New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
THE HASTINGS TOURNAMENT

THE HASTINGS TOURNAMENT
ESTIMATES OF THE LEADING PLAYERS
BY THE AMERICAN CHESS CHAMPION.
II. n. Plllsbury in The Saturday Review.
In few days the great international Chess Tour
nament will have come to end. and 1t is not
too much to say that more successful affair.
from start to finish. never took pace. II seems
very likely that a tie for first place may occur.
and II by chance mischance the three leaders
In the competition-Lasker. Tschigorin and Pills
bury-should be even, then the good old town OF
Hastings would witness a three-cornered fight OF
surprising interest While the first three przesare and
practically have been for some time quite assured
to the three leaders. on the other hand, no less
than nine players-Stenitz. DR.. Tarrasch. Wabrodt.
Bardeeben, Sch.echter, Pollock. Gunsberg. Mason.
and Teichmann-are making heroic efforts TO secure
the other four places OF honor 1t seems highly
probable that the first three named will be placed.
but the combat is close that the slightest
may allow the others to creep in ahead Perhaps
to those who are interested in the sense in which
the world is absorbed in watching great conflict,
mental or physical rather than to those who are
closely connected with the game Itself. brief ac-
count OF the various players may be welcome.
SURPRISING NUMBER OF ENTRIES.
When the committee OF the tournament an
nounced that they prepared to receive en-
tries they surprised at the unprecedented
number OF applicants, less than thirty-eight
players OF recognized ability sending in their names.
The management, however deemed 1t essential to
success that the tournament should not last
a month and they felt obliged to limit the number
OF competitors to twenty-five selecting ths2nfter
their strength as PLAYERS ,sv coTn n
the first time in thirtythree years represented by
Nergan who while quite the weakest OF tne Pas
over Gunsberg and Schlechter 1t Is TO be hoped
ternational chess contests, and that me Piayins
ability OF her experts will increase thereby II
seems pity that country which has produced
many great men in every branch OF human en-
deavor should not be on an equality IN regard 10
has done lite in the cause OF our noble game, the
one representative. Janowsk. not being native
Frenchmen in these competitions Is also a matter
OF deep regret on the other hand. Germany, Eng
candidates for high honors and while Russia and
Austria have sent but two each, yet their players
Russia sends the brilliant Tschigorn, whose powers
OF combination are known; ne Is. probably, the
tain OF the leading places, and very likely to
rank first; also Schiners. who, although OF some
OF winning his individual game with Tschigor.n in
very brilliant fashion, From Vienna come Marco
taken much higher rank but for the teachings OF
the N!ennese school, which make them over-cau-
tious: they both naturally play to draw, and only
attempt to win when their opponents give the game
away schlechter has achieved the remarkable
THE GERMAN PLAYERS.
Out OF Germany DR.. Tarrasch, Walbrodt
Bardeleoen and Mieses. The Nuremberg physician
has been successful many OF his admirers
expected. But it should be borne in mind that he
has played in so strong tournament before.
nor indeed has any else. Never before have the
great four-Lasker. Steinitz. Tschgorin and Tar
rasch-met in tournament But Tarrasch was I'M
fortunate in starting; owing TO misunderstanding
doubtless
moderated hts American opponent or late, how
ever, he has shown improved form. and Will proba-
bly, take either fourth nth place. or a genial,
whoe-souled disposition, cannot be surprised
that he has so many friends; -, .,o ,,,,.r.
being barely twenty-three years OF age He is
very small man also, the smallest OF all the com
peitors a player more prosac by far than the
Nurem6erger, but very accurate player, and
very difficult overcome.
Bardeleben started very well in the tournament.
but failed to keep up his score after the eighth
will not be placed az all.
Mieses also started finely, but the pressure of
newspaper correspondence seems to have been too
much for him He Is player Of great promise mise
better were he not overburdened with business
cares.
ENGLANDs REPRESENTATIVES,.
Old England may fairly be proud OF her represen-
tatives, Backburne Bird. Mason. Gunzberg Tins
ley Burn. Teichmann. and lastly. the worlds cham
pion Lasker. Lasker bids fair 10 uphold the honoy
OF his adopted country by winning for It the first
high order OF chess and he has all along displayed
that element OF deadly accuracy which has been.
perhaps, the most important factor in his career
Blackburne has been disappointment 10 native
ment for after all in chess as h IN Ill., the margin
BIRD thu Grand Old Man" of chess who is
enty-four years old, has played in almost every i'm
player but trhe unsound. he is apt to win most
brilliantly from stronger player. or to lose TO
a5I ser to owe oyersss sfhtss or msjudsmens ''
is m Likely to be h pay hsr b ssO
below their previous performances The same
might be said Of Burn although the lack OF serious
Is rising young player and VIII douot:ess De heard
tlous player. and OF great promise Tins.ey probably
will not be placed; he has won several hne games,
R R1: S Seen To- his eWorhy aeo
retical point might here be made-that the four
leaders iscnsonm once sdopted the
French defence Ergo !; must be against ,he,r
fordng a satisfactory game to the second player
sTEINITZ AND OTHER AMERICANS.
In regard to the American players. who has not
heard OF the great Bohemian Caesar" Steinitz for
many years a resident OF London. row resident in
the United States? For twenty-eight years he up
held In match play against Andersen, Zukertort,
Tschgorin, Gunsberg and Backburne the proud
title OF champion OF the world. and when forced TO
so"sf ms eoors 10 yggk sr,s,nIv az me no
in introducing IDEAS into the noble game he
VIII always occupy prominent page IN cness MS,
tory Perhaps age is beginning TO tell on him, and
this may be the reason for his not reaching the
highest place in the tournament. But II his actual
playing powers do not return him. his analytical
powers remain great as ever, an unfaillng source
OF enrichment TO the literature OF chess lie has
been called the master OF modern chess in opposi-
ton to Paul Morphy, and the name is not undo
served Some have taken pleasure In comparing
Paul Morphy and Stcnitz 10 Napoleon and Mo.tke
: opponents OF very different kinds OF strategy.
Like other masters In the past. Morphy hesi-
tated to sacrifice a piece even two In develop
ing some brilliant combination OF attack whereas
Steinltz was among the first 10 insist tina; no ad-
vantage should be given TO ones opponent unless a
positive gain was be the result OF IT, He
has always declared that an infntesimal advantage