The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-11
YANKEES AGAINST BR|TONS
INTERNATIONAL CHESS CON
TEST BY CABLE.
Magnificent Newnes Trophy Is the
stake-Americans Have Advan-
tage On First Days Playing.

Nev York, March 1e.-For the fourth
time in the history of chess, players of
this country contested a match on ten
boards against the best recognized
players of Great Britain. The contest,
as were the previous ones, is being
played for a magnificent trophy pre-
scented by Sir George Newnes, president
Of the British Chess club. London.
The first match, in 1896, was won by
the Americans. but the second and
third matches, played in 1897 and 1885,
were won by the Britishers. The con-
test begun today was all the more i'm
portant because another victory for the
Britishers would have won for them
the trophy. Many metropolitan experts
were present in the assembly room of
the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where
this end of the match was played, I'M
der the auspices of the Brooklyn Chess
club. There were at least 400 persons
present. The players were seated on a.
big platform facing the spectators, and
above them were suspended ten giant
chess boards with movable pieces, and
as soon as a move was made, either in
Brooklyn or at the Hotel Cecil, London,
where the match is being played under
the auspices of the British Chess club,
it was repeated on the giant boards, to
enable the spectators to follow the
progress of the game from move to
move. The operators and the repre-
sentatives of the press were placed in a
room adjoining the big hall, close to
the players. No time was lost in re-
peating the moves for the press and
spectators.
The even numbered players of the
American team had the first move and
the odd-numbered players on the Brit
ism side also played the white pieces.
Play began at 10 o'clock. Pillsbury
played a two-knights defense against
Blackburn. The latter tried to force
matters by an attack, but Pillsbury was
all there and the positions remained
even when the game adjourned, after
thirty-two moves.
On the second table. Showalter played
a Spanish game against Atkins. The
latter selected a variation favored by
Steinitz. Eventually the Kentuckian
seemed TO get the position and he kept
it up to the time of adjournment, when
thirty-two moves had been made.
Another Ruy Lopez was played on
the third table by Lawrence against
Barry. The Bostonian adopted the Ber-
liner defense and managed to get fine
game by subsequent fine strategy. At
the time of adjournment, and when
Barry seated his thirty third move, the
experts present thought he should win
tomorrow.
nuy Lopez No. was played on the
fourth board. This time the champion
of the Manhattan Chess club, Hodges,
tried Spanish tactics against Jackson.
The Englishman selected a F1anchette
defense, made famous by Pillsbury. In
the course Of subsequent play the
American established a very fine posi-
ton, and when the game was adjourn
ed, after 20 moves, Hodges was put
down as a winner tomorrow.
Hymes, on the fifth table, had also
to contend against Lopez against the
Scotch champion, Mills. The latter won
a pawn, and had slightly the better po
sition. An interesting end game is
looked for on the resumption of plaV
tomorrow. Thirty-seven moves were
made in this game.
Jacobs, who played a center counter
gambit against Voigt, got the worst of
the struggle, and a win for the Ameri-
can player is anticipated. In this game
thirty three moves were mape.
On the seventh table, still another
Ruy Lopez was played between Locock
and Johnson. In this game there We're
many ups and downs First the one and
then the other seemed to have the adj
vantage, and just at the time of adj
joUrnment the game was drawn, after
thirt:r-one moves.
snail l1lc youngest plolJ ti VI lllt
team, the champion of the Brooklyn
Chess club, and one of the most prom
ising players of the metropolis, opened
with his favorite, P. Q. 4, against VAIN
wright on the eighth table Marshall
played a very brilliant game, and al
though he weakened at one stage of the
contest, he managed to come out with
a good position shortly before the adj
journment Thirty-two moves We're
made in this game.
Beliinghanl's Ruy Lopez on the ninth
board against Newman was a success.
Twenty-eight moves were made on this
board.
On the tenth table the Spanish game
was played by Baird against Trench
ard. At first the Britisher had decid-
edly the better position. In the middle
game stage, however, the American
played good chess and evened up the
position. Thirty-three moves were re-
corded.
1t will thus be seen that the chances
for the Americans to win the contest
and the trophy are very bright, and
only a miracle seems to be able to save
the Britishers from disaster tomorrow.
cENATan TONEc, TTrMEcc