CHESS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 7

CHESS

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE DOMINION.

The annual tourney to decide tho chess championship of New Zealand fox--1927 is scheduled to commence in Auck. land on December 27. Play is to take place in the spacious room of the Auckland Chess Club, 42 His Majesty’s Arcade, Queen Street, and ululated clubs are now looking into the matter of being represented in this contest as entries have to reach Mr. C. W. Tanner, tho lion, secretary of the New Zealand Chess Association on or before December 1. At the last committee meeting of the Wellington Chess Club if was decided to nominate Messrs. G. P. Anderson, E. A. Hicks. A. W. Gyles, and T. Fouliy, if they can arrange to make the trip. The chess players of tho Wellington Working Men’s Club and Literary Institute decided on Saturday evening to nominate Messrs. R. J. Barnes and F. K. Kelling The former, whose many triumphs during the past 37 years have gained him an Australasian reputation, is on the sick list at present, but it ih hoped that he will be well again before Christmas. The Masterton Chess Chib is nominating Mr. Paul Kummer, who has put up a fine record in playing at the board in several of his club’s matches. Although handicapped by lack of practice he can be relied on to worthily continue the high standard formerly set by his illustrious cousin, F. W. Kummer. Mr. W. 11. S. Hughes, of Oliura, is to make his second bid lox the championship on this occasion. His first bid was made at the Wellington Congress three ago, when he showed much promise. The Hamilton Club is sending two sterling players in Messrs. Bullock and Fenwick. The latter was the only competitor to score a win from the cht’inpion, Mr. Crackenthorp, at the Dunedin Congress, a year ago. The South Island contributes four strong candidates in Messrs. J. B. Dunlop, of Oamax-u (three times champion of New Zealand), B. W. Stenhouse (champion of the Otago Chess Club), E. H. Severno (the Nelson champion), and Rev, A. Miller (a former. Auckland champion, who is now a resident of Westport). The Auckland contingent will be led by Mr. J. A. Moir (who recently won the chainnionship of the Auckland Club for tho fifth consecutive .year), and Mr. D. I. Jones (who has been runner up to Mr. Moir in the last two Auckland four, noys). Other prominent New Zealand enthusiasts may also be taking part. It was thought until recently that Mr. S. Crockenthorp, of Sydney would not be able to get sufficient leave of absence to enable him to defend tho title that he won so handsomely at Dunedin a year ago. It looks, however, as if he has succeeded in overcoming the difficulty of leave, as the September number of “The Austral” has the following: “It is not thought that. Mr. S. Crackenthorp will be a competitor fox the New South Wales State championship on this occasion Tie is the holder of both the New Zealand and Australian titles, and, in view of his defending tho former at Christmas time, he might reasonably be expected to reserve himself for that event.” AH doubts regarding the entry list will probably be cleared up in a fortnight’s time. Tho Auckland Chess Club has appointed a strong committee to carry out this championship tourney, which promises ito bo a. very successful and most interesting contest.