Mr J. Hunter club stalwart

Press, 26 April 1984, Page 17

Mr J. Hunter club stalwart

Mr Jim Hunter, a life member of the Canterbury Chess Club, died recently. ■ He was made a life member at the annual meeting in 1982. He had had a long association with the club, winning the club championship in 1936 and 1941. Mr Hunter gave to the club his chess library of 200 books and a bookcase. The valuable collection would have cost the club about $41500 to buy. Mr Arie Nijman, another life member of the club, said that the death of Mr Hunter was a big loss to the club. He said that Mr Hunter had been a hard worker right to the time of his death, and continued to play good chess and assist in fund raising and working bees even when suffering poor health. Mr Hunter made a significant contribution to the centenary of the club, organising stalls and devoting much of his free time to ensure the success of the occasion. Mr Hunter, who took keen interest in coaching young players, played in many

New Zealand championships and was among the country’s best players in the late 1930 s and early 19405. He was noted for his sportsmanship. When the world correspondence chess champion and Australian champion, Mr C. J. S. Purdy, visited the Canterbury Chess Club in the late 19305, he played six of Canterbury’s leading players (including Mr Hunter) blindfolded. The Australian made an early blunder against Mr Hunter who quietly and quickly asked that the move be reconsidered, an opportunity gladly accepted by Purdy. Mr Hunter played many quality games and was well versed with “book” drills. The game detailed was played two years ago at the Canterbury club against Warwick Norton, one of many talented young players who have gained experience by competing in the annual schools’ competition sponsored by “The Press.” Mr Hunter played white and he mated his opponent

in 31 moves in a game in which he proved devastatingly efficient.

1. White: J. H. Hunter Black: W. A. Norton e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 N16 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. 14 Qc7 8. Qf3 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. 0-0-0 b4 11. Na4 N(b)d7 12. R(h)el Nc5 13. Nxc5 dxc5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Bc4 Bd6 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. e5 Be7 19. Bxe6 Bd8 20. Rd7 Qxd7 21. Bxd7 Kg7 22. exf6+ Bxf6 23. Qg4+ Kf8 24. Q15 Kg7 25. Qxc5 R(h)d8 26. Re7+ Bxe7 27. Qxe7+ Kg6 28. 15+ Kh6 29. g4 Rf8 30. h4 Rd8 31. Qg5 mate.