CHESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 5, 7 January 1929, Page 17

CHESS.

THE DOMINION CHAMPION.

PLAYED GAME AS A BOY

Mr. J. A. Erskine, the new New Zealand ciiess champion, learned the same when he was about seven years old, and played a good deal as a boy, buc gave it up on entering Canterbury College. lie did not resume practice of the game .-igain until he resided 1" £?,' a C0U l )Ie oi .rears from 18HS to l»OO. riien he went to America, and eventually to Broken Hill, where he did not indulge much in chess play, until lOrwhen he removed to Melbourne. It Is as a problem composer, however, that lie was best known, and twice won Australian competitions with his problems, capping this fine achievement by winning the Good Companion problem tourney, open to the world and in which some of the best composers took part. Mr. Erskine was born in Invercarglll t>6 years ago, and educated at Canterbury College, where he secured bis ■"»*- degree in mathematics and physical science—the latter under the now eelebjiited Emeritus Professor Blckerton. He •us adopted electrical engineering as his profession, which he practised at Broken xiill.

Mr. A. W. Gyles, the runner-up, is a Wellington boy, whose parents taught him the game, both his father and mother b«ing enthusiasts in the game. Educated .-it Wellington College, he joined tiie Wellington Chess Club when 17 years of age, and won the Petherlck Shield handicap trophy in •his first year's membership. His chess record is a very fine one, sind this is tineighth time he has occupied second place in championship play, Including three ties for first place. During the war be contracted malaria at Salonika. ;md has had several recurrent attacks, one of which proved almost fatal about two years ago. and this affected his play on more than one occasion.

Mr. E. H. Severne, the third prize -winner, is one of the masters at Nelson College, whose chief subject (like Mr Erskine's) Is mathematics. He also served in the Great War as a machine-gunner, and had the luck to return unscathed. In championship tourneys he has generally occupied a high position, and three times occupied second place, once missing a win from Dunlop by an oversight. The final score table was as follows:— _■ .. Won. Lost. Erskine 8 0 Gyles 7 1 Severne 4* 3} Kelling 3i 4* Hicks Si 4j iFairburn 2 j 3 J McCrea li 6A Scott 1 7

TAST WINNERS. 1879 (August)—H. Hookham, Christchureh (a). 1888-80 —A. M. Ollivier, Christchnrch (t>). 1889-90— H. Hookham, Christchureh (a) 1890-91— B. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1891-92— F. V. Biedeberg, Dunedin. 1892-93— F. V. Siedeberg. Dunedin. 1893-94 — J. Edwards, Wellington (c). 1894-93— W. Mackay, Wellington. 1895-96— W. Meldrum, Rangitikei. 1896-97— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1897-98—. R. J. Barnes, Wellington 1898-99—iR. A. Oleland, Dandein (d). 1900 (Eaeter)— W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1901 (Easter)—D. Forsyth, Dunedin (e). 1901 (Christmas)—iß. J. Barnes, Wellington 1902-03— J. C. Grlerson, Auckland. 1903-04— W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1904-05—A. W. O. Davies, Wellington (1) 1906-08— R. J. Barnes, Wellington lflOe-07—W. S. Viner, Perth (W_A.) 1908 (Baeter) —A. W. O. Davies, Wellington it). 1908-09—tF. K. Kelling, Wellington. 1909-10— J. Mason, Wellington. 1910-11— W. E. Mason, Wellington 1011-12— <W. B. Mason, Wellington! 1912-13^— J. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1013-14— W. E. Mason, Wellington. 191445— F. K. Kelllne, Wellington. 1916-17-18-19—Title vacant owing to the Great War. 1919-20^—W. B. Mason, Wellington. 1J»2O-21— J. B. Dunlop, Oamaru. 1921-22— J. B. Dunlop, Oamaru. 1922-23— J. B. Dunlop, Oamaru. 1923-24— S. Cxaikanthorp, Sydney (N.S. W.) W24-25-C. J. S. Purdy, Sydney (N.S.W.) 192f>-26—S. Crakanthorp, Sydney (N.S.W.). 1936-27— A. W. O. Davfes, Auckland (f) 1927-28—A. W. O. Daviee, Auckland (*)* 1928-29— J. A, Erstine, Melbourne (Vic), (a) Mr. Henry Hookham died to Christchurch on November 24, 1898, aged 74 years, (t>) Mr. Arthur Morton OUlvler died In Christchureh on October 20, 1®97, aged 47 years. (e) Mr. Joseph Edwards died In Dunedin on Jnly 25. 1922, aged 65 years. (4) Mr. R. A, Cleland died in Dunedin on Jnlye, 1923, aged 69 years. (e) Mr. "DBYid Forsyth died in Dunedin on December 30, 1909, aged 55 years. (f) Mr. A. W. O. Davies died in Auckland on January 16, 1928, aged 52 years. The chanvpion ship title was vacant for the remainder of the year.