Christchurch CC vs Nelson CC, Telegraph Match (1866)
Note: This was the first Telegraph match played in the Southrn Hemisphere.
A member of the Christchurch CC visiting Nelson approached the Nelson CC about organising a telegraph match in June. [1]
The match was fixed to start on Tuesday, 19th June, play to start at 7pm and continue as necessary on following Tursday's. [2]
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 19 June 1866
Chess Match between Christchubch and Nelson by Electric Telegeaph. — At a special general meeting of the members of the Nelson Chess Club, held at the Bank hotel, on Tuesday, May 29, it was agreed that they should challenge the Christchurch Chess Club to play a consultation match at clies3 through the medium of the electric telegraph. The challenge was forwarded by letter the day following, and was accompanied with suggestions of conditions of play. On the 7th June, eight days afterwards, a telegram was received from the Christchurch Chess Club, accepting the challenge from the Nelson club, and stating thut particulars would be forwarded by post. On Thursday, the 14th, however (in consequence, we presume, of the uncertainty of the departure and arrival of the mail steamers under the new contract), a telegram was received by Dr. Irvine, the President of the Nelson Chess Club, from Mr. Stephens, the President of the Christchurch Chess Club, to the effect that the conditions of play suggested by the Nelson club had been agreed to, and that the match might commence on Tuesday, the 19th instant, at seven o'clock in the evening. It will therefore be commenced this evening. Two games are to bo played simultaneously, the Christchurch club having the first move on the one board, and the Nelson club tho first move on the other board ; so that both clubs will have the same advantage in choosing their particular opening. There will be no restriction as to t)io length of time allowed in considering a move j but it is suggested that moves be made as rapidly as possible. The moves of both boards are to be transmitted in the same message. Five members (Dr. Greenwood, Messrs. Curtis, Fish, Hounsell, and Janion) have been deputed to act on behalf of the Nelson club; but as olub plays against club, without any restriction as to the number playing, any member of the club who may bo present will be at liberty to suggest a move, which will, however, in each instance we presume, be decided upon by a majority of those appointed. For the convenience of members who may wish to study the game as it progresses, we may state that | the squares of the boards in use in the match will be numbered 1 to 64, commencing with 1 on White Queen's Rook's square, 8 on White King's Rook's square, and so on, from left to right, ending with 64 on Black King's Rook's square. By thi9 means the number of the square from which a piece is moved and that on which it is to be placed will be indicated without naming the piece itself, e.g. 13 to 29, or 35 takes 62, as the move may be.
Representatives.
Nelson CC - Dr. Greenwood, Curtis, C. Janion, Fish and J. Hounsell.
Christchurch CC -
The format of the match will be club consultation of 2 games, each club to have the move at one board. [3]
Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle 21 June 1866
with the exception of Dr. Greenwood — who, we regret to say, will not be able to take part in the match, as he so soon leaves for Wellington to be in readiness for the meeting of the Assembly.
Among the players who conducted the proceedings on Tuesday, we may mention Dr. Irvine, Mesßrß. Curtis, Blundell, Oliver, Fish, Hounsell, Fletcher, Nicholas, and Janion.
Christchurch CC won 2 - 0. [4]
Games
Christchurch CC vs. Nelson CC [4]
ECO "C36" King's Gambit, Falkbeer Countergambit
1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qe6 5. Nf3 exf4+ 6. Kf2 c6 7. d4 Bd6 8. Bb5 Nf6 9. Re1 Ng4+ 10. Kg1 Ne3 11. Qd3 O-O 12. Bxe3 fxe3 13. Rxe3 Qh6 14. Bc4 Bg4 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. Rxe5 Nd7 17. Re7 Qd6 18. Rae1 Rad8 19. a3 Nc5?? 20. dxc5 Qxc5+ 21. Qe3 Qd6 {21...Qxc4 should have been played.} 22. Rxb7 a5 23. Ne4 Qe5 24. Ng5 Qxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Be6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. gxf3 g6 30. c4 Rd6 31. Bh3 Rd3 32. Kg2 Rd4 33. c5 a4 34. Bd7 Rc4 35. Bxc6 Rxc5 36. Bxa4 Ra5 37. Bd7 Kg7 38. a4 Kh6 {39 BxP ?!?! Rkn4+ 40 b interposes} {Black resigns.} 1-0
Nelson CC vs. Christchurch CC [4]
ECO "C60" Ruy Lopez, Gunderam Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Qf6 4. c3 Qg6 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 Be7 7. d4 Bh3 8. g3 Bd7 9. d5 Nb8 10. Qb3 c6 11. Bd3 b6 12. Be3 c5 13. c4 h5 14. h4 Nf6 15. Bg5 Na6 16. a3 Nc7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nbd2 Qh6 19. Kg2 g5 20. hxg5 Bxg5 21. Nxg5 Qxg5 22. Nf3 Qg4 23. Rh1 f5 24. Rh4 Qg6 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qe3 Kd7 28. Rah1 Rag8 29. b4 Na6 30. b5 Nc7 31. Nd2 Rg4 32. Ne4 Ne8 33. Rxg4 Qxg4 34. Rh4 Qg6 35. g4 Rg8 36. g5 Ke7 37. f4 Qf7 38. Kg3 Nf6 39. Nxf6 Qxf6 40. Rxh5 Kd8 41. Kg4 exf4 42. Qxf4 Qe7 43. Rh6 Qe2+ 44. Kh4 Qe1+ 45. Kg4 Qg1+ 46. Kf5 Qb1+ 47. Qe4 Rxg5+ {and White resigns.} 0-1
Unfortunately for Nelson two of their strongest players had to absent themselves, after the match had started, in Wellington for Parliamentary duties. [5]
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References:
[1] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 22 May 1866
[2] Colonist, 15 June 1866
[3] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 16 June 1866
[4] Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, 11 September 1866
[5] Colonist, Volume IX, 11 September 1866