Chess History And Reminiscences
into significance before these foreign champions who, with the
most commendable energy, combined with unbounded confidence
and assurance, attempt to, and well nigh succeed in placing chess
influence at their feet with a Boss the shows determination openly
and unequivocally expressed. The control of most of the London
chess columns, and a large number of the Provincial is also
in foreign hands and proves a very powerful weapon in advancing
personal interests.
NOTE. The chess of the Daily News, Evening News and Post,
Standard, Field, and Telegraph and nearly all the Provincial
papers are conducted by German players. No leading British
player has a regular chess column.
------
Gunsberg, the elder of the two (slightly it is feared on the wane
though still champion of many columns) and Lasker twenty-four
years of age, still at his height, are both wonderful performers,
and enjoy a vast popularity among their race, and in certain
circles, but in the long run it is not unlikely that either will
feel extremely dissatisfied if he can maintain for half the time
the sustained reputation of the oldest English players who so
contentedly and modestly at present occupy their retired back seats,
and there are not wanting reasons to believe that both Gunsberg
and Lasker became most anxious to enter for the prizes in the
Belfast competition at the very time when it was finally determined
to confine it to four leading national representatives.
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NORTH OF IRELAND (BELFAST) CHESS CONGRESS,
MASTERS' COMPETITION.
The proceedings opened at the Central Hall, Rosemary Street,
Belfast, on Monday, with an admirable address from Dr. Barnett,
who wished the players a happy and harmonious time and
extended to them a hearty welcome.
No.1. Bird against Blackburne offered an Evans Gambit.
This game was the only one played without clocks; both players
seemed at ease, and glad to be free from the formality and
encumbrance of time regulators and it is a happy omen that it
proved one of the most interesting in the programme:
The following is the complete list of the masters' games:
J. H. Blackburne, H. E. Bird, T. J. Lee, and J. Mason
1 Bird Blackburne Evans declined 64 moves Drawn
2 Lee Mason Petroff 75 " Mason
3 Bird Lee Queens Pawn counter 47 " Drawn
4 Blackburne Mason Vienna 44 " Blackburne
5 Lee Blackburne Kt KB3 PQ4 48 " Blackburne
6 Mason Bird KP and QP 62 " Mason
7 Blackburne Bird Ruy Lopez Kt Q5 47 " Bird
8 Mason Lee KP and QP 18 " Drawn
9 Lee Bird PQ4 37 " Bird
10 Mason Blackburne Ruy Lopez 28 " Draw
11 Blackburne Lee Ruy Lopez 43 " Blackburne
12 Bird Mason Two Knights Def 38 " Mason
13 Lee Mason Kt KB3 PKB4 35 " Mason
14 Bird Blackburne KP1 KPB2 42 " Draw
15 Bird Lee KP one 73 " Draw
16 Blackburne Mason Giuoco Piano 30 " Draw
17 Mason Bird Sicilian 27 " Bird
18 Lee Blackburne Four Kts 20 " Draw
No.1 is the best and most instructive; No.17 was the most
lively and entertaining. Of the eight draws, two are legitimate,
the other six being unworthy the name of games.
That Lee when out of the running, directed a care and energy
against Bird which he did not against Blackburne and Mason will
be readily observable by a comparison of the games, especially
No. 9, 15, and 18; in the last he indeed made no attempt to win
at all, and a draw is the utmost he seems ever to have hoped for
in the other.
In the final score Bird, Blackburne and Mason were even in
their play, but Bird only scored 2 out of 3 with Lee, whilst the
others gained 2 1/2 out of 3 against him, this difference of half
a game placed Bird third only.
The two last games, the 17th and 18th, were finished about the
same time; thus, when Bird had won from Mason (doing his best in a
game which in no way effected his position) Blackburne and Lee
agreed to draw, which was a disappointment to the spectators, and
of course, to Bird, who was entitled to, and would have liked to
have seen the game played out.
These games present a very striking contrast. We particularly
commend the last, and the other draw to the consideration of all
who would wish to see chess continued as a noble and worthy
game. Bird by consenting to a draw with Mason could at once
have given him the first prize.
No.17.
Game played in the Masters' Tournament, 23rd September,
1892, between Messrs. James Mason and H. E. Bird:
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