LARGE-SCALE CHESS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 45, 17 November 1936, Page 2

LARGE-SCALE CHESS

Wellington v. Rest of

Province

Chess matches between Wairarapa and Wellington (which were begun iu 1966), aud matches against Manawatu players (which date back to 1920), have all proved very enjoyable, but of late years country clubs have found it increasingly difficult to raise teams for these annual encounters. Owing to this cause, aud the success of the annual Auckland-Waikato fixture, negotiations have recently been made by Messrs. A. I. Harper (hon. secretary of the Palmerston North Chess Club) and H. N. Robie (bon. secretary of the Wellington Chess League) for a match on a large scale, "Wellington City v. Rest of Province.” Their efforts have been crowned with success, aud the new fixture was happily inaugurated at Palmerston North on Saturday afternoon. In his opening remarks Mr. H. Christensen, the president of the Palmerston North Chess Club, extending a welcome to visitors from several centres, expressed pleasure at seeing such a fine gathering of enthusiasts to inaugurate a larger match than any that had previously been held in the district. He felt sure, he said, that this reunion would do much to stimulate interest in the game, and improve the standard of play in the centres represented. He added that as some of those who were taking part had long journeys to make at the conclusion of the match, it was proposed to adjudicate on any firstround garnet; that were not finished by 5.30 p.m., and to terminate play in the return round when supper was served at 9.30 p.m. The pairings were then announced, and play was quickly in progress. Two additional pairings were made at the evening session. Palmerston North contributed 16 players to the combined team, Wanganui 2. Levin 4, Feilding 2, Woodville 2, Pahiatua 1, and Shannon 1. The Wellington team included A. W. Gyles (the present Dominion champion), nine members of the Goldsmith family (Brooklyn), and E. Galliehan, who was president of the Ashhurst Ches’s Club 48 years ago. The first round gave the City representatives a useful lead of 17 points (21-j to 41). The Combined team did markedly better when the return round was contested at the evening session. The final tally was City 49, Rest of Province 13. The match was, in reality, more stubbornly contested than these figures might imply. It was mainly to their greater knowledge of the end-game that the City enthusiasts owed the comfortable margin of points in their favour. That a knowledge of the end-game is most helpful to success in match play is yearly becoming more widely recognised. At board 1. R. O. Scott, the Wanganui champion, made an even score (1-1) against the holder of the New Zealand title. At board 2E. 13. Hicks, the Ngaio champion, obtained a draw and a win from A. I. Harper, who won the Palmerston North championship recently be defeating R. Christensen in s game that ran to 135 moves. This beats the 133-move game that wag played in 1911 in a Wellington ladder match between the late Mr. H. L. James and F. K. Kelling. At the conclusion of the match Messrs. J. I. Goldsmith (chairman of Wellington Chess League) and F. K. Kelling (president) returned thanks for the enjoyable time that the visitors greatly appreciated. The final speaker was Mr. J. B. Fleck, vice-president of the Palmerston North Chess Club, who thanked the Wellington players for their visit. Ho felt sure that the members of the combined team had learnt much from their more experienced opponents, and greatly appreciated the various lessons taught them, he said He trusted that there would be an even larger attendance next year, when the 1937 fixture was staged. The results of Saturday’s match are as follows: — City. Kest of Province.

Gvles, A. W. ... 1 Scott, It 0 1 Hicks, B. E. ... 1* Harper, A. I i Byer. K H Christensen, It I Hardy, J. L. ... 1 O’Shaughnessy, Emery, W. J. ... 1 O'Shaughnessy, W. F. 0 Dyer, E. J- .1-1 Townsend, H. H. 4 Kelling, F. K. .. 2 Beverley. J 0 Morton, J. 2 Dowling. IV. P. . 0 White, W 2 Williams. K 0

Arlow. E. J 2 Stewart, A 0 Sim. R. C 2 Morris, O, C 0 Jessup, A. E. ... 2 Eames, R. ,T 0 Robie. IT. N. ... 2 Munro, M 0 Glasgow, J. A. . 0 Humphreys, L. .. 2 Godtsehalk, R. A. 2 Davey, L. 9 Goldsmith. A. S. 2 Brill. 0 9 Goldsmith. Mrs. I Fleck. J. R 1 Emerv. W. J. .. 1 Christensen, n. . 0 Carr.'l,. G 1 Christensen, H. . 0 Goldsmith. L. .. 2 Thwaitos. R 0 Carr T, G 1 Salter. H. J. .... 0 Myers. Dr. D. F. 2 Christensen. L. .. 0 Ytirrell, H. P. .. 4 Summers, A 4 Galllchan, E. ... i Riley, J 0

Goldsmith, O. .. 1 Bass, P. W 1 Goldsmith D. .. 2 Guv. P. G 0 Goldsmith. J. I. 0 Sollltt. F 2 Goldsmith. N. .. 0 Monks. TV 2 Goldsmith, E. .. 2 Christensen, P. .. 0 Goldsmith. G. .. 0 Arlldge, G. W. . • 2 Total 40 Total 13