Challenge for champions in "The Press” chess

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 19

Challenge for champions in "The Press” chess

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

Christchurch Boys’ High Scho j! has dominated schools’ chess for the last three years, but it might be hard-pressed to retain its title when the roundrobin final in the 1976 teams tournament sponsored by “The Press” starts this week. However, the Christchurch team must still start the play-off as favourite. Several of the school’s best players were not available for most of the preliminary rounds and seldom was the team at full strength. The performance of Christchurch in remaining unbeaten against six opponents — it drew against Hiilmorton —revealed the depth in chess at the school. The team’s liaison officer, Mr Roger Keating, exper ts the team to be at full strength for the final three rounds. Two members of the 1975 successful team. Mark Steel and Terence Wong, played only one matcn each in the preliminary competition. Robert Benne’t shouldered the responsibility on the top board for half the matches and managed three wins. But he had a solid core of players below him, all of whom comoiled impressive records. David Cairns, on b >aru two mostly, had three wins and three draws; Warwick Norton scored five wins and a draw on the middle boards: and Giles Bates had four wins, one draw and a loss. Norton and Bates were

the top players for Heaton Intermediate in the B grade of the competition in 1975 and should prove valuable members of the Christchurch team in future years. Christchurch was well served on the bottom boards where another young player, Stephen Pankhurst, had five successive wins before losing his 'ast match to his Hiilmorton opponent. Hammond Williamson stood in for Christchurch in four of the matches and finished with a perfect record. Hiilmorton was the second qualifier from zone two of the A grade. It was unbeaten also, although it finished half a point behind Christchurch when held to a draw by Burnside E. Hiilmorton has been represented in every tournament since 1971. but has had to wait until this year to make the top four for th ? first time. Nigel Dixon. Alan Black and Mark Laffey — al! competing for the third successive year — gave experience to the top half of the team. Their sound appreciation of the game made them difficult to beat, although all suffered at least one loss. Terry Woolhouse, on board four, Craig Owen, on five, and Peter Crosby, on six, made their debuts last year and have improved their games considerably. They' won a high percentage of their games and ‘Woolhouse was the

only player to upset the capable Christchurch player, Pankhurst. Hillmorton had the same team for each round — except when it had to default the bottom board against Ashburton — and the team spirit was high. Shirley and Christ’s College were clear winners of zone 1. Shirley appeals as the team most likely to threaten Christchurch’s reign. It won 24 of a possible 30 individual games, and its only sign of weakness was on the bottom board where Steve Cowen lost three contests. The Shirley No. 1, Roger Falloon. and the board four player, Stuart Rynsberger, have been in the team since 1973 — they were both unbeaten. On board two, the experienced Scott Bermingham won three of his four games. Andrew Linton had three wins and a draw on board three, and Antony Raizis provided splendid support on board five with two wins and two draws. Christ’s College mixed its performances, but was obviously strong on the lower boards where the No. 5. Geoffrey Gillian won four of his five games, and Timothy Eustace, on six, had five straight successes. The top four players finished with the same record. Matthew Phillips, Jonathan Wyles. John Warren and Peter Johnston aii scored two wins, two losses and one draw.