The Westminster Budget from London, Greater London, England • Page 26

24 THE WESTMINSTER BUDGET OCTOBER 29, 1897 Englisch's withdrawal from the contest at the recent Berlin Congress, so unjustly stigmatised at the time, has had a tragic sequel. The letter sent to "the Vienna papers by Mrs. Englisch stating that her husband was seriously ill was half-heartedly accepted as a dutiful vindication of her husband's conduct. Poor Englisch has now vindicated his conduct beyond doubt! His sudden death occurred on the inst. from cerebral paralysis.

He arrived at Berlin full of vigour, in high spirits, and for the ostensible purpose of a (ew weeks' training for the great International Tournament at Vienna next year. At the time of his after the eleventh score was points, having only lost one game, against Herr Colin. He only played one more game, a draw with his Vienna rival, Schlechter. On the evening of the same day, September 25, he complained of a sudden attack of vertigo, and the following morning, being paired with Caro, he sent over his move in order not to forfeit the game, hoping before the hour expired to Jeel well enough to put in an appearance but although he did come up in time, it was-only to announce his retirement, and to take leave, determined to die in the bosom of his family." He left Berlin by the next train. It is a curious fact that 'when Englisch, after long eventually entered his name for the tournament, he said: "Having seen Cohn's name amongst the competitors, I am sure not to come back to Vienna without having won at least one game." And Cohn was the only player who beat him Berthold Englisch was born on July 9, 1851, in Holtzenplutz (Austrian Silesia).

At the age of nineteen he first made his appearance in Vienna, quite unknown; but he was soon considered one of the leading players in Austria. His record, is Leipsic, 1879, first prize; Wiesbaden, 1880, divided honours with Blackburne; Vienna, 1882, he was just a shade below Blackburne; London, 1883, he tied with Mackenzie and Mason, having made even games with all the leading competitors. Since then he had practically retired from serious play, but occasionally the solicitation of Baron took part in local contests. After the Budapest Tournament last year he drew a short match with Pillsbury, who considered him the best Vienna player. At Berlin he endeavoured to get the game over before the midday adjournment, so as to have the rest of the day for outdoor exercise that is the reason for giving up good positions as drawn.

We are confident that if Englisch could have played through the tournament he would have secured a high prize, and that he would have materially changed the positions of the prize winners. BERTHOLD ENGLISCH. This game, played in the London fair specimen or Englisch's style SICILIAN International Tournament, 1883, is a Englisch. Tchigorin. White.

Black. 1. PtoK4 to QB4 2. Kt to QB3 Kt to QB3 3. Kt to B3 to K3 4.

to K2 KKt to K2 5. PtoQ4 6. Kt 5. PtoQ4 6. Kt Kt to Kt3 7.

Castles to K2 8. Bto K3 Castles 9. toB4 to B4 10. to sq Kt 11. to B4 12.

to B5 toB2 13. to K5 to Kt3 14. to K3 to Kt2 15. KttoKt5 to Kt sq 16. Kt to Q6 KR to sq 17.

Kt Kt 18. to B3 to K2 to QB2 19. to KKt3 to K2 to QB2 20. to Q2 KR to sq 21. to B4 Kt to sq 22.

PtoKt3 Kt to sq 23. KR to sq Kt to B2 24. to QR4 to sq DEFENCE. Englisch. White.

25. to R5 26. QxRP 27. 29. 30.

31. to Q4 32. to Q5 ch 33. to QB3 34. BtoB3 35.

to sq 36. to Q6 37. to Q5 38. to K6 39. BP 40.

to K4 41. Qto Q4 42. Kt ch 43. to K4 ch 44. QtoB5ch 45.

to R3 ch 46. to K6 ch 47. to B5 ch 48. to K8 mate, Tchigorin. Black, to Q3 xQP ch to K4 Kt Kt to B3 to sq to sq to sq to R3 to R2 Kt to Kt3 to Kt2 Kt to K2 dis ch Kt to Q4 to R4 to Kt4 to Kt3 to B2 to Kt sq Nothing shows conclusively the defects of the Sicilian Defence than this game, the main objection being the weakness of the queen's pawn.

Tchigorin, after a feeble development, weakened his position still more with to B4, which White excellently utilised by 12. to B5 and 13. to K5, and Black kept his weak QP. There is nothing more to be said about the game. If between equal players one obtains such an advantage in position as White he should win the game by correct play, and Englisch's conduct of the game is so in a marked degree.

Although the new premises of the British Chess Club at Whitehall- court have been occupied by the members for some time, the inauguration which had been deferred till the beginning of the season, took place on Friday with a banquet, Sir George Newnes in the chair. The spacious rooms were so crowded that the adjacent committee-room had to accommodate the "overflow meeting." The guests of the evening were representatives of the universities, of the team who contested the Anglo-American cable match, and of the recent Parliamentary cable match. The toast list comprised The Houses of Parliament and Parliamentary Cable Chess Team," proposed by Mr. Wordsworth Donisthorpe, coupled with the names of Mr. Atherley-Jones, Q.C., M.P., and Mr.

Strauss, M.P. "The Bench and Bar" was proposed by Sir John Puleston, and responded to by the Hon. Sir E. W. Byrne and Mr.

Augustine Birrell, Q.C., M.P. Literature and the Press," proposed by Mr. Thomas Hewitt, was responded to by Mr. Grant Allen in an amusing speech, and by Sir Edwin Arnold, G.C.S.I., and Dr. Conan Doyle, responding to a general' desire of the company, replied in humorous style.

"The Universities Chess Team," proposed by the President, was responded to by Mr. E. G. Spencer Churchill and Mr. C.

E. C. Tattersall. To The British Team in the recent Cable Match," proposed by Mr. W.

Woodgate, Mr. D. Y. Mills replied and Visitors," proposed by Mr. Charles Simon and responded to by Mr, F.

Carruthers Gould, concluded the toast list. Two interesting ceremonies should be presentation of a testimonial to Mr. Gregory W. Byrne, the retiring hon. sec.

of the club, and the presentation of the Newnes challenge cup to Mr. H. E. Atkins, amateur champion for 1885-7. A smoking concert followed.

PROBLEM NO. 78. By H. Keidanski, of Berlin. BLACK.

WHITE. White to play and mate in three moves. SOLUTION OF PROBLEM NO. 77. 1.

to B3, any move 2. or mates. THE "FRAM'S." NEXT VOYAGE. The Chronicle's Christiania correspondent has had an interview with Herr Sverdrup, who followed Dr. Nansen to Greenland, and was captain of the Fram.

The Government has lent the Fram, for the reconstruction of which vessel the Storthing has voted 20,000 kroner. The rest of the expense will be borne privately. The work of reconstruction is in full progress at Larvik. The Irani will be stronger than before, with a new deck. The expedition will have sixteen men more than Nansen's.

As it will be necessary to use sledges, more dogs will be required, eighty of which will come from Greenland and tw enty-five from Norway. The latter seem to be as good as the Siberians. Starting in June, the expedition will go through Smith Sound, along the north-western coast of Greenland, until stopped by the ice. Then inter quarters will be established from which sledge expeditions will search the northern parts of Greenland. The Fram is provisioned for four years, but it is hoped that the expedition will merely last two.

The explorers may see Peary, but he is going to the North Pole, which is not Sverdrup's aim. Herr Sverdrup thinks he may be able to help bring news of him, as it is not impossible, if he came down in this direction, that he may have gone into winter quarters..