THE CONSULTATION CHESS MATCH.

Kumara Times, Issue 617, 19 September 1878, Page 2

THE CONSULTATION CHESS MATCH.

The match at chess between three playera of Stafford Town and three of the Borough of Kumara, in consultation, took place last night, at Rugg'B Hotel, and, we regret to say, came to a somewhat abrupt termination, owing to two disputes, in which Kumara, in the first instance, sent a move insufficiently described ; and subsequently the Stafford players made a similar omission. Kumara won the toss for choice of first move, and opened the game in the usual way (P to K 4), which the visitors responded to by playing the Sicilian defence (P to Q B 4). The game continued very even and well-contested, the Kumara players gaining the best position ; at the 29th move, however, they forwarded one (Kt takes P) which admitted of two interpretations: the move should have been written Kt takes Q P, as it could be read Kt takes Kt P, though the former was so obvious that they omitted to mention which P the Kt would take. Now, as the parties were bound by the rules of the game as found in Staunton's Olieas Praxis, the Stafford players resolved, by Rule 8 we suppose, for playing the game by "correspondence," to adopt the interpretation of the move thus insufficiently described, which way they pleased, and so made it (P takes Kt P) contrary to the move actually made on the board—a meaning which it would be obvious to any tyro in chess was never intended. The Kumara players contended that they were bound more by the rules for playing the game by "consultation," which state that " Each party must be bound by the move communicated to the adversary, whether it be made on the adversary's board, in writing, or by word of mouth. If the move so communicated should prove to be different from that actually made on the party's own board, the latter must be altered to accord with the former;" and they claimed that their move on the board was in accord with the move communicated, to which the Stafford umpire was a witness, and that the move should therefore stand. After much discussion—warm, but not illtempered—and the umpires not agreeing, it was decided, under appeal, to proceed with the game, the move to remain as on the board. After four or five moves had been made on each.side, another hitch occurred, the Stafford players making a

precisely similar insufficiently-described), move, which, bearing two the Knmara team, adopting the principle of their opponents, insisted on interpret mg to their own advantage, and by which the latter would doubtless have lost the game, involving as the move did, the Ipsa of a valuable piece (a rook). In iheJsrst case the loss to the Kumara team would not have been so serious (a knight for two pawns). And now the Stafford players fell back on their first protest, and both parties claiming the game, the proceedings were thus brought to a very unsatisfactory conclusion. It is doubtful if ever the match will be played out, as no provision has been made for its resumption. As we stated yesterday, the representatives for Stafford were Messrs Cross, Pierson, and Palmer; Mr Brookfield, umpire. Messrs Janion, Wiesner, and Petrie for Kumara; Mr Ball, umpire. The match was conducted in two separate well-lighted rooms at RuggVHolsel, and everything was done by the host to ensure the comfortandconvenience of the players.. There were many visitors, most of whom watched the progress of the game.with much apparent interest. The proceedings were not over until an e#fly hour this' morning. We purpose publishing the game to-morrow. ; ■