CHESS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 131, 26 February 1921, Page 5

CHESS

PROBLEM-SOLVING CONTEST. Tho Good Companion Chess Problem Club, an international body with headquarters in America, was formed eight years ago for the purpose of promoting the study and composition of problems. With this object in view the Good Com■panions publish a monthly magazine devoted entirely to the problem side of chess, and they also hold a solving contest annually on February 22 (George Washington’s birthday). The local contest was accordingly held on Tuesday evening, the Wellington Chess Club lending its rooms nt 52 Cuba Street for the occasion. Mr. C. AV. Tanner, the North Island vice-president of the Good Companion Club, briefly explained what was being done by the club to promote the study of problems, and stressed the advantages of 'membership. ’He then handed each of the thirteen competitors a printed sheet containing the twelve two-move problems, and in declaring the contest open announced that 2} hours would be allowed for the solving. The competitors were soon busy with their tasks, and any casual visitor dropping in at this time would at first glance have thought that the assembled chessists were not as sociable as usual! There was, for once, no discussion on cricket, bow’ls, or nny other sport, and in fact an unusual quiet reigned. At the expiry of the 2| hours Mr. Gyles, sen., who acted as supervisor, opened the sealed envelope containing tho key moves, and was able to award the five book prizes as follows:— No. of Solutions. Time. 1 D Purchas 12 2hrs. 14-mins. o F K Kelling 10 2hrs. 27mins. 3. A.‘ AV. Gyles 9 2hrs. 15mins. 4. (Tie) J. C. Anderson 9 2hrs. 30rnins. 4. (Tie) S. Faulknor 9 2hrs. SOmins. Mr. Purchas, the Wellington South champion, has thus won this contest two years in succession. He received a wellmerited round of applause when it was known that he had solved all the problems, some of which were rather ‘‘tricky.’’ The runners-up were Messrs. D L. Bruton and E. >S. Taylor, and close behind them came Messrs. Ashe, Wring, and H. M. Rosenberg. AVhcn the results aro to hand from Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, and Nelson it will be possible to mako some interesting comparisons, and of course New Zealand solvers will be able later on to see how they compare with those who tackled these same twelve problems in various oversea countries in both hemispheres.