The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-22
AMERICANS In LEAD
PLAY IN THE INTER-UNIyERsIT
CABLE CHESS MATCH PRO-
CROSSING SLOWLY
FIRST WIN BY AN AMERICAN
several Players on Either Side Fail
to Take Advantage of Opportuni-
ties to Improve Positions One
victory Does Not Mean CIincbinr
or the Match-Great Enthusiasm
In London Over Games.

NEW YORK, April 21.-The match
game at chess six boards between
American and British university students
began today. The Americans played at
the Knfckerbocker Athletic club, this
city, and the British contestants sit In
the rooms Of the British Chess club.
Whitehall, London. The moves are re-
corded by cable. The players were
paired as follows: Board 1, FaIk, Col
umbia, versus Tattersall, Cambridge:
6oard q Meyer. Columbia, versus George,
Oxford; Board 8, Arensberg. Harvard.
versus Mclean. Cambridge; Board 4.
COOK. Yale. versus Hurlburt, Oxford;
Board 8. Young, Princeton, versus Ellis.
Oxford; Board 6. Catchings, Harvard.
versus Softlaw, Cambridge
The Americans won the toss and So
lected to play the white men on the odd
numbered boards.
AT the frst table, Falk, of Columbia.
and Tattersall played a regular variation
OF the Ruy Lopez, which did not produce
any striking features in the opening.
eventually, however, the Columbia play
er allowed his opponent to deveIon a
strong attack and after an exchange of
queens 1t seemed to favor the British STU
dent, his pieces being better posted. The
American has good chance for a draw.
AMERICAN FIRST WINNER
The second board deyeloped Kp
gambit between Meyer, Of Columbia and
George, Of Oxford The Englishman did
not show very good judgment in tha
openihs, ana the American gained de-
clded advantage, which he pushed to vic
Wy .ne only game scored in the match
AT the third table Arensberg. of Her-
vard, gained a good attack against M
Lean, OF Cambridge, at the cost
oi double pawn on the K-Kt
NE. Arensberg erred by advancing his
paWns, and compromised his position Ha
iiao cnance to even matters. but over
looked it, and at the adjournment II din
no. LOOK satisfactory for Arensberg.
- me Iourth table Cook, of Yale, was
a. silght disadvantage in the first part
OF MS game with Hurlburt. of Oxford
out managed to even the position. n
was Petroff defense. At the adjourn
.ueiit II looked like draw, though some
thought Cook held the better position.
BRITISH PLAYER ILL.
The fifth table found an irregular OMEN
ing, with Young, of Princeton, against
Ellis, of Oxford. The British PLAYER was
taken Ill during the game, and the Amer
lean umpire cabled that time had been
allowed him, which was assented to by
Young. At the adjournment it looked as
though the American could win.
AT the sixth board Catchings, of Har-
ward, played Petroff against Softlaw
of Cambridge. The American outplayed
his opponent In the first part of the game
and won knight for two pawns. He did
not follow up his advantage, however,
and at the adjournment the Englishman
held the better position.
LONDON, April 21.-Meyer's defeat of
George, Oxford, was heartily cheered,
but 1t was thought that Mclean and
Softlaw stood a chance of winning
The playing generally was considered
below par, and the players were evident
ly tagged, when Lord Crawford cabled
suggesting an adjournment in view of
the impossibility OF finishing tonight.
Messrs. Blackburne and Mortimer cir
cuated about exhorting the contestants
to play up and hurry up"
A large crowd of enthusiasts were pres
ent this evening keenly discussing the
chances.