<The contest for the Chess Championship of Australia was resumed at 2 p.m. yesterday at the Melbourne Chess Club, when the 16th game was continued.The move Mr. Wallace sealed at the evening adjournment yesterday proved to be B to Q B 3.
As was stated in yesterday's issue of The Age, Mr. Esling had an inferior position, and his opponent soon demonstrated that it was utterly hopeless.
His 29th move left Mr. Esling without resource, and the long struggle for supremacy came to an end, Mr. Wallace giving mate on his 32nd move.
The closing game was finely played by the winner, although it is to be much regretted that the Victorian player chose to adopt a distinctly inferior method of defence, especially as it was necessary for him to avoid even a draw.
Mr. Wallace by his victory retains the title of chess champion of Australia, and in congratulating him upon this fact it will be freely admitted that the Victorian player exhibited chess powers of a very high order.
The latter lost the match principally through not playing with the uniform accuracy which distinguished his opponent's game.
Mr. Esling's play was, on the whole, deeper and more imaginative than that of his adversary, but he was guilty of patent oversights which in a number of instances deprived him of games in which he had outplayed Mr. Wallace and attained clear winning advantages.
This can be said without depreciating Mr. Wallace's skill, which, considering his youth and experience, is of an exceptional character.
The fact that 17 games was the maximum number that could be played, and that 16 were played, attests to the severity of the contest.
It only remains to be said the match has been played throughout in the best possible spirit, and that the winner will take away with him nothing but pleasant memories of his stay in Melbourne.
Final Score: — Mr. Wallace, 7½ games ; Mr. Esling, 5½ games; Drawn, 3 (not counting); Drawn, 1 (counting as ½ to each player).
The last game finished about 3.30 yesterday afternoon.>
Kibitzing
