The Minneapolis journal., 1901-11-30
News of Chess World.

American Champion Harry N. Pillsbury
ls scheduled for two big matches perhaps
S9e S1e4t most important match events in Chess
history, considering the fame and skill Of
the players, the importance OF the titles in
vowed and the great chess interest that has
been aroused during the past ten years. Early
In January he plays John +. Barry, Of Bost-
ton, match in response to the latters chal-
lenge to determine the American champion
ship, the stake being $4,000. Following that
Will come the match with Lasker for the
worlds championship, in which the purse is
said to be 5,000 which is the largest ever
yet hung up at a chess match. 1t is prob
able that these matches will bring out the
finest samples Of modern chess yet pro-
duced. In the first place, match play in
vartably yields better chess than tournament
play, inasmuch as 1t is free from the excite
ment and hurly-burly, not to mention the
mental and physical exhaustion, which un-
avo1dably accompanies long-drawn- out con-
test with twenty to forty participants. Again,
the past ten years have witnessed the greatest
development in chess science of any period
in the game, and Lasker, Pillsbury and Barry
are not only three Of the greatest experts the
world has produced in board play, but are
students and discoverers in the science of
the game. The games in these two matches
may or may not rival those of the Morphy
matches in brilliant coups, but they undoubt
edly will be finer exhibitions of sound chess
and OF greater value in advancing the science
of the game. At the same time, the coming
contests are certain to produce briltancies to
fascinate the lovers of pyrotechnics, for all
three OF the contestants, the two Americans
in particular are noted for surprise parties in
their campaign maneuvers. These Pillsbury
matches will be welcomed by the chess world
on both sides of the Atlantic, as there have
been few great matches Of the kind in the
past few years, since SteinitZ, next to Morphy
the worlds greatest match player, passed
from the arena.
The new chess club which is being or
ganiZed under Y. NJ G. A. auspices in st.
Paul seems assured of success. Besides a
large number of new players who are not
members Of the old club-the st. Paul Chess
and Whist Club, Of long standing-the new
club has the support Of most of the old play
ers such as Jellette, Spencer, Hillman, Bu-
ford, Macleod, Bigelow, Sommers, Taylor,
Chaplin, Hill and Hagerman. The latter,
who has been instrumental in the organiza-
tion of the new club, has something like
thirty players who have placed their names
on his membership roll.
The British Chess Magazine announces that
in It's December issue 1t will give full par
ticulars of its forthcoming problem tourney.
The prizes will be 8, 8 and guineas, re-
spectively, for first, second and third. The
Mackenzie problem, which received first prize
in the tourney just closed, is pronounced by
the judges ''the finest three-mover OF modern
times" The problem editor of the British
Chess Magazine does not entirely agree to
this verdict, but accepts 1t with the amend
ment: "The finest three-er of modern times
without white queen"
The Steinitz memorial volume, containing
100 pages, in all, seventy Of his greatest
games, played against forty-f1ve opponents,
has finally appeared and Is well worthy Of a
place in the library of every chess player.
Only 1922 was realized from the advance sub
scriptions, which, at $3.50 per volume, would
imply only 148 advance subscribers. G. P.
Putnam's Sons, publishers, were guaranteed
the cost of the first edition of 1,500. the New
York Staats Zeitung taking 100 copies and
Michael Van Gelder, Of the Manhattan Chess
Club, agreeing to stand good for the publish
ers' cost for the balance, should the chess
public fall short in purchases. 1t is prob
able, however, now that the book is on the
market, that the liberal guaranty Of Mr..
Van Gelder will not be called upon. The
value Of the book, not to mention the SYM
pathy Of the chess world for Mrs. Steinitz
and children, to whose support the royalties
go, will undoubtedly sell the edition.
The score up to last Saturday in the Man
haitian Chess Club championship placed Frank
Marshall far in the van, Simonson second.
with Hodges and Finn close up, and the vet
eran Delmar and Halpern lingering around
the sixth place. as witness: