CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 12

CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

WORKING MEN’S CLUB REPOR’I’. The thirty-second annual report of the chess and draughts section of the Wellington Working Men’s Club and Literary Institute states that 'the post year has been very satisfactory*. The opening of the season took place on June 12 with a chess match, in which 24 members took part. S’des were chosen by the captain (Mr. R. J. Barnes) and vice-captain (Mr. F. K. Kelling), the former’s team winning by two points. The prizes in the annual handicap chess tourney were won as follow: Ist, J. Burgess; 2nd, S. Faulkner; 3rd, W. White; 4th, C. T. Edmunds; sth, P. Bitoesi. As Mr. Burgess also camo first in the previous year he now wins Mr. H. Douglas’s handsome trophy outright —a fine performance. In February last twelve members took part in an Evans Gambit accepted tourney, the winner being Mr. F.'ll. Ryan, a returned soldier, who gives promise of going a long way in the game. Mr. H. M. Ashe (formerly of Perth, W.A.), took th.o second prize. The draughts tourney was, as usual, a sealed handicap tourney. Unfortunately the envelope containing the sealed handicap has been lost, and the prize-list can not therefore be announced. The best tallies in the actual play are:—J. Burgess, 31—5; C. Manson, 25—10; J. Kent, 24—12; J. Reid, 23—13; and J. Wright, l3 J-. z In regard to interclub matches the report says:—"We lost our annual fixture with the Wellington South Chess Club <71—124), and also a chess match against the watersiders (SJ—7J). We were successful against the Ngaio Chess Club 4j). In September we lost our annual draughts fixture with the ivatersid ens (13—17), and the latter thus retain thu local championship shield for another The title for the chess championship of* New Zealand was competed for at Dunedin during the Christmas holidays, and was handsomely won by Mr. J. B. J’’ 111 " lop, of Oamaru. The club’s competitor, Mr. F.' K. Kelling, on this occasion tailed to get into the prize-list, being outclassed by abler opponents, the inability of Messrs. Barnes and Faulkner to take part in this contest is greatly ro Br Thecontest for the draughts championship of New Zealand was held m the social hall during the Easter holidays, a sealed handicap tourney being combined with it. There were 17 competitors from various parts of New Zealand. After a week’s strenuous play the championship title was regained by Mr. J. A. Boreham, of Dunedin, who now holds it for the fifth time. The club was represented by Messrs. C. Manson and T. Costello, who both played steadily and well. Mr. Alanson, with a handicap of 13 points, won the first prize in the handicap tourney, and Mr. Costello (handicap 10 points) won the second prize. They are to be heartily congratulated on their success. The annual all-Wcllington contest foe the solving of 12 two-move chess problems was held, ns "sual, on lebrnary 22 (George Washington s birthday), rvo of the club’s members were prominent, the second prize going to Mr. !■. AKelling (10 solutions), and the fourth prize to Mr. S. Faulkner (nine solutions). "During the past twelve months, continues the report, "we have recorded, with much regret, six deaths, as folio: ■ (a) Mr. W. Brown, for many years one Of our strongest chess players, who proved his sterling worth in a large num be of matches, tourneys, and congresses, (b) Mr T. Carmichael, a former very popular president, to whose valued in our midst we are so greatly indebted, (c) Mr. J. P. Key, a pnze-wiiper in our 1912, 1914, and 1915 chess tourneys after which consistent successes he dropped out of this annual contest through becoming the club’s librarian; (d) Mr. A. Fisk, fo several years our chairman, an which canaci'iy he rendered us many valuable seiwicJ; (e) Mr. W Chatfield who d.ed at Berhampore on Sunday last, April J, was in our first chess tourney (held in 1889), and (f) Mr. A. 1. Peake who died on April 7, won the fiSt prize in our 1915 chess tourney, and the Scend prize in the following year. In eaTinstance our sympathy has gone ,out to the members of the bereaved famlly<: We desire to return thanks for ’hospitaHty extended to our representatives Fn various matches, and also to thank the general committee of the club for continuing the kind encouragement given by previous executives for more than 30 veaFs past. In conclusion, we would urge members to make the most of thesplendid opportunities now before them so tW* the club’s activities may be well sustained in the season that we are about to enter on.’’