A match for the chess championship of Australasia was commenced in Gunsler's Cafe, Pitt-street, [Sydney] last night. The contestants are Mr. William Crane, jun., the present holder of the coveted honour, and Mr A. E. N. Wallace, a player who has achieved considerable distinction in the chess circles of the United Kingdom.

During his brief sojourn in the Antipodes Mr Wallace has won the chess championship of Queensland. Recently he has taken up his residence in this colony.

1. The stakes shall be £25 a side, and the match to be for the championship of Australia.

2. The player who first wins seven games shall be declared the winner of the match. Drawn games not to count until after five games have been drawn; any game thereafter drawn to count as half a win to each player.

3. The time limit shall be 15 moves an hour, and time shall be kept by one set of double stop clocks, which are to be tested by the umpires before the match begins.

4. The days and hours of play shall be Tuesday and Saturday in each week, from 6.30 p.m. to 10.45 p.m.

5. An engagement to play shall be binding, unless reasonable notice and explanation be given for any postponement required, and failure to give such notice shall be deemed forfeiture, except in cases of accident or sudden illness. At the time fixed for play, if either of the players is absent, his clock shall be set going, except in such cases provided for above.

6. No game shall be adjourned until after four hours' play, except by mutual consent of the players.

7. An adjourned game shall be finished before a new game is started, but either player may decline to begin a new game after 8.30 p.m.

8. The stakeholder and referee shall be Mr. H. W. Apperly.

9. That Mr. P M Scott be umpire for Mr. Crane, and Mr. J. L Jacobsen umpire for Mr. Wallace.

10. The games shall be played at Gunsler's Cafe, Pitt-street, Sydney, within a partition which shall only be accessible to the players, umpires, and referee.

11. Tickets of admission to the match shall be signed by the umpires, and may be cancelled at any time at the request of the umpire of either player.

12. The spectators shall be requested to keep strict silence, and to refrain from any applause or signs of disapproval.

13. Neither player shall absent himself from the room during the hours appointed for play except for a reasonable time, to be agreed upon by the umpires.

14. The player whose turn it is to play shall remain near the board, but his opponent may move about inside the partition reserved for the players at such distance from the board as shall be fixed by the umpires.

15. The player whose turn it is to move at the time of adjournment shall enclose his move in an envelope, which shall be sealed and handed over to the referee; the move thus made shall be written in ink in words.

16. Either player who shall analyse a pending game by himself over the board, or with others even without the board, shall forfeit such game.

17. The games of this match shall be governed by the code of laws published in Lowenthal's book of the London Chess Congress of 1862, with the exception that if either player repeat the same move three times in succession, then his opponent may claim a draw.

Prior to the Adelaide Chess Congress of 1887 there was no recognised chess champion of these colonies. In that year Mr H. Charlick became the first holder of the title [*] defeating among other well-known exponents of the game, Messrs. Gossip and Heiman of Sydney, Esling und Tullidge of Melbourne, and Hookham of Canterbury (N.Z.).

Mr. Crane was unable to take part in the congress abovenamed, but in the following year, when a congress was held in Melbourne, he met and defeated Mr. Charlick after a severe contest. Among the unsuccessful competitors were Messrs. Tullidge and Stanley of Melbourne, and Brockelbank and Hay of New Zealand.

Since this event Mr. Crane's possession of the title has been unchallenged until a few weeks since, when the present match was projected.

It may be interesting to many to know that the present champion is a native of the colony, where he has participated in chess rivalry with such marked success that he has for many years past been regarded as one of the leading players of Australia.

Mr. Wallace who is a native of Dublin, has graduated in chess in an excellent school. Notwithstanding his youth, he has a command of the game which has enabled him to distance many talented aspirants to the chess championship of the North of Ireland.

<3...Nf6>

The text move, or 3... P to Q R 3 is considered to be the best defence.

<4...Nxe4>

Also best.

<5.Re1>

5. P to Q 4 is frequently played at this stage.

<6...dxc6>

Superior to 6... Kt P takes P.

<7.Nxe5>

Much better than 7. R takes P.

<8.Qe2>

White now threatens 9. Kt takes Q B P.

<9...Nf5>

Black might easily have gone astray here - e.g., if 9... castles, or B to B 3, 10. Kt takes K B P, &c.

The move adopted (Kt to B 4) is the only correct play.

<10.Qe4>

This permits black to free his game.

<10...Qd4>

A natural move, but inferior to 10... Q to Q 4.

<11.Nc3>

Because white might now have won position by the following continuation: - 11. Kt takes Q B P ; Q takes Q ; 12. P takes Q ; P takes Kt ; 13. P takes Kt ; B takes P ; 14. P to B 3 with the better game.

<(11.Nxc6 Qxe4 12.dxe4 bxc6 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.c3)>

click for larger view

<12.Rxe4>

Best, as it stops Kt to Q 5.

<15.Nxg5>

(30 min.)

<15...Nd4>

(1 hour)

<16.Nxe6>

The exchange of pieces seems to foreshadow the draw.

<18.Rc1>

If 18. Kt to K 2 ; Kt takes P ; 19. R to B sq ; R takes P, and white cannot safely take the Kt.

<(18.Ne2 Nxc2 19.Rc1 Rxd3)>

click for larger view

<19.Re3>

(68 min.)

Here, also, if 19. Kt to K 2 black wins a P by 19... R takes R ; 20. P takes R ; Kt takes P, &c

<19...Kd7>