Both players seemed to be in excellent condition, and, as far as good health is a requirement in match play, the friends of either player have apparently no need to fear any break-downs.

The toss for the first move fell in favour of Mr Zukertort, who opened with P to K 4. His opponent adopted a peculiar form of the Sicilian defence which has never before occurred in any match or tournament, though Mr Blackburne has previously practised it in several toughly contested games against Mr Steel.

The result of the opening manœuvres was an early exchange of queens, and the position of the seven pawns was unbroken on Black’s side from the K R file to the Q B file, with a vacancy on the Q Kt file, and an isolated Q R P, while White’s battle order was divided in two wings, the pawns standing respectively to the number of four on the K side, and three on the other, and the open Q file being occupied by doubled rooks.

White had evidently the best of the development, and Black was labouring under great difficulties to make his retained Q P available.

We believe that Mr Zukertort on the 17th move could have, by occupying K B 2 at once with his B, obtained sufficient increase of advantage to keep the pressure of attack in his favour. Also on the following he would have improved his position by B to K sq. as afterwards proposed by Mr Blackburne; but, having adopted some tardy manœuvres instead, his opponent, after cautious preparations, was at last enabled to advance his Q P under sufficient cover, and thus to release his blocked-up Q R and Q B.

After a little more fencing, which resulted in exchanges of one R and a minor piece, the game assumed a drawn aspect, and by mutual consent it was given up as such on the 28th move, neither side having any advantage.