CHESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1938, Page 7

CHESS

—♦ VISIT OF MR G. KOSHNITSKY TO MASTERTON. SIMULTANEOUS GAMES PLAYED. Mr Gregory Koshnitsky, a wellknown Australian chess champion whose two months’ tour of New Zealand is rapidly drawing to a close, fulfilled his Masterton engagement last evening. Since he came to the Dominion about eight weeks ago he has visited Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Wanganui, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington. Lectures to chess clubs and addresses in several schools have given variation to his heavy programme of simultaneous displays. He has, however, found time to visit the chief tourist resorts of the Dominion.

Yesterday afternoon he was welcomed by Mr H. P. Glen at the Wairarapa College, and gave an informative address to two dozen pupils, a number that would have been much larger but for the prevailing epidemic of measles. In the evening he gave a very successful simultaneous display in the Odd Fellows’ Hall against 25 opponents of whom 11 came from the South Wairarapa, 12 from Masterton, and two from Kummerstein. In a little under four hours Mr Koshnitsky, who. was introduced by the local president, Mr A. Clemas, had completed his strenuous task with the good tally of 21 wins and 4 draws (secured by Messrs A. Clemas, B. Clemas, W. N. Kummer and G. M. Cleghorn). In returning thanks for the kindnesses shown him Mr Koshnitsky made it plain that he had enjoyed his New Zealand tour immensely, and that he was looking forward to competing in the Dominion’s Centenary Championship Congress in 1940. It may be added that his New Zealand aggregate is now as follows:— Games played, 781; won, 663, drawn, 85, and lost only 33. Two of the College scholars were the last to lower their colours to the distinguished visitor in yesterday’s display. Mr Koshnitsky, who leaves for Sydney on Friday, is to give the final simultaneous display of his present tour at Wellington this evening, so he should, apparently, have no difficulty in maintaining his present percentage of wins, viz., 90. Mr F. K. Kelling, who accompanied Mr Koshnitsky from Wellington, voiced the gratitude of the New Zealand Chess Association for the splendid work that Mr and Mrs Clemas and Mr H.P. Glen were doing for chess in this area. It is hoped that the old-time fixture Wairarapa v. Wellington will be revived next year and that this 'district will be well represented in the Wellington City v. Provincial match that is scheduled to be played in Palmerston North on September 17.