The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-22
Championship Between United
States and. Great Britain
to be Decided.
PLAY OPENED N NEW YORK
CITY THIS. MORNING
Prize is $1,000 Challenge Cup Present.
cd by Sir George Newnes-Match IS
Being Conducted by Cable-Harry
Pillsbury, Now Dead. Formerly Lead
the American Teams.

Associated Press to The Evening Tines.
New York, Feb. 22.-Chessplayers
the world over have been looking for
ward with keen interest to the inter-
national championship between Great
Britain and the United States, which
opened today. The prize is the $1,000
challenge cup presented by Sir George
Newnes some years ago and which has
been contested for in nine previous
matches played by cable by the City
Of London Chess club and the Brook
lyn Chess club, which is now the
holder of the trophy. The only condi-
lions attached to the trophy are that
the winning country must defend the
cup against challengers, and that the
players shall be natives of their coun-
tries.
The quarters of the London club
and the American club were connect
ed by cable this morning. The rooms
OF the club were thronged by enthus-
iastic chess players. The British
team, all being active players and
none held in reserve, is as follows:
j. H. Blackburne, England's champion
'blindfolded chess player; H. E. Atkins,
one Of the veteran players of Great
Britain; Amos Burn, DR.. H. Holmes.
I. F. Lawrence, F. ]. Lee, R. P. Mich
ell, G. w. Richmond, H. w. Shoesmith,
and w. Ward all of them amateurs
OF recognized strength and with one
or two exceptions players who have
had experience in prior cable chess
matches.
The American team, so far as past
records are concerned, is not up to
the standard of strength of the Amer
lean teams in former years. In the
years that this country successfully
defeated the Britishers and won the
Newnes trophy the team was headed
by the peerless Harry N. Pillsbury,
now dead. Then two of the fore
most living players are absent from
the team. Frank ]. Marshall, prob
ably the foremost American expert,
is prevented from joining the team
by his championship match with Los
ker, and Walter Penn Shipley of Phil
adelphia, is prevented from taking
part by business engagements. The
team is further weakened by the alb
sence Of Jackson w. Showalter of
Kentucky, who for some years held
the championship of the United States
and took part in all of the previous
international matches.
Despite the absence of these sew
eral noted players the personnel of
the American team does not lack
strength and the outlook for victory
is far from hopeless. One of the
strongest players Of the team is Geo.
H. Wolbrehct of St. Louis, who last
year won the championship of the
Western Chess association. Another
prominent player upon whom great
reliance is placed is John F. Barry of
Boston, who has been prominent in
the game ever since he held the Co.
lumbia college championship years
ago.
The signal to begin play this morn
ing was given promptly at 9 o'clock,
New York time. The London play is
being carried on in the large club
room of the Common Street hotel. The
cable, and telegraph wires making d.
rect connections aggregate nearly
5000 miles. but, Notwithstanding this
great distance. the players are brought
as close together as though they were
sitting face to face. There was an
intermission of one hour for luncheon:
Play was resumed at z p. M, to con-
tinue until p. m. II the match is
unfinished tonight, as will most likely
be the case, the play will be continued
and concluded tomorrow.