CHESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 133, 1 March 1920, Page 5

CHESS

ANNUAL PROBLEM-SOLVING COMPETITION. For some years past it has been thf practice of the Good Companion Ches; Problem Club of America fo hold a worldwide problem-solving contest on George Washington's 'birthday, February 22. This year's contest for Wellington and district was hold at 52 Cuba Street on Monday evening. In a preliminary address, Mr, ? C. W. Tanner (vice-president for the 1 North Island) briefly sketched the pro- > gross made by the Good Companion Out " during the seven years of its existence, and the good work it had done to promote the study and composition of proJ blems—mainly by publishing n monthly magazine and by holding n world-wide solving contcst annually. In declaring this year's contest open, Mr. Tanner handed each competitor a sheet containing tho twelve two-move problems to be ' tackled, and announced that two hours - and a half would be allowed for the - solving. Mr. G. 11. Clntten aoted as supervisor, as Mr. Tanner had to attend another meeting. When time was called lie was able to award tho five book prizes right away, the various key-moves having been supplied by Mr. L. D. Coombs> of Dunedin, who is acting as hon. secretary for New Zealand. It was found that the first prize ("Lasker's Common Sense in Chess") was won by Mr. D. Purclms (champion of the South Wellington C.C.). Mr. Purchas, who was unplaced last year, solved ten problems correctly in two hours and a naif. Tho second prize ("The White i Knights") went to Mr. S. Faulkner, of the Working Men's Club, who took 2 hours fi' minutes- in getting seven 90111- ; Hons. Last year lie took second prize f with a, tally of nine. Mr. E. S: Taylor, I hon. secretary of the Wellington C.C., . took tho third prize, ''Mason's Principles of Chess." Last year he was ' fourth. Mr. F. K. Kelliug was unable to reproduce his last year's form, ano had to ba content with fourth prize, "Running the Gauntlet" (tho en-passent pawn theme in problems). Mr. J. A. Glasgow (Ni\iio) 1 won tho fifth prize ("Select Chess Findings," by Freeborough). Mrs. Gyles and Mr. Long made the best scores of the non-prize winners. \ similar contest was to have been held in Auckland, but had to be abandoned as,'no solvers were forthcoming. The Dunedin competition was won by Mr. E. A. Petit, who. went all the way from Invercargill to take part. He solved the twelve problems in 2 hours 15 minutes. The next liPst tallies were as follow-.—N. Fulton, 11 solutions in 2J hours; R. A. Cleland, 10 in hours; 0. 8a1k,.9 in 21 hours; and Rev. Fr:berg, 6 in 13 hours. The contest at Christii.urch was mainly notable for the brilliant performance put' up by Mr. ITarry Andersen, who correctly solved all the problems in 50 minutes. When the returns from g 1 over the world.are assembled, it will probably be found that very few have beaten Mr. 'Andersen's time. This is the third year that he has competed, and on each occasion hp has led the way for New Zealand. The other prize-winners in Christchurch were. Mr. W. S. King (nine solut : ons), and Mr. F. W lodford (six solutions). Taking tho three highest scorers in eacli centre, the aggregateis work out as follow:—Dunedin, 33; Christchurch, 27; and Wellington. 23. Last year's were: Wellington, 27; Dunedin, 26; Christchurch, 1G; and Auckland, 11. From this it is clear that the South Island centres have improved the'r positions, while the North Island has lost ground. The Good Companions have undoubtedly sucraedei! in awakening the interest of manv players in the nroblem side of che<ss, and it is hoped that better scores will be registered in Wellington's share of the 1921 contest.