<The late Mr. John Mann was a brilliant and enthusiastic chess player.His father and brother, the late Hon. C. Mann, Q.C, both possessed exceptional ability at chess. The subject of this sketch often told the writer that his father, during his lifetime, was the strongest chessplayer in the colony. He also said that his brother, the late Q.C., in his earlier years, was an adept at blindfold play, and with a little extra application he would have become the most skilful chessplayer in the colony.
After his father's death Mr. J. Mann was recognised as the best chessplayer in South Australia, and in all the intercolonial telegraphic matches engaged in by this colony against Victoria and New South Wales from 1868 until 1884 Mr. Mann took a prominent part with considerable success.
As one of the founders of the Adelaide Chess Club, Mr. Mann took great interest in the progress of that institution, and was mainly instrumental in its early career for the influential standing it obtained. He was for some years its Secretary, and afterwards its President.
He took part in some of the earlier tournaments, and generally gained high place, notwithstanding the heavy odds he had to give.
About fifteen years ago he retired from public chess, but he always retained a keen interest in the game and played a good deal privately with friends. His skill deteriorated very slightly, although he had so little practice.
Mr. Mann was a clever exponent of that rare branch of play; correspondence chess. He was also a good problem composer, and was remarkably apt at solving problems.
He had good theoretical knowledge of the openings and endings of games, but in his fondness for pretty combinations he was often tempted to sacrifice soundness to brilliancy.
His style of play was extremely attractive, he was quick and brilliant in his ideas, and his combinations were ingenious and often beautiful and intricate.
He rarely played a dull game such as is now attributed to the modern school.
Kibitzing
