CHESS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17611, 14 November 1922, Page 4

CHESS.

"WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. The annual telegraphic chess match, Wellington v. Canterbury, was concluded on Saturday evening, the local team playing in the Canterbury Chess Club's rooms, Inglis Buildings, where a telegraphic instrument was installed with a through wire to the opposing team in Wellington. Twenty boards were played, a decision being reached at thirteen. The seven unfinished games will bo analysed by the two captains, and in the ovent of disagreement they will be forwarded to the Auckland Adjudication Board for decision. The telegraphing arrangements were admirable, the operating being in the experienced hands of Messrs S. T. Seward (Christchurch) and G. Clark (Wellington). Mr W. F. Robinson acted as umpire for Wellington locally, and Mr W. Toomath acted in a similar capacity for Christchurch in Wellington. Messrs Pascoe, Buckhurst, and Spencer were the local scrutineers. Play commenced at 6.30-p.m., and continuedVtill midnight, tho result being: Wellington 6J games, Canterbury 6J, and 7 unfinished. Tho final score of the match should bo very close. The details of the individual games are as follows, the. Canterbury players being mentioned first in-each instance:— • Board 1, H..L. Andersen (captain) v. B. J. Barnes—Barnos lost two pawns, on the first evening's play. On Saturday Andersen made the most of his advantage, and by pressing the attack forced the exchanges. Barnes was unable to prevent Andersen queening a pawn, and resigned a hopeless contest on the fifty-third move. Board 2, Hans Kennedy v. E. A. Hicks— This was a very stubborn fight all through, without, the slightest advantage on either side at any stage. A draw .was agreed upon —the position being practically blocked. Board 3, Rev. N. Friberg v. .W. E. Mason (captain))— Mason forced the attack, giving up .his queen for. two knights and a rook. The game is unfinished, but the position appears to strongly favour Wellington. Board 4, W. S.King v. t A. W. Gyles—A very interesting game'. King, giving up a knight for three pawns, tested all Gyles's well-known ingenuity in warding a, strong attack. Through an oversight, King allowed Gyles to counter-attack and , win, King resigning at the close of play. Board 5, H. J. Armstrong v. W. Mackay— An even tussle, a draw b'eing agreed to at the close of play. Board 6, T. Hawkins v. F. K. Kelling—A hard game. Hawkins, gaining the upper hand, pressed Kelling strongly, who, however, played an admirable defensive game. The game goes. for adjudication favouring Canterbury. Board 7, H. J. Quarrell v. G. P. Ander-son-—Quarrell early lost the exchange, and fighting a rearguard action, prepared a pretty trap for a perpetual check, which Anderson cleverly avoided, and relentlessly wore Quarrell down, who resigned a hopeless game at the fiftieth move. Board 8, E. W. Cave v. T. Fouhy—This game goes for adjudication favouring Wellington. Cave played a stubborn game the whole evening, with a bishop down. Board 9, R. Lovell-Smith ' v. H. E. Crandle —Lovell-Smith failed to recover the piece lost on the first evening's play, Crandle steadily forcing the exchanges. Lovell-Smith resigned at the forty-ninth move. Board 10, F. Woodford v. H. G. LeeWoodford won a piece, but by a clever counter-attack on Woodford's castled king Lee won the game-on the call of time. Board 11, W. H. Joyce v. F. J. Brooker— Brooker strongly 'defended his position against Joyce's attacks, and with even positions and pieces a draw was agreed upon. Board 12, J. E. Stevens v. H. Stevens gained the upper hand, and with two pawns to the good and rook against a knight, forced Jessup to resign an untenable gamo. Board 13, F; H. R. Neville v. E. Hirter— Neville won Hirter's queen on tho twentyeighth move, and with superior forces forced Hirter's resignation. Board 14, J. O. Chapman v. E. S. TaylorChapman gained the upper hand in this game, which is unfinished, and goes to the adjudicators favouring Canterbury. Board 15, H. I. Bennett v. 0. W. Tanner —Tanner, who had the better position at the commencement of Saturday's play, steadily improved his game, and forced Bennett's resignation at the thirty-eighth move. Board 16, A. Clark v. W. J. Fairburn—A very stubborn game, Clark gaining a pawn, which he retains. The game goes for adjudication, favouring Canterbury slightly. Board 17, B. S. Shillito v. A. Gyles— Shillito won Gyles's queen for two bishops, exposing Gyles's king to a continuous attack from which there was no escape, and Gyles was' mated after ten consecutive checks. Board 18, E. Dalton v. A. L. Lawson— After heavy exchanges, Dalton evened up the pawn position lost on the first evening's play. In end game play, Dalton outmanoeuvred Lawson, and threatening to queen a pawn forced Lawson's resignation. Board 19, B. Shillito v. Mrs A. Gyles— Shillito gained two pawns after strenuous fighting, which he still retains. The game goes on for adjudication, favouring Canterbury slightly. Board 20, C. L. Hart v. A. E. Jessup— Jessup holds the two pawns advantage gained on the first night. The game is unfinished, and goes before the adjudicators seeming to favour the Wellington player. CANTERBURY v. NELSON. After correspondence'between the two raptains, Messrs H. L. Andersen (Canterbury), and E. H. Severne (Nelson), the following decisions on the unfinished games have been agreed to:—Board 1 (Andersen v. Severne), drawn game; Board 3 (Rev. N. Friberg v. B. Trathen), drawn game; Board 5 (Hawkins v. Angus), win for Canterbury; Board 7 (Cave v. Griffin), drawn game; Board 8 (Lovell-Smith v. G. D. Kemp), win for Canterbury; Board 9 (J. E. Stevens v. Mowbray), win for NeUon. The result of the match is therefore a win for Canterbury by nine games to five.