CHESS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 139, 10 December 1919, Page 16

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP

A meeting of the committee appointed to carry out the Championship Congress, to be held in this city during the coming Christmas holidays, was held on Saturday evening, Mr. F. J. Brooker (Ngaio) being in the chair. The sub-committees set up to deal with finance, entertainment, and playing arrangements presented encouraging reports indicating that good progress has been made during the past fortnight.. The use of a very suitable room has been secured. The testing of the clocks and other details are receiving necessary attention. So far only two competitors have been announced— viz., Mr. Seveme (Canterbury C.C.) and Mr. F. H. Smith (Gisborne C.C). It is expected that about a dozen entries will have reached Mr. C. W. Tanner (hon. secretary, New Zealand Chess Association) by Friday next, when the list closes. From unofficial advices it would appear that some of the Dominion's leading players who are expected to take part may not be able to do so. It is, however, hoped that moat, if not all, of those at present labelled "doubtful" will be numbered amongst the starters when the tournament opens on Boxing Day. It is also hoped that the assemblage at the formal opening will include Mr. C. P. Powles, who formed the Wellington Chesa Club on 20th June, 1866 (a fortnight after the consecration of St. Paul's ProCathedral), and also Mr. W. F. Barraud, who assisted so largely in the rebirth of the club in 1876. THE NGAIO CLUB. The annual handicap tourney of the Ngaio Chess Club has been won by Mr. W. J. Carman, the scores of the leaders being as follow :— To Class. Won. Lest. Play. Carman, W. J. ... 11. 8£ 24 — Lindsay, J. ..' 111. 8 3 — Brooker, F. J 11. 7 4 — Hicks, E. E 11. 6 4 1 Topp, A. B H. 64 4£ — James, H. L I. 5 5 1 It will be seen that the second prize has been won by Mr. Lindsay, and that the unfinished game Hicks v. James has a bearing on the third place. Two prize 3 were, as usual, offered for players in the second grade. The first of these was won by Mr. H. Prince and the second by Mr. J. A. Glasgow (who won from Mr. A. S. Green in playing off a tie). The various winners in the Ngaio Club's annual handicap tourney are as follow :— 1913, H. V. Croxton; 1914, A. B. Topp; 1915, D. Wild; 1916, A. B. Topp; 1917, F J. Brooker; 1918, H. L. James; and 1919, W. J. Carman. Mr. P. Banks, who has been sole handicapper throughout, has been markedly successful in bringing about close finishes. WORKING MEN'S CLUB. The first prize in this club's annual handicap chess tourney has been won by Mr. J. Burgess, who, it may be added, has also made the best showing to date in the club's incomplete draughts tourney. The best tallies are as follow: — To Class. Won. Lost. Play. Burgess V. 9£ 14 — Faulknor TV. 9 2 — Barnes I. 74 24 1 White, W. C IV. 7£ 34 — Matejka XI. 4 6 1 Wrins IX. 4| 64 - Costello X. 44 .64 — Coulter XL 44 64 — Long IX. 54 64 1 Mr. S. Faulknor thus wins the second prize. The outstanding game Barnes v. Wright ha 3 a bearing on the third place. The club's competitors ■ for the chess championship of New Zealand are to be chosen on Thursday evening.