WONDERFUL CHESS PLAYING

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3542, 3 May 1880, Page 2

WONDERFUL CHESS PLAYING

la the parlours of the Manhattan Chess Club, on Thursday evening, there was aa unusually interesting exhibition of skill, which attracted a number of chessplayers in addition to the members. Capt. G. H. Mackenzie engaged 19 players at once. The intention was to hare 20 games made, bat the 20th man was not found bold enough to enter the lists. Tables were set in a hollow square, in the centre of which the champion took his position. On the outside were seated Messrs Stamper, Ward, Bledom, Gedalia, Nye, and other well-known players, who ventured the trial against one-nineteenth of the captain* powers. The openings were made rapidly in the usual way, and the interest or the game was speedily developed. The captain moved rapidly from board to board, evidently taking the position of each game as a separate problem each time he turned to it. Whether he thus studies a series ' of problems, or whether he kept tIRH9 games in his head as games, the rapidity of his play was equally marvelous. In almost every case a glance was enough, and frequently when his opponent, having anticipated his move, made the next at' once, the -captain as he moved away from the board pade the next movement without an instant's pause. The number of the games rapidly decreased after an hour* the most of them being won by Captain Mackenzie. Mr Gedalia and Mr Nye won, but the others went down one by one. The last game was finished at s quarter to 12 p.m., or three hours and three-quarters! time. Captain Mackenzie won 15 out of the 19 games, Mr Nye and Mr Gedalia each winning one, And Mr Ward and Mr Pollock obtaining each a draw.—New York Herald.