EXHIBITION CHESS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 173, 19 April 1937, Page 14

EXHIBITION CHESS

Mr. Steiner’s Wellington Season SIMULTANEOUS DISPLAY Mr. Lajos Steiner, one of the world’s leading chess masters, who is making a two months’ tour of New Zealand, opened his Wellington week with a masterly simultaneous display on Saturday evening at the Gas Company Building, Courtenay Place. There was a large attendance, the distinguished visitor having 59 opponents, while 14 others preferred the role of spectator. Mr. A. T. Craven, chairman of the New Zealand Chess Association, formally introduced the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, who said it gave him great pleasure to extend a very hearty welcome to Mr. Steiner. The occasion was a memorable one, and he thought that the association was to be cougratulated on securing a visit from a master of such high repute. Mr. Steiner belonged to the small and select group of grand masters, and his tour of the Dominion should assist the leading New Zealand experts to develop still further their game, and raise the standard of our play. He was pleased to learn that chess was being enthusiastically taken up in the Wellington Technical College and other schools, as it was advantageous to mental development, while the spread of the game would, it had been claimed, assist in making for a more philosophical outlook on life. He trusted that Mr. Steiner would greatly enjoy his present tour, and that he would take away good impressions of New ZealalMr. Steiner’s actual playing time was a little under five houi'A. so that, on an average, he was only able to devote five minutes to each game. In view of this, and the fact that his opponents included several of Wellington’s leading players, his final tally, 43 wins, ten draws, and only six losses, was remarkably good. His losses were to G. P. Anderson, ,T Otto, F. Vincent, K. Beyer, E. J. Dyer, and C. Clemas (Masterton). Draws were scored by Mrs. J. I. Goldsmith, and A. W. Gyle's. O. Goldsmith, W. A. Fisher, J. C. McCrea, W. McClure, V. Blazek,

R S. Kent, V. Minenkoff ,fin<l .1. L. Han! '. This is Hardy’s third draw, as he drew both his games against Mr. Steiner in the latter’s Hawke’s Bay season during the Easter holidays. 'The losers on Saturday evening were Gilby, • Austin, L. and A. S. Goldsmith, Bruiisden, Grady, Dornbusch, Glass, Didsbury, Minenkoff, Kelling, Gallichan, Cornish, Wollerman, Hart, Ashby, Connell, McWilliams, Lowry, Wilkerson, Faulknor, Cross, Knudsen, A. and T. Clemas (Masterton), A. E. Jessup, E. W. Hutchings, McLean, Congreve, Hirter. Fairburn, Yarrell, K. Allen, S. Jennings, Leo Sim, Land, Malloeh, Stonebanks. Emery, Stephens, McNaughton, Mrs. Hart, and Miss Flaschoff. The rapidity with which Mr. Steiner made his moves and accurately summed up the large n.uiube rof positions that confronted him was a revelation to the spectators and players, who also appreciated his quiet and unassuming manner. At the conclusion of this marathon performance Mr. F. K. Kelling (president of the league) extended heartiest congratulations to Mr. Steiner. The gratifying success of last Satur- . day’s gathering was largely due to the ’ splendid organisation and untiring labours of Mr. J. L. Hardy (the lion, secretary for Mr. Steiner’s New Zealand tour), and the valued assistance he has received from a number of association and league officials. Several cars were in use for yesterday s motor outing to Akatarawa, which was favoured by fine weather, and greatly enjoyed by Mr. Steiner. CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETINGS Karori Activities There was a good attendance of members at the seventh annual meeting or the Karori Chess Club, which was held at the Karori School recently. Mr. M. Kemble Welch, the president, occupied the chair. The annual report indicated several gratifying features, including improved finances and an increased membership. The handicap tourney was conducted on novel lines, the stronger player being required to defeat his opponent within a I fixed number of moves in order to obtain the full four points. If the stronger player required more than the stipulated number of moves for his win he anti his weaker opponent gained two points each. On the «ther hand, if the weaker player von the game he got four points, and in the event of a draw be would be given three pointe and his stronger opponent one point. The prize given by Mr. H. I. Bennett (a former president) for this interesting competition was won by H. L.

