CHESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 51, 25 November 1918, Page 6

CHESS

Mr. Blake Mason, one of New Zea. land's strongest chess players, died from influenza at Hastings on Wednesday last, aged 35. On leaving Christ's College, Christchurch, at the age of sixteen, he learnt the rudiments of the game from his brother, John (who was the New Zealand chess champion in 1910), and joined the Canterbury Chess Club. Eighteen months later he removed to Timaru. Soon after his arrival he played his first telegraphic match and scored a win against the Oaniaru representative opposed to him at board 14. ■ Hie promotion was phenominallv, rapid, for only six months later he figured at board 3 in the.match against.Otago, drawing hie game against Mr. Warsaw,, a Dunedin Congress player. In tho years 1903 and J904 he was champion of the Timaru Club, which he represented with distinction in tho telegraphic matches against the Canterbury, Otago, and Oamaru Clubs. In the 1904-5 congress (held at Oamaru) he made his first bid for the New Zealand championship. He was the youngest competitor (aged 21), and his. thirteen opponents included eight whose names appear on the New Zealand championship roll; nevertheless, he took second prize, coming out of what was an exceptionally stiff ordeal for a-de-butant, only half a point behind tho champion (A. W. 0. Davies). This is generally considered to be the best "first appearance" ever made by any New Zealand cr,lt. In the big Christchurch Exhibition Congress (1906-7) lie was again in the "Sieger" class. He "cracked up" under the strain of playing continuously for nearly three weeks in exceptionally hot weather, and though his percentage of wins was not so high as at Oamaru, he gained distinction, being the only New Zcalander to get as much as'a draw against Mr. Viner, the Australian champion. His third and last bid for the New Zealand championship was made at the congress held in Wellington at Easter, 190 S. Although handicapped by a severe cold ho annexed fourth prize. It lias often been greatly regretted. by his many frien'ds and admirers that ho was unable to do himself justice on that occasion, and that his duties in the accountancy department of Messrs. Nelson Bros., of Tomoana, have prevented him from taking part in later congresses, which have invariably been held in the firm's busy season. The late Mr. Blake Mason enlisted in 1915, and left New Zealand in the Seventh Reinforcements. He was severely wounded on the Western front (at Flers), and returned to the Dominion when able to travel. As a prominent member of the Hastings Boxing Association he enjoyed the same affection and esteem that were his in New Zealand chess circles. The deepest sympathy is felt for bis young widow, and also for his parents.