CHESS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 265, 5 August 1929, Page 9

CHESS

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON When play ceased in the AucklandWellington telegraphic chess match, nine games were marked incomplete. Offers regarding these were subsequently made by the Wellington captain (Mr. W. Maekay), and a reply is now to hand from Mr. J. C. Grierson, who led the Auckland team. Draws are agreed to at boards 6 and 19, and a win for Wellington at board No. 17 (H. J. Thompson). As the game that was played over the board in Auckland ended in favour of the local representative, the tally is now Wellington 8, Auckland 6, with six games requiring further negotiation. Wellington’s advantage at board 2 is more pronounced than Auckland’s margin at board 13, and the local captain is therefore not keen on bracketing these two games in a globo offer as suggested by Mr. Grierson. On the other hand, he is willing to concede a win for the Aucklander who is a pawn up at board 20, provided a win is allowed to Mr. Kirkwood (Wellington), who is the exchange up at board 18. At board 10 Mr. E. S. Taylor (Wellington) can win a pawn, so the local captain suggests that this game might reasonably be offset against Auckland’s one-pawn advantage at board 13. The bout at board 15 (Cunningham v. C. W. Tanner) looks so drawish that the Auckland claim for a win is not conceded. In the event of agreement being reached at board 2, it will only be necessary to send five positions to the Canterbury Adjudication Board —i.e., 25 per cent, of the total games. [5O per cent, of the games of the recent Otago v. Canterbury fixture are now being adjudicated on in Auckland. Clocks were not used in that match.] “AUSTRALASIAN CHESS REVIEW.” Mr. Cecil Purdy, the young Australian expert who won the New Zealand championship at the Nelson congress 41 years ago, has launched a monthly publication under the above title. The news from the various States and New Zealand is most interesting, and the well-annoted games are very instructive. The problem section is ably conducted by the wellknown composer, Mr. F. T. Hawes. Two of the 30 pages are devoted to bridge (conducted by “Jack High”). The magazine is well got up, and it is a distinct advance on any previous Australasian venture of the kind. DEATH OF RICHARD RETI. Richard Reti, of Czecho-Slovakia, the well-known European chess master, who contemplated making a professional visit to Australia and New Zealand, died at Prague on June 6, aged 40 years. Reti was a leading member of the “Hypermodern School,” and his book, “Modern Ideas in Chess,” has attracted much notice. The Reti opening is named after him. Jlis post-war triumphs in tourney play include four firsts. Four years ago he put up a record for blindfold exhibitions, playing 29 games simultaneously without sight of board or men! Of these he won 20, drew 7, and lost only 2 —a truly marvellous performance. Tributes to his popularity and also to his great skill are appearing in all chess magazines and chess columns.