New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-10
STEINITZ AND TSCHIGORIN.
THEIR CHESS CONTEST AT HAVANA.
sKEToHEs OF THE CHAMPIONS THEIR

SKETCHES OF THE CHAMPIONS - THEIR
METHODS AND ACHIEVEMENTS.
There has not been time in a great many years
when there great interest taken in the
game OF chess as The present. and the presence oil
tho champions Of three countries Mackenzie, OF Great
Britain; Tschgonn, Of Russia. aud stcinitz, Of tho
United States, at Havana, during series of twenty
games by steintz and Tschigorin, greatly increases
the Interest taken In tho game, both by professional
and amateur players. The contest at Havana has
been In progress for three weeks, three games being
played each week, one on each Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday, and hereafter will also be played
on Sunday. Up to last night, of tho ten games
that had been played, steiniz had won six and
1schgorln four. Stelnitz has never been Deaten III
a match game, and ia proportion to the number OF
games played be has lost many as In the
present contest, this statement applying OF course
to Individual contests and not to tournaments
Steintz and Tschigorln have never met IN match
before although they both played at the Vienna Con-
gIess 10 1882, where the Russian, although sNh OF
seventh In the tournament, made even games with
Mr. steiniH who tied for first and second prizes win
wiDawer.. One year later they again met at the
London Congress, and although steiniz won the sec
ond prize and Tschigon got the fourth, the Russian
both the games played with steinits The re-
suit Of the contest thus far has been DISAPPOINTMENT
t. the friends Of Steioz IN this city, for althougn
they knew that the Russian was strong player,
Stenitz is considered welnigh invncibe IN eohtsO
OF tnlS hHu LIS uIeHluS Hleiu1hh uioN 49, -N
to win of the games is due I'm large measure
TO the fact that he has been using opening recently
adopted by him that Is not as strong as those ne
usually employs, but that he is so tenacious ana I'M
willing to give up idea until Its impracticabiity
Is established without doubt thai be has Injured
his record In this by his stubborness They have
no doubt, however, that he viii ultimately WIN
The contest was brought about through the efforts
| of the Havana Chess Club. The members pay the
expenses OF both from NewYork to havana
and return and their expenses while there twenty
dollars is paid to the winner for each game and $40
| TO the loser, while In case OF draw each player
gets SIS. 1t Is also understood that there Is Sooo
a side put up by the friends Of the players, which
will 90 to the winner of the series Tschigorn Is
comparatively Young man. being only thirtysix years
old He is highly educated and is In the diplomatic
service of Russia He does not speak English, but
speaks French Auenty and German moderately Wei
short In stature and compactly built he mas darh
hair and black flashing eyes The Russian cham
pion's style OF playing is remarkably orlnahI MS
first appearance In the European chess arena was
| I'm the tournament at Berla In 1881, when he won
the fourth prize. In 1882 he played at the vienna
Congress- where, before mentioned DO met e'e'ni1'
and in their personal encounters made even games
with him and again, year later, he played at the
London Congress- where no beat stelniu ooth games
| In which they met. The supremacy OF b. Feter-
| burg I'm the respondence match against LONDON
| which was terminated In the early part OF 1902
was chiefly credited to his analytical powers. lie
came to this country for the first time when ne ar
rived here on January his way TO Havana he
stayed here until the twelfth Of the same month, ana
during his short visit went to the rooms OF the
| principal chess clubs and made many acquaintances
among cbess-playe in this CITY, IL Is expectea tnde
no Will return here take part in the great inter-
national tournament of the Sixth American Chess Oou
gress which IS TO meet in this city on March 70
Chesspayers in this city, well as In Europe, arc
familiar with the short figure blond beard ana har'
immense head and nmping gait Of William Steinitz,
| tho Editor Of The International Chess Magazine,
and the champion chess player OF the world. he
was born at Prague about fifty years ago came 70 tne
United States about 1882 is now nsturaized cltEeh
Of this country and has voted several times In BrOoA
lyn. where he lives. HIS ability as chess-player
began 10 be recognized when he played In the 'ehns
local tournament in 1885, Some years later he went
| 10 England and contributed chess column TO Inc
London Fieds for many years. continuing his connec
ton with that Journal until no came to this country
During all this time he took part in many tournaments
| and uriyate matches As a tournaments player, ote
niz has better record than any other pIayer, n h
or dead His ability began to DC recognizes sOV VL
| Tho tIme Of Morphy's retirement ana ne Iooh lue
| istterJs ulace as champion Of the world. Yet tWo
ebampiong were never more totally dlnerent IN t1elr
| methods. In comparing Morphy and steln1 IL ma
beea sad Morphy learned to mSv oiDtz ougbi his
heat the world at twenty one. eelnlh Iousus us
| ~ bis present emlnence"