CHESS

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 110, 12 May 1919, Page 4

CHESS

CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON.

. Tho annual match by telegraph between tho above clubs is scheduled to commence at 6 p.m.' on Saturday next, and to bo concluded on the following Saturday. _ As usual, great interest is being taken in the fixture, which has been referred to in poetry as "'Avonsidere v. Imperial North." It was inaugurated in '1379, but did not become an annual event until 1913. Twelve matches have been played between the two clubs, or which Wellington has won five, Canterbury four, while three ended in a tie—viz., in 1879, 1892, and 1916. That the teams ,have kept together well is also apparent when the contest is viewed from another angle—viz., number of games won, Wellington's total being 73i to Canterbury's 7iH. As a set-off to Wellington's slight superiority in the earlier matches Canterbury has done splendidly in the later contests. In fact, Wellington has not won a match since 1914, the last four annual contests having yielded Canterbury three wins and one- tie. On this occasion the.Southern team will'be exceptionallyv strong, as it will include Mr. Sevome, the Canterbury champion, who has returned from France, and who in pre-war days represented Canterbury, on twelve occasions, losing only one game. Mr. G. H. Clutten, a former member of the Canterbury Club, has been appointed to umpire for the Southerners at this end. The following have been chosen to represent tho local club (it being presumed that fourteen boards are to be used, as was done, last year):—Messrs. A. W. O. Davies (captain), Barnes, W*. E. Mason, W. Mackay, Kelling, Still, James, H. G. Lee, Godtschalk,. S. Gyles, G. P. Anderson, B. S. Taylor, M'Nair, and Brooker; emergencies, Messrs. Whito, A. Clark, Tanner, and Faulknor. Tho services of Messrs. Purchas, Fouhy, W. F. Barraud, and H. A. Ward are not available on this occasion. The Avonsiders will assuredly make a great effort to retain the ash'os, and their chances of equalising tho scores look good, as they invariably enter the battle with determination, and suitable preparation. If, however, the local representatives put in some useful study during the present week, and avoid clerical errors when " the day "< arrives, they may succeed in arresting tho drift of the last few years. In short, a veritable " battle royal" may be looked for. It has been suggested, with a view to expedition, that the ra,te of play should be increased to twenty moves an. hour on this occasion.