Wallace-Esling 1895 Australian Championship Match

In 1895, Frederick Esling (recognised as the first Australian chess champion) challenged Albert Edward Wallace (who was the reigning Australian chess champion) to a match for the title. It was played in Melbourne between 8 June and 4 July, and aroused great interest at the time. Wallace narrowly won, winning seven games and losing five, with four draws.

THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ESLING V WALLACE

MATCH

The deposits to bind this match having been placed in the hands of the stakeholder and referee, Mr. Burns, and all the preliminary arrangements completed, the match will commence on Saturday, the 8th inst., at 2 p.m.

A suitable room has been secured at the Athenaeum, Collins-street, for the accommodation of the players, and another large room adjoining, in which the course of the play can be followed on a duplicate board by the members of the club, and such visitors as shall be entitled to the entree.

Play will be continued on three days in each week at afternoon and evening sittings till the conclusion of the match.

The conditions are similar to those in the last match for the Australian championship between Messrs. Crane and Wallace.

The stakes are £25 a side.

The player who first scores seven games is to be declared the winner.

The time limit is 15 moves an hour, and after three games have been drawn other draws are to count half a game to each player.

The match is exciting considerable interest not only in the colonies, but in England and America, and the leading chess columns there have made arrangements for obtaining copies of the games at the earliest date.

- Leader (Melbourne, Vic.) Sat 8 Jun 1895 Page 34

Match Score:-

Wallace

½ 1 1 1 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 1 0 1 0 0 ½ 1 +7 =4 -5

Esling

½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 0 ½ 0 1 0 1 1 ½ 0 +5 =4 -7

Running Total

Wallace

0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 5.5 6.5 6.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 8.0 9.0 (9/16)

Esling

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 7.0 7.0 (7/16)