Evening star., 1912-06-30
|DOINGS IN THE DOMAIN OF
CHESS AND CHECKER PLAYERS
ZapoIeon Captures Title at Another Effort to Be Made
the Capital City to Force Lasker to
Club. Play.

While 1t is to be regretted that this
country 2jll have only half OF what
may prous to be the most important in
the second round being destined for
Havana chess players all over the globe
cannot but be elated over the proposed
terms under which this event will be
contested. All chessdom is weary of
Dr. Lasker's tactics in avoiding matches
for his title of champion. and the man.
ayers OF this tournament will make
every effort to bring together the first
twelve chess masters Of the world, In
Guiding Lasker. if he can be brought
to play, under an agreement that the
first four prize winners shall play a
quadrangulaY match. the victor in this
last event to be recognized and pro-
claimed chess champion of the world.
But what seems to US OF even more
value than the determination OF the
championship itself is the project OF
having these twelve masters before the
tourney starts. draw up and sign a set
Of rules under which future matches for
the championship shall be played.
Though 1t may be disputed in sop1e
quarters that "compatition is the life
Of trade" certainly ifis the life OF any
game. and Dr. IAasker's steam roller
methods OF eliminating likely aspirants
for his honors have not helped chess
| nor added to the games popularity. As
stated last week. this plan is the work
fof Jose Capablanca and his manager
r. D. nosssault and We think IT merits
| master and chess Lower.
| This proposed quadrangVlar match Is &
far more satisfactory arrangement than
| Rosebauit's first simple plan Of declar.
ing the winner of the tournament the
worlds champion: for while it would
| seem at first glance that the strongest
player In any chess tournament would
inevitably carry of first honors, there
are many factors aside from actual
chess ability which may decide the con
test in favor of some weaker player
However 1t is improbable, to the point
| Of impossibility, that the strongest o.
twelve players should land lower than
fourth in a two-round tourney, and In
quadrangular match. four games
against each opponent the really best
player must certainly carry off the
| laurels of championship.
In a tournament of this description.
where the players are Of such nearly
equal strength, the most minutely favor
able or unfavorable circumstances affect.
ing any contestant must be reckoned with
In picking probable winner Jose
Capablanca is going to have no incon-
siderable advantage in this great event
from the fact that he is equally at
home in New York and Havana.
rhe young Cuban is a graduate Of
Columbia University. and his marvellous
chess ability was developed in the Man.
haitian Chess Club. His style of play
is fashioned, in great part, upon the
brilliant principles OF Nr. A. w. Fox,
who was at that time making his sem
sational record in the metropolis. Mr.
Fox instantly recognized in Capablanca.
then boy Of seventeen. chess genius
which might one day astonish the
world. like a second Morphy. with
true sportsnanship he cultivated the
friendship of the young student, and
the effect of his teachine, through
countless skittle games, is, as We have
said before. apparent today in the
Cuban's slashing style Of atack.
We do not hesitate to state, without
fear Of contradiction, that no master
since Morphy is SO strong in stimuli
taneous play as Capablanca Here is a
game. one of twenty-eight played sinul-
taneously against the we'll known ex-
pert Ina Nicholson