GAME OF CHESS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 79, 27 December 1935, Page 10

GAME OF CHESS

Mental Training Value Stressed OPENING OF CONGRESS Minister of Education’s Lack The important role which broadcasting might play in spreading the interest and knowledge of chess was stressed by Mr. A. T. Craven, president of the New Zealand Chess Association, in his address at the -15th New Zealand Chess Congress, opened yesterday morning by the Minister of Education, Hon. I. Fraser. He thought it a happy augury that there should be a Minster of the Crown present at. the opening of the congress, said Mr. Craven, aud significant that it should be the Minister of Education. However, chess-players did not ask for assistance from the Government; he was happy to say they were a self-sup-porting body. “I understand the Honourable Minister does not Play chess,” said the speaker. “That is his loss. Had fie learned the game he would in all probability have attained his high rank much .sooner.” Chess and politics had one thing in common, he added, and that was their endeavours to checkmate their opponents. The Minister Apologises.

The Hou. Mr. Fraser commenced on a humble note by apologising lor being present at all, “Since I entered I have been suffering from what is for me, I confess, au unusual complaint an inferiority complex,” said Mr. Fraser “I rise in a humble aud contrite. spirit, for I am sure you could not And a less suitable person to open your congress. I know, if possible, less than nothing about the game.” He had frequently been warned oil the game by “addicts” or “victims, who told him that if he took up chess he would have to abandon a great many other thingy, for it was impossible to take on two great tasks at once. On looking round the room and seeing so many old friends he felt like disregarding those warnings. For people to compete with each other at games was surely very much more sensible than slaughtering each other, and Mr. Fraser agreed that he could see no reason why international chess matches should not be played by radio. He had stood for many years for the broadcasting of Parliament, because he felt, that people were entitled to know what, their representatives were saying and doing. He could not see why such games as chess should not also be broadcast, for he was sure that followers of the game would find great interest in following matches in their own homes. Au international championship would be a great help to world brotherhood. Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, chairman of the Wellington Chess League, made a plea for the encouragement of chess in the schools.

The president of the Wellington Chess League, Mr. F. K. Kelling, drew a parallel between chess aud politics, emphasising that each was trying to make the best possible move. It had been said of the Rt. Hon. Richard John Seddon that when small clouds appeared ou the political horizon he could distinguish between those which would not grow bigger and those which, if not attended to. would grow large and ominous. In chess an opponent might make half a dozen attacks; some did not matter, but if others were not countered there would quickly be a nought against one s name on the score board. LAST NIGHT’S GAMES Play in the forty-fifth annual New land chess championship opened in the Wellington Chess Club’s rooms yesterday. There will be two four-hour sessions today, the first beginning at 1.15 p.m.. and the final rounds will be played on Monday, January 6. . Results of yesterday's play are as lotlow :— . . Major Championship.—l'irst roumi: Rutherford j, Baeyertl i ; Scott 0. Gues’ 1; Dver 0. Kelling 1; Jones v. Anderson, unfinished: Purdy v. Severn, unfinished; Beyer 1, Erskine 0; Berry 1, Abbott 0. Abbott lost his game on the clock. Minor Championship.—First round : Anderson 0, Brown 1; Fairburn 1, Stewart 0; J. S. Goldsmith v. R. Christensen, unfinished : H. Christensen 1, Hutchins 0; Kirkwood 1, Langley 0; Watt and Hardy had fives so they played the seventh round in advance, which was unfinished. Women's Championship. — hirst round: Mrs. Abbott 1. Mrs. Thorpe 0: Mm. Short 1, Mrs. Goldsmith 0.