CHESS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3054, 16 April 1917, Page 9

CHESS

WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB

.The current tournament (o. decide the Championship of the. above club for. 1917is rapidly drawing to a close. Mr. Welton unproved: his chances on Thursday evening by scoring , a win from. Mr Purchae, the present' holder of the title. Mr. ■ Welton's tally- is now five -wins and no losses, and he has only two nioro games to play. Mr. G:, P. Anderson has lost one game, and Messrs. Purchas, (Harper, A. .Clark, and H. J. Thompson have each lost two games. The two leaders,, Messrs; Weltou and Anderson, aro, paired for next Thursday and much interest is naturally being taken by tho members in this fixture. The Weilinoton Club. . j The Wellington Chess Club's annual match, Bowlers v. Non-bowlers, which opens at : the Y.M.C.A. rooms on Saturday next, promises to. be a great success. A number of invitations are being issued, and : it is expected that some •sixty or seventy players will be taking part. Thfe Bowlers will have, a strong side, and will doubtless make a big effort to retrieve the laurels lost in the two previous encounters. The teams '■■will, as usual be captained by- Messrs. 'Barnes (Bowler) and W. E. Mason (Nonbowler), New Zealand's two record chamjpions. ; Two of the club's members are going into camp on April 80, viz., Messrs. S. Gyles and C. Atkin. Mr. Gyles has reipresonted Wellington in five telegraphic matches against other centres, and has put up the good tally of four wins and one loss. He has also been very successful in local sides' matches. Mr. ■Atkin, -who only learned .the game a year ago, carried off the first prize in the i"Colts' Tourney," which was promoted , 'later.in the year by St. John's Young ;Men's Club. \ Working Men's Club. ' : The twenty-eighth annual report (for .chess and draughts) of the Working Club states:—The annual handicap :ohe6s aiid draughts tourneys' were very jeuccessful, the high standard of former .years, being, well maintained. Mr. Hugh. (Douglas won the chess tourney, and eonseijuently holds, the Staples Cup for the 'ensuing year. The remaining prizes were won as follows:—Second, Mr. Peake; ithird, Mr..Larking (a Crimean veteran, iwhose success is very popular); fourth, iMr. Featonby; ififth, sixth, and seventh, 'divided by Messrs. Wild, E. E. Hicks, ;and C. Keid. Mr. Key's epecial prize ;was won by Mr. Mayne, and Mr. George Gray's special prize went to Mr. Hennessey. The Staples Cup referred to above is the ten-guinea trophy that was in 1897,- won outright in 1903, :and recently given back by the winner ;for further competition. It becomes the property of any member winning it itwice in succession or three times at in-. Nervals, the conditions ■ thus being the same as formerly. Tho draughts tourney (sealed handicap) was won by Mr. Hedderwick (han r dicap 12 points), the runner-up being 'Mr. Ccalter (handicap 16 points). The Temaining prizes were won as follows:— Third, Mr. Burgess (handicap 4 points); fourth, Mr. W. H. Smith (scratch); and fifth, Mr. C. Eeid (handioap 1 points);: Mr. W. H. Smith, who was our first champion 2S years ago, also takes-the-hon. secretary's spocial prize for mnkinpr the best eeoro in the actual play. The death of Mr. A. G. Tell.is ohronicled witli much sorrow.. A letter of condolonco has been sent to the bereaved family. • , ■ It is proposed in future to make tho annual. draughts tourney a oombined championship and sealed handicap event, with a view to making tho contest more, attractive to the stronger players. This new feature and the institution of shieldmatches with the Wntorsidcrs is expected to move draughts players to give their Favourite gamo furthor study. In view sf the very good progress that is being made in the other clubs of tho city, it rill clearly be necessary to study these ;ames more closely than over "in the loming year if tho club wishes to bo 'in the hunt" when meeting rivals in 'riondly combat.