CHESS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18149, 12 August 1924, Page 14

CHESS.

♦_ "KOSTICfI WEEK."

"Kostich Week" was opened in Christchuxeh last evening, when the distinguished chess master, if. Boris Kostich, played timuitaneous gam/58 against local chess players. In introducing the' visitor, Mr W. H. Joyce, president of the Canterbury Chess Club, referred to his great reputation amongst the master chess players of the world, and mentioned several of his accomplishments in the Dominion in simultaneous and blindfold displays. Up to the present he had played close on 120 games, and only two had been lost. Canterbury players would be proud even to draw with him. Mr Kostich, in reply, said he hoped all would enjoy the games about to be played. He would make them as instructive as possible, for the real object of his tour was not to win games, but to give New Zealand chess players an insight into the modern methods of chess as illustrated by the masters.

Against 34 players, which constitutes a record for one session in New Zealand, Mr Kostich then pitted himself. At first several were surprised at the remarkable speed and grasp over the positions which the visitor displayed, and in a short time some of the local players found themselves in a hopeless position. At many boards, however, fine open games were witnessed, and Mr Kostich delighted all with brilliant forced phases of play, frequently sacrificing in complicated positions, and thus gaining a superior end game. At the close of the evening only two of the games were unfinished. One, that between Mr H. Kennedy and Mr Kostich, will be played over later. Kennedy has a very fine pawn position, and is able to hold his • opponent's position and advance his king up the board. However, Mr Kostich has a safe game, and will probably manoeuvre into a draw. Of the remaining games, 23 were won by Mr Kostich, and ten drawn. Those who secured draws were: H. J. Quarrell, W. S. King, Dirk Phil, F. H. R. Neville, R. S. Shillito, W. B. Clark, E. Dalton, E. S. Ward, J. 0. Chapman, and A. Joyce. Of these, both Mr Neville and Mr E. S. Shillito appeared to have' strong positions, but later Mr Kostich pointed out that lie would have little difficulty in securing a draw. Those whom the visitor defeated were: H. L. Andersen (ex-club champion), F. Woodford (present club champion), T. Hawkins, Rev.' N. Friberg, W. H. Joyce, A. Cant, R. Lovell-Smith, R. W. Pascoe, C. L. King, A. J. Stephens, W. Harding, C. L. Hart, T. L. Drummond, G. R. Wallace, I„ Spiller, W. W. Spencer, W. E. Turgis, T. L. Gant, R. B. Deakin, G. H. Garbutt, D. Gibb, A. Clarke, and A. J. Stephens. Mr Kostich expressed himself as greatly pleased with the standard of play. In several of the games tjie resistance had been as solid as he had met before in the Dominion. He felt more satisfied when all the games were finished-within the evening, as»it would be most instructive to tho&e who claimed draws to play out the end game, and see what were the essential points for advantage. To-night, Mr Kostich will give demonstrations and lectures at the Canterbury Chess Club rooms in Inglis' Buildings. Considering -the splendid attendance last evening, it is expected the visit will prove most popular and a great success.