OVER THE WIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 159, 8 July 1935, Page 11

OVER THE WIRES.

CHESS BY TELEGRAPH.

BLEDISLOE CUP MATCH.

AUCKZiAND V. WEIXINGTON.

The annual telegraphic chess match for the Bledislo© Cup, Auckland versus Wellington, was started on Saturday night, and will be completed next Saturday. Auckland has the strongest team of 20 players placed at the boards for some years, but Wellington is also strongly represented, and it ie difficult to say from the first night's play which team will gain first place. On appearances the tourney is exceedingly even, but as play is necessarily slow, each move having to be telegraphed, the first evening's play can scarcely be taken as a guide to the result. On board No. 1, A. Pickett, the Auckland Club champion, got into difficulties early in the game, and he is a pawn down, with the chance of josing a piece, and his position is rather cramped. He has a seasoned opponent in A. W. Gyles, who has been prominent in congress gatherings ror many 4 years. At the other end of the boards, Dr. Short, playing in last position, is a piece up, and, barring accidents, should win his game. It is a coincidence that his opponent ie also a member of the medical profession. Mrs. Short, playing on board 18, has also a won game, and when moves were scaled had a strong position, with two pawns to the good. On ■Doard 10 H. Lees has an advantage with a pawn up. C. A. Langabeer, at board 17, may be able to extricate himself from a dangerous position, but at closing time had suffered the loss of a piece. Taking the boards on the whole, there is not much between the teams so far, but chess is a game of many surprisee, and it is too early yetito predict the result. Excellent Spirit. The game was played in excellent spirit, and the moves camo over the wires much more expeditiously than ever before. As many as 23 moves have been niade on one 0r two boards, while the average number works put at about; 19. To expedite, play the Telegruph Department installed a Morse instrument in tho Auckland Club's rooms, and there was no delay in sending or receiving,. A large team of willing helpers acted as scrutineers, and players did not have to wait long either for dispatch or reception. The Auckland team was captained by the club president, Mr. H. Oakley Browne, while Mr. A. W. Gyles was captain of the Wellington team. Mr. S. Faulknor acted as umpire at Wellington for Auckland, while Mr, A. B. Dallow acted in the Same capacity , for Wellington at Auckland. The scrutineers air Auckland were Mrs. E. Thorpe, Miss. P. Short, Messrs. W. Jenkins, It. A. McDonald, J. Prescott, T. N. Bell and M. McNabb. • Wellington won the toss and played white oil the even numbers. Play started at 6.30 p.m. and moves were sealed at 11.45. In the same tournament Wellington played Christchurch, and the winners of each island will play off later to decide which team will hold the Bledisloe Cup for one year. The games:— The Teams. Auckland. Wellington' "Opening. " 1 Pickett Gyles Sicilian : 2 Jones Dyer Q., p. 3 Addis Anderson Cnro Kann 4 Buchan Mason K. p 5 Baeyertz Hardy v Alek. D. 6 Burry Godtschalk- .Scotch gt. 7 Hughes Crnven Q. p. " 8 Lennard Kelling Ruy Lopez 9 Sale Wigham ■ Bird 10 Lees White , Q. p. 11 Gallaher Morton Q. g. 12 King Fairburn Sicilian 13 Jeffreys Otto Q K 14 Newtek Slmm I'blish 15 Adkins Wild Vienna 1C Barker Jessup Uuy Lopez 17 Langabeer Webling Reti 18 Mrs. Short Grady 4 kts. 19 Browne Ashby Centre g. 20 Dr. Short Dr. Bakowell Q. p.