CHESS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2613, 8 November 1915, Page 9

CHESS

LOCAL NOTES'. After four months of interesting plsyj tho aiuiual liaudica/p chess touruey of the Working Men's Club has just/been concluded? - The first prize has been won by Mr. A. T. Peake (Clas ß I\), who was formerly a member of the Itattersea and other suburban clubs in London. He made the fine score of 9 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. The second prize goes to .Mr. -JV P. - Key. who ably represents the club in its billiard and chess matches. The- third prize is annexed by Mr. Featonby (Class V), who last year secured first prize. His tally of 7 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, though not so good as his last year's effort, is nevertheless very presentable, and Khows him to be a consistent performer. Messrs. Barnes (Class I), Burgess (Class IV), and C. Reid (Class Vll), all tied with 7 wins audi 4 losses, and consequently divide the fourth and fifth prizes. Mr. Barnes, who was alone on tho scratch mark, had to contend with a very heavy handicap, and _ also with indifferent health, ond when all things are taken into consideration his performance is second to none in this tournov.

The club's draughts tourney (sealed handicap).is to be wound up this week, and the annual. presentation of prizes takes place in a fortnight's time. The annual handicap tourney of the Wellington South Chess Club is rapidly approaching completion. The fight for the first prize is now narrowed down to Messrs. Purchase Armstrong, and A. Clark, and a splendid finish between this trio is assured.

Mr.'H. Willis, whoso death at.Lyall Bay at the' age of 80 was reported a fortnight ago, was a very prominent figure in local chess circles in. the 'seventies. He took part, in the Wellington Club's earliest tourneys and sides matches with such success that when the first telegraphic match was played against Canterbury, in 1879 board 3 was allotted to him. On that occasion ho drew his game with Mr. Hunter, and the match ended in a tie, each side scoring 6 pointg (4 wins and 4 draws). In the next two matches ho played for Canterbury against Wellington, winning his game 011 each occasion. In the Canterbury v. Napier match of 1886 he lost to Mr. Riddell, this being probably his only reverse in telegraphic play. He returned to Wellington after an absence of about 30 years, and it was mainly by his efforts that the Kilbirnie Club won the teams' tourney held in 1911. It will be remembered that seven teams participated, the weaker ones being allowed a handicap in points. Two of his correspondence games were unfinished at the time of his death, and he may thus be said to have died in harness. In his younger days he was a very capable blindfold player.

Tho Maaterton Club'e season closed a fortnight ago with a sides match, the President's team defeating tho VicePresident's by 4 to 2. At board 1 Mr. J. A. Connell scored from Mr. G. A. Jones, thus retrieving the laurels which he lost to the latter in the recent North v. South match.