equal in ,vaiue t-o 2s. l-jd.) It is proposett to pit the winner of the tournament against Dr. Laslcer, for tie world's chiimptonship. Tiio cable roessago, published on Saturday stated that the first naif of the tournament was concluded, with Capablanoa (the Cuban prodigy*, 25 years of age) leading, with ::■ score of 8 wins, the next best'lein*Lasker and Ma-rcescJi, each <J|; Aleehiii and Marshall, each 6. It is not clear i JvlretheT Marcescli should road Tarroseh (the Gorman champion), or Moroczy ftlw> Hungarian cljampron).. -Alochin is the youngest of Russia's 27 masters, and is sencrally regarded as liest best to Ku-beins-tein and Bcrnstciii. Marshall it the welt-known American champion.