Riga defeats Berlin in telegraph match, 1 1/2 - 1/2

The Riga Chess Club, already known among aficionados of our game as a true power in the field of correspondence play, has recently added to its laurels by defeating the Berlin Club in a telegraph match by the score of 1 1/2 - 1/2.  The contest, which began in December of 1911, concluded with the resignation of the second game by the Berlin side on the 31st ult.  Since 1896 the Riga Club has engaged in and won six such matches, defeating the chess clubs of Orel (2-0), Moscow (1 1/2- 1/2), Stockholm (2-0), Berlin (2-0), Moscow (return match, 1 1/2 - 1/2), and now Berlin once again (return match, 1 1/2 - 1/2), for a total score of nine wins and three draws, without the loss of a game - truly a most admirable record.  Upholding the colors for Riga on this occasion were Messrs. Karl and Robert Behting, P. Pohl, and A. Lüth; the Berlin playing committee consisted of Messrs. C. Ahues, E. Cohn, E. Post, Lewitt, Rotenstein, Salinger, and Ed. Lasker, although the contribution of the last-named must of necessity have been rather limited since his arrival in England.  We have heard that our friends at the American Chess Bulletin plan to publish a book containing all the games from the above-named matches of the Riga Club, with extensive annotations by the players themselves, a project to which we give our wholehearted approval.  Correspondence play at its highest level is capable of producing chess of extraordinary depth and beauty, and to have such masterpieces glossed by their creators is a rare treat certain to delight all true lovers of our noble game.

Herewith the two games of the Riga-Berlin match.  The first, a draw, concluded in February of this year; the second, as noted, was resigned by the Berlin team a few weeks ago.