A
April 16 1903
New-York Tribune, New York, New York, Thursday, April 16, 1903
CHESS.
Arrangements for the Havana-Manhattan Match Practically Completed.
Juan Corro, the secretary of the Havana Chess Club, writes under date of April 10 to Aristidez Martinez, the president of the Manhattan Chess Club, saying that the Havana Club is willing to play a game by cable with the Manhattan Chess Club on April 25; if not ended on that day, to be ended the day following. The Cuban players are willing to play at the time limit of ten moves an hour, allowing each side to engage as many experts to consult in the game as convenient. They agree to play from 3 o'clock, New-York time, to 10 o'clock, with an hour and a half interval, from 7 to 8:30 o'clock, and they also indorse the scheme of playing for a trophy. As each side will have to appoint an umpire at the other end the Cubans requested Señor D. Aristidez Martinez to act as umpire for them in this city. While thus accepting all the rules suggested by the Manhattan Chess Club they add an important one, which the Manhattan Club, no doubt, will accept. As the losers will have the right of challenging for another game, it will be understood that the side playing the white pieces in the first game will have to play black in the second. The Cubans will pay half the expenses of the match—$105. Their consulting party will be made up as follows: Juan A. Blanco, Leon Paredez, Raul Capablanca, Enrique Corro, Enrique Delmonte and Antonio Fivl. The Manhattan team will be selected from the following: Hymes, Delmar, Hodges, Finn, Roething, Hanham and Koehler.
April 26 1903
The Standard Union, Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, April 26, 1903
Havana Chess Club Plays Manhattan.
A consultation game of chess played by cable was commenced last night between the Havana Chess Club and the Manhattan Chess Club, of New York. On the team which represented the Havana Chess Club were Juan Corzo, E. Corzo, R. Capablanca, E. Delmonte, M. Marquez Sterling, A. Fial and J. A. Blanco, Dr. Ferran acting as umpire for Havana in New York. On the Manhattan Chess Club team were State Champion Otto Roething, Edward Hymes, Julius Finn, S. Lipschuetz, E. Delmar, W. M. Phillips and other well-known amateurs. The game was a Queens Gambit Declined, the Havana men having the move. It was slowly played, and at the first adjournment only twelve moves had been completed. If unfinished it will be continued to-day.
John F. Barry, of Boston, was the guest of the Manhattan Chess Club yesterday, and entertained the members with a series of games at the Rice Gambit opening. He will also play at the rooms to-day.
The New York Times, New York, New York, Sunday, April 26, 1903
New York and Havana Play Chess By Cable
Manhattan Team Declines Queen's Gambit Offered by Cuba.
After Twenty-nine Moves the Play is Adjourned Until This Afternoon—Clubs Exchange Greetings.
A novel chess match contested by cable between the Manhattan Chess Club of this city and the Havana Chess Club of Havana, Cuba, was begun 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The encounter consisted of a consultation game, in which the local organization was represented by six metropolitan players, viz.; Eugene Delmar, Julius Finn, Edward Hymes, S. Lipschuetz, H. M. Phillips, and Otto Roething. This team was stationed at the Manhattan Chess Club rooms in the United Charities Building in direct communication by wire with the Union-Club in Havana.
The opposing team, representing the Havana Chess Club, consisted of J. A. Blanco, R. Capablanca, E. Corzo, Juan Corzo, E. Delmonte, A Fiol, and M. Marquez Sterling. Aristidez Martinez, President of the Manhattan Chess Club, acted as umpire for the Cuban team at this end, while Dr. A. Ferran did like duty for the Manhattans at Havana.
As soon as communication was established President Martinez sent the following message:
Before the beginning of hostilities the Manhattan Chess Club of New York sends greetings to the Club de Ajedrez of Havana and expresses its hope that to-day's game will mark the first of a long series of similar contests.
In reply to the above the following was received from the Cuban capital:
To the President, Manhattan Chess Club, New York:
The Chess Club of Havana responds to the greetings and hopes expressed by the honored Manhattan Chess Club.
The toss for move, which was done here, resulted in Havana getting the white pieces. A queen's gambit was selected this being declined by the Manhattan players, and play proceeded under the time limit of ten moves to the hour.
The opening was developed by the Cubans on old-fashioned lines—that is to say, the queen's bishop remained on the queen's side of the board. On the fourth move the New Yorkers advanced the queen's rook's pawn one square, then exchanged pawns in the centre, and drove the adverse bishop back by playing pawn to queen's knight's fourth. An exchange of pieces took place on the eleventh and twelfth moves, and at the fifteenth turn queens were traded off. In the resulting position there was little to choose for either side.
Fourteen moves had been made, when an adjournment was taken for supper. In the evening session, which began at 8 o'clock, the Manhattan players took the initiative and appeared to obtain a slight advantage by advancing their king's side pawns to the attack. The Cubans defended skillfully, and after twenty-nine moves the game was adjourned to be resumed to-morrow afternoon. The score up to date follows:
Havana C.C. (white) vs. Manhattan C.C. (black)
Queen's Gambit Declined: Three Knights Variation
April 27 1903
The New York Times, New York, New York, Monday, April 27, 1903
Manhattan Chess Club Wins Havana Cable Match.
Cubans Resign After the Forty-third Move—Complimentary Messages Exchanged.
Play in the consultation chess match between teams of the Manhattan and Havana Chess Clubs was resumed yesterday afternoon. When the position was shown on the board previous to play yesterday it was thought that the Manhattans could not possibly lose, their position being considered superior to that of their adversaries.
In course of subsequent play Havana lost a pawn, whereupon the Manhattans had things much their own way, and after forty-three moves the Cubans resigned. In cabling their resignation the team sent the following message to the Manhattans:
“Resigns with the compliments of the Havana players to their opponents of the Manhattan Chess Club, and sincere congratulations on their well-won victory.”
To this the victors made the following reply:
“Thanks for congratulations. Accept our own for your well-fought game. Look forward with pleasure to return encounter. Manhattan Chess Club gives three cheers for Havana Chess Club.”
Other complimentary messages were exchanged, and thus the first match between Havana and this city was concluded.
