CHESS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 159, 31 March 1919, Page 8

CHESS

•WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB. I Tho final round'of-tho tourney to decide the championship of the abqvo club for 1919 was. contested at'the Newtown Public Library' on Thursday evening. Interest naturally centred iu tlio fixture between the two leaders, Messrs, Purehas and G. I'. Auder.-:on', who had each played six games and won them all. The former had tho move, and his opponant utilised the Petroff opening. After giving up two minor pieces'for a rook and two pawns, Mr. Purehas built up a tirib pawn position. In the mid-game ho sacrificed' tho exchange to open up a diagonal for attack. He subsequently foiced exchanges, and finally obtained his opponent's resignation at raovo 35 by giving up a rook in order, to queen a pawn. Mr. Purclms, who handled the game with fine judgment, received the congratulations of all present on so handsomely regaining Die championship. This is the fourth year, in Succession that the club's championship has been fought out in a full-round tourney limited to tho eight strongest players available. Early in 1910 Mr. Purehas won the championship'for that year with the good tally of five wins and two draws, the runner-up being, Mr. A. Clark (5J wins, 1J losses). The championship for 1917' was won by Mr. C!. P. Anderson, who made a fine late run and finished up with six wins and one loss. Messrs. Wolton and Purehas were the runners-up, each scoring 5—2. Last year Mr. Anderson succeeded in retaining the title after an exceptionally hard fight. His tally was 51—1J, but Messrs. Purehas, Welton, and Harper were each only half a point behind him. By now regaining tho titlo with a score <>f 7—o, Mr. Purclms has created a club record, this being tho hrst timo that the "possible" has been attained in this annual contest.