THE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1716, 20 August 1879, Page 3

THE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

Last evening play commenced in earnest at the Government Buildings. The arrangements of the umpires of the evening (Dr. Ellis and Mr Pinkstone) haring been completed, they paired off tho combatants as follows :—Mr Hay, Dunedin, against Mr Hookham, of Christchurch ; Mr Jacobsen, Christchurch, against Mr Janion, West Coast; Rev. Mr Ash, Clyde, against Mr E. Bray. Tho public and chess amateurs showed much interest, and a large number were present. Mr Hay dashed off with the king’s gambit, which Mr Hookham “declined with thanks.” Steady play set in, and the Dunedin player showed he was no mean antagonist. After some give and take moves, the man from down South was having the best of it. Mr Jacobsen played off with tho much dreaded King Lopez, and aeon extracted a pawn from his opponent. Lively skirmish was the order of this game, and the result loft the West Coast champion with his pawns on two doubles. This made defence difficult, and he played very hard. Ultimately he had to lose a rook, yet he still clung to his game to the 68th move, when he cried “ enough.” Mr Ash opened up the Scotch gambit, and soon obtained a very fine position, but after tho 10th move the Christchurch representative began to turn bis attention to pawn play, and soon his opponent lost two pawns. Mr Ash allowed his opponent to push a pawn to its 7th, which being supported, would ultimately obtain a queen, so Mr Ash resigned on the 28th move.