CHESS NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 9

CHESS NOTES

THE WELLINGTON, CLUB. Thn Wellington Chc6s Club's annnal meeting was held in the Y.If.C.A. rooms on Saturday evening, tbero being a large attendance. Mr. W. Mackay, eenior viceprosideut, occupied the chair. The forty-second annual report, presented by the hon. secretary, Mr. G. A. Tyer, stated that the club had had a very satisfaotwy year. Several new members joined, tbore being now 29 active and 16 honoruvy members. Tho attendances shoivsd a marked improvement, and it was earnestly hoped that this satisfactory feature would be maintained. Seventeen players entored ior the annual "Potherick" Tournay (handicap), which was won by Mr.fi. S. Taylor, a new member, who formerly belonged to the Ludgato j Circus Club (London). Mr. R. S. Barnes, well'known as the hero of many a hardfought tourney, took second place, ■ arid Mr. D..Pnrcha9 camo third. A gratifying feature of tho past season was tho popularity of ladder matches'. Twentytwo of these contests were held, the ohallongers winning on nino occasions while the defenders were successful in the reI maining thirteen contests, Mr. Barnes ! retains tho clnb championship through j defeating the challenger from rung 2 (Mr. W. E. .Muson). Mr. S. Faulknor, who rained four rungs, wins the handsome Staunton set of ehossmnn offered by Jlcssrs, S. and W. Maokay' (vice-presi-dents) for the beet "ladder" performance of the season. Two. matohos were played by telegraph, the club losing to Canterbury !5—7) and winning from Otago (11-3). Mr. W. B. Bamrnd, who was nssociiitod with the lato Mr. Edward Rcoves in founding the club in 1876, took purt in both matches, scoring a win against Otngo ami a draw ugainst Cantor, bury. Tho club has not won a match against Canterbury sinco ,19U. The oldtime fixture with the Wellington Working Men's Club was revived after a lapse of 13 vears, nnd was won by 17 games 11. 'l'he annual problem-solving contest j promoted by tho Good Cumpanion (Jhws J Problem Club of America was held in ; tho club's looms on. IVoniftry 23, when i each of the. nino competitais was euppheii j with a sheet containing, the twelve two-; move problems to bo. solved ivitbin 2i hours. The five prize-winners were as follow:-F. K. Kelling (12 solutions). D. Pnrchas (9), A. W. 0. Davics (8), B. S. Taylor $), and S. Faulknor (fi). Lieutenant H. A. Mackenzie, one of the club's strongest players, left Now Zealand for the war zone towards the end of 'the season. His scholastic-career'was exceptionally brilliant,- and ho wns selected' in November-us New Zealand's next Rhodes Scholar. A letter of condolence was sent to Mr. P. Still, for many years past ono of tho leading players, wlioae only eon was killed in action in Franco last Se'p_tember, shortly after gaining the Military Modal. Thanks were recorded to Messrs. S. and W. Mackay for donating a trophy and supplying the "British Chess Magazine" regularly, and to tho daily papers for the most interesting ro. ports giveu by them from time to time. Tho report, in conclusion, points out that thero wore sixty-four mombers on the books ten vears ago, and urged an aotive canvass with a view to again reaching that high-water mark. The hon. treasurer (Mr. Gyles, sen.) reported a credit balance and no liabilities. Tho report and balance-sheet -wore adopted unanimously. Messrs. Davies, James,, Lee, and Greig were elected to active and Messrs. Stokes, M'Laren, and W. J. D. Barnes (son of the champion) to honorary membership. Tho election of officers resulted as follows; Presidont, W. Macfo>.y; vice-presidents, S. Mackav and R. J. Barnes; hon. secretary and .treasurer, E. S. Taylor; committee, Messrs., Ward, Purchas, Mason, Rolling, and Godtschalk. It was decided to open the season with tho annual match, Bowlers v. Non-Bowlers, to ask the Canterbury Club to increase the number cf boards in tho annual telegraphic match from 12 to 11, and to invite tbo co-oporation of the other local clubs in the matter of holding an_AHWellington Championship Tourney. With a viow to enabling more rajvid progress to bo made on tho ladder it was suggested that all Class I players other than tho champion should bo put on run I, nil the Class II players on rung 3, and so on. The Match Committee are to report on Ihe proposed change. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the re-1 tiring hon. , treasurer (Mr. Gvles, sen.) and to tho retiring lion, secretary (Mr. G. A Tyor), several tributes being paid to the valued services of theso two execu- j tivo officers. A vote of condolence was ■ tendered to Mr. Kelling, whose brother. ] Robert Kelling,. passed away on Irulay i evening at Ranzan, near Nelson. Ihe annual distribution of prizes closed the meeting;. ■