CHESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8153, 4 June 1906, Page 5

CHESS.

WELLINGTON v. WAIRARAPA.' Saturday was a "red-letter" dsy for Wairarapa ohess players, it being the occasion of the first visit of a team from Wellington. The matoh was on an unusually large scale, the number of boards, viz., twentythree, having probably never been exmseded in any previous chess contest of the kind in New Zealand. The visitors were met at the station, on Saturday night, and driven to the Prince of Wales Hotel, where accommodation had been secured for them. No time was lost in arranging the pairing of the players, the Wellington names having been telegraphed up from Petone. The'train was uearly an hour late in arriving at Masterton, consequently the first round was not quite fiuiahed on Saturday s evening, but play was sufficiently advanced at the adjournment to indicate that the match is likely to be very closely contested. The players fiom Grey town and. Featherston were unfortunately unable to attend, but several emergencies, who were called upon at short notice, played well. One of the earliest victories was that scored by young Syverstou, ffwho may surely olaim to be the youngest match player in the colony. He is only thirteen years of age, and gives promise of developing.into a good player. His win was a popular one. The home team is captained by Mr Fritz Kummer, of Mauriceville. and the visitors by Mr R. J. Barnes. Mr Barnes, who is the present champion of New Zealand, has won the ohampionsbip of the colony no less than five times. The visitors greatly enjoyed yesterday's di'ive round Olareville and Gladstone. It is confidently expected that the present contest will be i the means .of popularising the game in the Wairarapa. A quadrilateral tournament is. contemplated by ' teams representing the Bush, Masterton, Carterton Wharau), and Lower Valley. 'Fall details and scores L will appear in tomorrow's iseue.