CHESS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 195, 15 May 1922, Page 6

CHESS

WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB The seventeenth annual meeting of the Wellington South Chess Club was held last week in the Newtown Publio Library, the chair being occupied by Mr. W. Berry (president). The report and balance-sheet presented by the retiring hen. secretary, Mr. J. E. Round, were of a gratifying nature. There is a credit balance of £1 45., and there are no liabilities. There are nineteen active and one honorary member on the roll. The annual handicap tourney was once more won by the club champion, Mr. D. Purchas, who has kindly given back the club’s silver Knight trophy for further competition. The second prize depends on an outstanding game—Messrs. H. Welton, A. Clark, and J. E. Round—all being in the running. The club lost its annual fixture with the Working Men’s Club, and the first of two matches against Ngaio. Tiro return fixture against Ngaio ended in a tie, and the annual two round match with Masterton was won. The club was ably represented at the an-' nual New Zealand Congress by Mr. A. W. Gyles, who again came near to champion snip honours, dividing second place with Mr. E. H. Severne, of Nelson. The annual world-wide problemsolving contest of the Good Companion Club was held on February 22, George Washington’s birthday. Mr. Purchas won the all-Wellington contest for the third year in succession, and by solving all the twelve problems in. a little over two hours, he once mors registered the best New Zealand performance. Suitable reference is made to the deaths of Mr. J. W. F. McDougall (w’ho founded the club on June 8, 1905, and was its first hon. secretary), and of Mr. W. J. Harper, for many years one of the club’s strongest players, and a most popular and highlyesteemed vice-president. The club has entered a senior and a junior team for the'Wellington Chess League’s contests. The report and balance-sheet were favourably commented on, and adopted unanimously. The election of offices resulted as follows:—President, Mr. W. Berry; vicepresidents, Dr. J. H. Kemp and Messrs. W. B. P. Perrott. A. Clark, D. Purchas, and F. K. Kelling: hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. HHart; committee, Messrs. H. Douglas, J. E. Round, and W. B. Clark; auditor. Mr H. J. Thompson; delegates to New Zealand Chess Association, Mr. D. Purchas; delegates to Wellington Chess League, Messrs. H. H. Hart and H. Douglas. ' Hearty votes of thanks -were accorded to Mr. J. E. Round, the retiring hon. secretary, and also to Mr.. D. Purchas, for' giving back the silver Knight trophy that he had won outright. The question of securing another club room will, it is understood, have to be considered at Tuesday’s committee meeting, the present premises not being available for a further lease. THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP The final cablegram sent from Melbourne on May 1 incorrectly stated that Mr. Davies,. the New Zealand competitor, had tied for third place with S. Crakanthorp and others. According to papers that have since come to hand from Australia, the prize list is as follows: —C. G. Watson (Victoria), 11 points, 1; W. S. Viner (New South Wales), lOt points, 2; S. Crakanthorp (New South Wales), 10 points, 3; A. W. 0 Davies (New Zealand), G. Gundersen (Victoria), C. G. Steele (Victoria), and C. R. Boyce (Queensland), tie, each with 8 points, 4. Mr. Watson’s win takes the Australian title to Victoria for the first time. He was taught chess in his teens, ana was onlv nineteen years of age when he won the championship of Victoria at his first attempt —a title, that he has gained several times m "his successful career. He is a managing director in an insurance company, and will be paying a business visit to various New Zealand centres before the close of the present year. He will sail next month for England, to take part in the big international tourney that is to be held in London in August next. His many Australasian admirers hope to read of his making a good showing when pitted against the world’s leading players. Mr. Davies arrived in Wellington by the Paloona yesterday, en route for Dunedin. During the day he got in touch with some of our local enthusiasts, and gave them some very interesting information regarding the recent Australian congress.