The Time Traveller

The Belfast players travelled by the 10-15 train on Saturday morning, and on arrival were entertained to lunch in the Red Bank Restaurant, where most of the games were played. It was after 2-30 when play started, and, at best, only about two and a half hours were available for play, while those who had to go to Lincoln Place had little more than two hours.

At the top board the old rivals, Baker and O'Hanlon, again met. The latter had white, and played the Ruy Lopez, which Baker met with the Steinitz defence. A very lively game resulted, white temporarily losing a piece for a pawn. Later on he regained the piece, and being then two pawns up, pushed his advantage home to victory."

White now announced mate in three moves.
25.Rxf6+ gxf6 26.Rxf6+ Kg8 27.Qg4# 1–0

"At the second board Cranston played the Queen's Gambit, which black declined, adopting the Cambridge Springs defence. Play was very complicated for some time, and black came out with a slight advantage, but a draw was agreed to."

"The Thomas-Doyle game was a hard struggle. White advanced his RP rather unwisely, and black turned this much to his own account that at close of play he claimed a win. The adjudicators were not quite satisfied, and awarded a draw. On the other hand, at board 12 the Belfast player was a piece up at the finish, but as his movements were somewhat restricted, the win, which seemed possible, was not allowed. At board 4 O'Hagan at one time looked like losing, but, luckily, had so far improved matters before the close that he was awarded a draw. A draw was also the decision at board 18, where the Belfast player had what looked like a winning attack.

J.W. Carey with his favourite Ruy Lopez secured a good win against T.P. Kane, and the other win for Belfast was secured by R.M. Steele. The three wins for Belfast were thus all secured by members of Strandtown Club. The final score was:- Dublin 13.5, Belfast 7.5, the individual results being as follow :-

After tea, Professor Thrift said he had been asked to express, on behalf of the Dublin chess players, their pleasure at having a Belfast team with them again, and their additional pleasure that the result of the match had been in favour of Dublin. They also wished to take advantage of that meeting between Belfast and Dublin players to present the shield and medals in connection with the recent championship tournament. He requested Lord Dunsany, president of the Irish Chess Union, to make the presentation.

Lord Dunsany explained that the shield and medals were for the All-Ireland Championship of 1927-1928. It was good to know, he said, that although Ireland had been labelled by new names, an All-Ireland still existed, and Mr. Baker was champion of it. The troubles and divisions of chess did not enter into chess, which remained as it was hundreds of years ago. He had also a chess-board and set of Staunton men to present to Mr. Reynolds, the winner of the major tournament, and a cheque to give to Mr. Varian, the winner of the second prize. The last check he had given Mr. Varian was five years ago, when he had win his queen with it. He congratulated the winners.

The prizes were then handed over and acknowledged.

Mr. Baker said he was proud to have the Shield, and would do his best to keep it, although he knew there were some gentlemen present who had designs on it.

Mr. Varian agreed that his was the second cheque he had received form his Lordship, and all he would say now was that he (Mr. Varian) had been unable to meet the first one. (Laughter.)

On behalf of the Belfast players. Mr. H. Thomas expressed their sense of the great kindness and hospitality of their Dublin hosts. The laws of hospitality, he said, did not require that they should allow the visitors to win. Each city had now won two matches, but this was the biggest victory that had yet been secured. However, the next match would be in Belfast, and they would be prepared to give the Dublin men a warm reception.

The Belfast team left for home by the 6-40 p.m. train."