I\ Dyett by a comfortable margin. A : successful season concluded with a lightning tournament, which was won by A. G E. Taylor. The report and balancesheet were adopted unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr. W. Kemble Welch; Messrs. A. AV. Gyles and 11. L. P. Dyett; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr. E. A. Munden; match committee, Messrs. Dyett, Gandar and F. Grady, with the president and secretary; delegates to Chess League, Messrs. R/Gilkison and E. A. Munden; bon. auditor, Mr. H. L. P. Dyett; hon: reporter, Mr. F. K. Kelling. A vote ot thanks to last year’s office-bearers concluded the meeting. Brooklyn Club. The seventh annual meeting of the Brooklyn Fire Brigade Chess Club was held in the clubroom, the president, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith, occupying the chair. The report of the hon. treasurer, Mr. Hubbard, showed a credit balance of £3 16/6. The annual report of the hon. secretary, Mr. McCrane, stated that F. Vincent had won the club’s championship tourney, the runner-up being E. Hubbard. Lionel Goldsmith scored the possible in winning the club's C grade championship. The club’s representatives were successful in winning the Wellington Chess League’s B grade teams tournament. The report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr. Woolley (superintendent, Wellington Fire "Board) ; president, Mr. J. I. Goldsmith; vice-presidents, Messrs. T. Fouby and E. Bruce; hon. secretary, Mr. F. McCrone; hon. treasurer, Mr. E. Hubbard; hon. librarian, Mr. R. Taylqy; hon. auditor, Mr. G. "Webster; management committee, Messrs. Kitchingman, Webster and Braines; match committee, Messrs. Vincent, Tilly and Webster; delegates to Wellington Chess League, Messrs. McCrone and Kitchingman. The club’s entries for the league’s champion of champions tourneys are as follows: —A grade, F. Vincent; B grade, Mrs. J. I. Goldsmith; and C grade, Lionel Goldsmith. One team is to be entered for the league’s B grade competition. It was decided to change the night of meeting from Saturday to Wednesday. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to Mr. T. Fouby for regularly donating a monthly chess magazine, and to last year's office-bearers for their valued services. Ngaio Club. The annual tourney for the championship of the Ngaio Chess Club was concluded last week in favour of E. E. Hicks (who also won the club’s annual handicap tourney). The dub's championship has been won five times by S. Faulknor, four times by 14. E. Hicks, four times by J. Lindsay, three times by F. K. Kelling, twice by G. A. Jones, and once

each by A. B. Topp, I?. J. Brooker, and W. J. Carman. Carman’s win m IM7 gave him the honour of being the first member to take over ruin one on the dub’s ladder, which was made by a former hon. secretary, Mr. A. S. Green, out of timber from the wreck ot the S.s. Penguin. The following names are on the dub’s junior OtawUpnship roll• 1923 and 1925, W. J. Hicks; 1924, 1928, 1929, 1930, and 1936, J. R. Glasgow, 1926 and 1927, H. J. Topp; 1931, J. b. Harrison; 1932, 1933, and 19A», R. A. Godtschalk; and 1934, H Stringer The dub’s twenty-fourth annual m « et ' ing was held recently, Mr. F. J. Brooker presiding over a good attendance. Ike annual report stated that the dub bad won the Wellington Chess League s first grade teams tourney, • aud the club s nominee, C. L. Maloney, had won the league’s B grade champion-of-chainpiona event. The balance-sheet showed the club to be in a sound financial state. The following officers were re-elected: President, Mr. F. J. Brooker (who now holds this office for the twentieth tune); vice-presidents, Messrs. A. B. Topp and E. E. Hicks; hon. secretary Mr. H. N. Robie; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. J. • hon. auditor, Mr. M. J. Hicks; delegate to New Zealand Chess Association, Mr E E Hicks; delegates to Wellington. Chess Tieague, Messrs. H. J. Topp and IT. N. Robie. Working Men’s Club. The forty-eighth annual diess and draughts meeting of the Wellington Working Men’s Club and Literary Institute was held recently, Captain P. Barcham presiding over a moderate attendance which included Mr. 5. Clandge, who was the pioneer secretary when the club was founded in 1877. -the annual report stated that the annual tourney for the championship of the club was won by F. K. Kelling, who was the clubs first chess champion 48 years ago. Fairburn and Gneiss tied for second prize, the former winning the play-off. The annual handicap tourney was won by H. M, Rosenberg. , The club’s representatives did well in the various competitions of the Wellington Chess League. The third grade team won their competition, while F. K. Kelling (first grade) and R. Brown (third grade) won their respective champion of champions events. Kelling and Beyer represented the club in the fortysixth tourney ‘to decide the chess championship of New Zealand, the former sharing fifth prize with E. H. Severne, the nominee of the Wellington Chess Club. Kelling can now show 25 prizes for his 29 congresses. The death of Mr. P. Galvin, the club’s pioneer president, was noted with regret. He died on February 11 in his ninetieth year. The report was adopted, and all last year’s executive officers were re-elected. It was decided to enter for each of the ■ league’s six competitions, and to hold the customary championship and handicap tourneys.