CHESS CANTERBURY CLUB v. WELLINGTON CLUB SOME SPLENDID FINISHES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 81, 7 April 1913, Page 2

CHESS CANTERBURY CLUB v. WELLINGTON CLUB SOME SPLENDID FINISHES.

The 10-aside telegraphic match between the above clubs waa concluded on Satur- ■ day evening, and resulted, after some hard fighting, in a win for Wellington by a small margin. D?he t attendance of spectators was larger than ofl the previous evening, and this remark applies also to Christ' church, where the olubrtiom was crowded with visitors. The nine games, which were not finished on the first Saturday, were resumed, at ?,p.m., and at some boards play was continued beyond 11 p.m., the reside being that eight games are accounted for, leaving only two to be adjudicated on by the three players, who . represent Auckland on the New Zealand Adjudication Board. Even if these two game 3 were awarded to Canterbury, which is Very unlikely, our local sehior club would still win the match. Shortly after 9 p.m. board 5 gavo Wellington "first blood," their second win coming a minute later from board 2. A quarter of an hour later the game at board 4 ended in a draw. After another hour of fierce fighting Wellington scored, at boards 3 and 9. Mr. Still's play being greatly admired. So was the end-play of Mr. Pouhy, whose wide knowledge of the end-game enabled him to "turn the tablesV and win what appeared at an earlier stage to be a hopeless game (board 7). Probably the most interesting of several fine finishes, however, was at board 8, where Mr. Fell Sacrificed a rook for pawn with a view to getting a "strangle-mate" on to his opponent. World-champion Lasker onco expressed the opinion thatr it is extremely difficult for any player to make the best movo'a dozen time in succession, and it is hardly surprising that' in a long chain of attacking moves Mr. Fell on one occasion failed to distinguish between good and better, making a move which relaxed the pressure and allowed Mr. Fraser (whose defence was splendid) to score Canterbury's first win at midnight. The match passed off without the slightest hitch of any kindthanks to the good work of the operators (Mr. George Clark in Wellington and Mr. H. Benett in Cnris'tehurchJ, o f the local scrutineers (Messrs. Bock, Hill, Gyles, sen., and Woodfqrd), and of -the two umpires (Mr. 0. W. Tanner for Canterbury and Mr. R. A. 'Joseph for Wellington). . The play resulted as follows, the first name in each case being that of the Canterbury player:— | Board l.—Severne v. Barnes (double Ruy Lopez)— This was drawn by perpetual check at move 16 on the opening night. Board 2.— Nightingale v. W. E. Mason (Vienna gaine)*-The latter gave up two ! pawns for a promising attack. In conducting a difficult defence Mr. Night' ingale, at irioVe 32, made a slip, losing queen for rook, and resigned without further play. Board 3.-rW. S. King v. Still (Ruy Lopez)-<-The latter won a valuable centre pawn at move 34, thereby getting into a, good position for attack. Shortly afterwards he sacrificed a rook for a pawn, which yielded a forced mate in five moves— unquestionably the finest ending in the match. Amongst the congratulations received b$ Mr. Still was a graceful ono from his "opponent, who is clearly a versatile citizen, bejng one of the Dominion's best-known bandsmen and champion rifle shots. Board 4.— H, Kennedy v. W. Mackay (Scotch Gambit)— The latter retained hi« one-pawn advantage, but the southerner, having the better position, was able to emulate his.oaptain by securing a draw by perpetual check, at move 30. Board 5.--J. S. Kennedy v. Kelling (Centre Counter game)— The former, being a rook and two pawns to tho bad, resigned a hopeless game at move 36. Board 6.— Brooker v. H. B. Chapwan (Sicilian defence)-^This game is pnfinished, and comment cannot, therefore, be made on it until <4io award of tho Auckland adjudicators comes to hand. BoatH J.—Woodford -v, Fptiby (Giuoco Piano)— The former retained " foroi? majeure/' but Fouhy, who has made a study of; the erid-^anicr, with an 'unusual bufc very clever cdmbmafcidn of two rooks *nd a kihg that had worked its way up to the eighth row, pulled tha game ''out of the fire. 1 ' Fouhy thoroughly deserved th 6 congratulations he received on his fine recovery, which greatly improved his •Hub s chances. Board B.— Fraser v. Fell (Ruy Lopoz)— Ihe latter offered, a bishop, which was declined, and afterwards a rook for a pawn, Which was accepted. Fell then pressed a long and sultry-looking attack, which was met by splendid' defence. One pf Fell s later moves was not, however, the best at his disposal; it gave his opponent "breathing time" and turned Victory mto defeat, Canterbury's first win being registered at midnight. Board 9.— R. Lovel-Smith v. S. Gyles (Giuoco Piano)— The latter first won two pawns and anhexed a bishop at move 26. At move 39 the genial hon. secretary of me Canterbury Chess Club wired, " I resign, for how can a man die better than facing fearful odds!" Happy messages of this kind were exchanged at all the boards, indicating that the feeling between the two clubs is (as it has always been) of tho friendliest. Board 10.— Hawkins v. W. J. Carman (Ponziani opening)— This game is marked incomplete, and comment has, therefore, to be deferred, as in the case of board 6. To sum up, the Wellington Chess Club has five wins, the Canterbury Chess Club one win; two games have been drawn! and two are to be adjudicated on. When the full result! is available we propose to give a few particulars of the seven matches to date, of which Wellington has now won four, Canterbury one, and two have ended in a tie.