Evening star., 1909-03-07
CLOSE FINISH
IN CHESS CONTESTS
Interior and Agriculture En-
gage in Crucial Match.
Rice Gambit Tourney
Entries.

The three leaders In the Departmental
Chess League team championship-Inte-
rior. Agriculture and Government Printing
Ofice-are locked together in the closing
stages of the contest in such a way that
it is uncertain which will be the final
victor. Interior and Agriculture have
each two matches to finish, while Govern
rnent Printing Office has only one. but the
present score Is so close that the results
OF these unfinished matches can be fig
ured out to give a win to any one OF the
teams named.
The pending match between Agricul-
ture and Government Printing Office has
been advanced somewhat since last
weeks report, but 1t cannot be finally
decided until the postponed game be-
tween Roberts and Graham is completed.
1t may be remembered that the only
game brought to an issue in this match
last week was that between Zapoleon and
ArendS. which the former won for Agri-
culture. Since then Mccormick Of Print
ing Office defeated Huntington Of Agri-
culture in loosely played game on the
part of the latter wherein Mccormick 9
bishops figured strongly in a bottling up
process. Later on Hitchcock placed Agri-
culture ahead by winning his postponed
ending with kistler, although the latter
promised position. Agriculture therefore
Lave draw in hand. but rot much can
now be said about their winning pros
pects. as the adjourned position between
Roberts and Graham Is in q critical
stage. The pieces and pawns are even:
queens. rocks and one minor piece are
on the board. however, SO there is op-
portunity for considerable play before
the end is reached.
One of the crucial matches OF the sea-
fon took place last Monday between In
terror A and Agriculture. The champion
interiors have occupied the leading place
! Ia the team race for several weeks past
although their position has always been
rneBaced by Government Printing Office
and Agriculture. their nearest competitors.
Prior 10 the match I'm question the In
teriors were full point ahead, so their
chances OF being three times champions
of the league appeared rosy. Three games
were completed in the match. Of which
Agriculture won two. Play on the first
board between ZapoleOn and Walker has
not yet taken place. Pratt of Interior
had the white pieces on board and Hunt
ington met his attack with the two
knights defense. a fine game ensued.
which remained about even right up to
the ending of rook and pawns. At this
point Huntington precipitated matters by
making a fatal slip, and Pratt scored first
blood for Interior.
The contestants on board were Rob-
erts and Boykin. The former essayed the
Vienna game and soon obtained an eX-
celent development of his forces. Some
pretty complications occurred In the mid
die game, when Boykin tried to relieve
the situation by attempting a combina-
iion involving the exchange of queens. He
overlooked a check. however, and came
out with a piece down. after which his
game was irretrievably crippled and he
had to succumb to superior force.
Hitchcock Beats Landers.
The remaining board was occupied by
Hitchcock and Landers. The former
varied the usual procedure by accepting
the latter's offer of the queens gambit,
which under certain conditions Is con-
sidered quite risky. Landers, however,
was rather too venturesome In his at
tack and had rather the worst Of the ex-
changes which took place subsequent to
the opening stage. Nevertheless he played
IA good uphill game and was only beaten
after a prolonged fight. The fate OF the
match therefore depends upon the out
come of the duel between Zapoleon and
Walker. This will be a battle OF the
champions and no doubt the game of the
season.
Bursley of the Independent Bureaus
team and Tupper OF Treasury had = stifl