CHESS CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 711, 10 January 1910, Page 6

CHESS CONGRESS.

MASON WINS., v; (By Teleirranli.—Press . Association.) ■■■.'■' ■ Auckland, 1 January 8. .•'■ The final game for tho chess championship was concluded; this morning. Griersou's sealed move was probably ; not his strongest. Mason pushed on ; his attack, winning a piece on tho 24th. move. Later on he added a pawn, which disorganised the position of Grierson's forces, and. on'the '41st. inovo'Grierson resigned. ■'.■' •■'•' ..;' ■ - ' V

Mr. John ' Mason, tho youngest of; the players, who filled tho first four places, is a law : student in Wellington.'' Ho always favours, tho: close game, * ana is particularly: pai'tialto the . Zukertort opening, which. he'v used on every possible" occasion.;,. Ho knows -the': books-, thoroughly, ■ having■ studied them . under' his -father's

:tur!ion:; witiiX his.:brother,'; Blake.' Mason; an^equaUy. good,.if,'not-.sirperior; player.-: Mr..Mason'Xhas'itaken. part;, in" -eight: Con"gresses,■ including that-of;., 1910;..and ; ,has; nowrtied.'for championship 'honours'' on'-! ) threej.dccasions.'.; ; Tfio first., time he'-losti in, tie > play-eff ':mth' Barnes,'v and.jthe. second Vtimo' ;.he: .was; ■ beaten,; by X ;W.X'E. ■ Mason.;; Mr. :.,Mason ■• has, : carried.'; off v the; brilliancy prize -on. two; occaapris. 1 ,' "■:;-' 'J; ! 'Mr. J. C. Grierson, of Auckland, is an accountant., • Of all the players, he is undoubtedly one. of. tie: mostpopular, ■and' when .he has-the : ; misfortune to ;be beaten, he. always takes. his defeat, witha'smile. X.Tbe: style'of- this ;well-known • player' is;not aggressive,"'but:always „careful.and generally/sound. 'Ho has..'att2nded : several Championrhip Congresses; and won ' the championship, at - Dunedin-; in: 1802.' •: '; ,X''"X;'.;l!'X' X.;v,;;>--"X' :' Mr.. R. J.. Barnes,, cf:Wellington; is also an: accountant.. He; may-justly called .the. veteran of th'o game-in.: the Dominion,'beiiig the only.; player: who hasi attended -the Congresses'-held; under; the direction of,-the ;New;Zealand:Chess ;Association during the past;twenty years. This "well-known player 'is 'an .encpurag-

nig '-exception' to-;, tho ■ assumed j rale, that* champions : : most: be .'. canght ■ yousg,;, and, jhe-never. saw>'a,gamo of chess tillihe-was-rtwenty. ;'< His strong;point' is 'his ; .consistency,, as. -will lie-seen from -tho summary.-of ,his record. -In ..was second after playing.'• off !.a-'-tio 'i'or tho. .championship;. -1890, champion,'} ,1892,: third, ■ 1893,'; second; -,1894,,: gamed;,, tho .special, prize, -for'tho best- scorel'against; tho prizc-wnmers; ■1595 ) -'tied«for]i:third;' .1896,. champion; 1897, ;• champion; , 1898,. :second;..Easter,(l9oo,- second' after-play-, ing 'off a-tie .for,,.the'.-championship; Christmas, : 1900, second; '■■1901,' : champion j • 1905,' champion; .'• 1900/ •' fifth (thirdij among tho New Zealand-, competitors; j there being ; 20 entries,; inclnding,two tralia); 1908,. second,- .-1909, . focirlh.- Sothat' in , twonty-ono '■ Congressejl -'.Mr.' Barnes has socured' 16"- prizes l^ "most meritorious record..-i -.-. 'll; "