CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 14, 17 January 1921, Page 4

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

REVIEW OF RECENT CONGRESS

The tourney recently hold in Jburiedin to decide the chess championship of New Zealand was a pronounced sjceess, thanks to the splendid services of tho : Otago Chess Club's executive, visa,, Messrs. 11. A./. Cleland (chairman), D. Harris Hastings (lion, secretary), \V. H. Allen (hon. treasurer), 0. Bulk, H. H. Henderson, J. Crow,' T. M. Gillies, S. S. Myers, J; J. Marlo'w, G. D. Wright, and W. F. Hamel. The formal opening took place on Tuesday, 28th December, in room E, of the School of Art, which the Education Board had kindly placed at the diaposa.l of the committee. The speakers were: -Mr. R. A. Cleland (a former New Zealand champion, <md now president of the New Zealand Chess Association), Jlr. W. 13egg (the Mayor), and Sir Robert Stout (who was largely instrumental in founding tho Dunedin Chess Club in 1865). The accuracy of some of Sir Robert Stout's most interesting reminiscences of the early history of Dunedin was subsequently questioned m tho Otago Daily Times' by a correspondent, signing himself "Palmyra." This led to further Icttera—a controversy in wliich Sir Robert, to use a chess phfcee, "won the exchange." (Knight v. Pawn). As there were only eight- competitors, it was decided not to play ntore than one round a day. 'Hie competitors thus had their forenoons free, which enabled fcbem. to do more sightseeing than usual. "They, in turn, visited Port Chalmers, the Art Gallery, the Early Settlers' Museum, (very interesting), the Public Gardens, and •various seaside resorts. A visit wa3 also paid to the grave of David Forsyth, a.n ex-champion, whose name will go down to posterity as the inventor of tho well-known "Fonsyth Notation." On the Sunday afternoon an excursion was nuide to Portobello. A dozen", of the party climbed Harbour Cone (over 1000 ft high) _under the leadership of Mr. 0. Balk, whilo those who preferred something less strenuous, saw the Fish Hatcheries. Tea at Mr. CMand's, and a. .social evening ab Mr. talk's rounded off an exceedingly pleasant day. And now for a reference to the play. Four of the competitors hailed from Wel-ington—-viz., Messrs. W. E. Mason, A. W. Gyles, T. Fouhy, and F. K. Selling; and four from the South Island—viz., J. B. Dunlop (Oarnaru), A. W. 0. Davies and L.'D. Coombs (Dunedin), and E. H. Severne (Nelson). The absence of competitors from other centres was greatly regretted. The Wellingtonians had to play each other in the first three rounds under the rules. From round 4 onwards North Islanders were continually pitted agait\st South Islanders. At the end of tho fourth round, Ml 1. XV. E. Mason was leading, Messrs. Davies and Dunlop being one point behind. Round E saw "tho two D's " (as they Were called) only half a- poinjt behind, through Mason having drawn'with Severne. Tho last two rounds saw Mason (who was obviously feeling the strain, and was not doing himself justice) lose to Messrs. Dunlop and Davies. These two players also won from Gyles, and they therefore had to play off a tie, on Wednesday, sth January, to decide the championship. Dunlop opened with the queen's pawn, Davies responding with the Dutch defence. Play proceeded at tho rapid rate of 32 mhves per hour. Dulilop worked up a fine attack that put all his opponent's pieces (including the king) -in a stranglehold. Dunlop V king Was thus free to cross the board and pick up defenceless pawns, Davies resigning at the fiftieth move. A round of npplttuse ut noon greeted Mr. Dunlop's well-deserved win. This is the first time that the championship has gone to Oama-ru, and it is the first " iSouth Island" win since Easter, ISOI. The result is, therefore, very'popular in New Zealand chess cfr.cies, especially i;a Mr. Dunlop intends to defend 'ths title at, the next. Congress. Mr. Duniop M who is 34 years of agu, won the Otago club championship in 1910, and has held tho Oamaru championship from 1014 onwards. He learnt uhesss when completing his dentistry studies in <London. lie looks: very deeply into the complicated positions arising from time to time, and very rarely fails to toke immediate advantage of the slightest slip made by an opponent. His moves are well-timed) and art frequently an admir* able combination of attack'and defence. His play is at all times attractive. He is in every way a worthy champion. Mr. Davies, the runner-up, has twice won the New Zealand championship—viz., in 1905 and in 1903, He is playing with all his old-time dash and ingenuity. Mr. "W. E. Mason, as indicated above, fell away towards the finish and was below his true form in the last three rounds. Mr. E. H; Saverne took fourth priz* with a tally of 3 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses (to Dunlop and Davies). He soemed to be beitting Dunlop. when the latter extracted himself with a "Mil 1 liancy." Ho also won n. pawn from Davies, but the latter's knight was more powerful than Sever no's bishop in. a very instrtictivt! end-.F.-ime. Miiny of the critics consider that Sevehlß missed scorinp: fit)hi Dunlop and Mason by dot beinj: a^gi'essive aftbr scciiritlK initial advantage. It May be said that he cattle nearer to the championship than his score indicates. A. W, Gyles for olice mißsed the prixe-list, a very unusual tiling fr>*' him. Soon after the loui-ney opened he had a recuri-ehCe of malarial trouble («. war legacy from Jlacodonia), and this, ofcourse, was ti handicap. With his keeii enthusiasm and wide " book knowledge" he caii be relied oh to repeat liia pre-war performance at an early date. T. Fouhy, "who comfci next on the list, is to be congratulated on vvilinliiff the special prise' donated by M*r. F. Kummor, of Mastertoii <~c>\' the oamlietltpr nmkina t-lm h<ah scoro ugainsi the prize-winnm. His tally include!! a draw ajjaiaist tie champion, and also a draw

against Severno. Mr. Coombs, the Otago champion, was under a double disadvantage. He was the only competitor making his first bid for the champion- | ship, and he completed 1600 miles of travel only fourteen hours before the congress opened. It was, therefore, hardly to be expected that he would do ■himself justice on this occasion.' The draw he scored from the champion is only one o| many indications that a better showing may be looked for from him in the future. He.ia the youngest of the competitors, being, it is under- I stood, a few months younger than Messrs. Dunlop and Gyles. F. X: Kellinj*, the i veteran of the party, occupies the lowest rung. Speaking generally, he was out- j classed by his opponents. A little more 'J,chess stamina 1' and a lot more book knowledge would improve his chalice of once more figuring amongst the prizewinners. It may here be stated that the standard of .play was better than usual. Of the sixteen sanies that had an inter-island aspect the South Island scored Hi to the North's 44. There were the usual " post-mortems " at the end of each round. They recall the poet's words: "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these—' it might have been !' " The prizes were presented at a very enjoyable smoke concert held at the Otaffo Che«3 Club's rooms in Liverpool' street, when the usual toasts were honoured. Mr. Dunlop, the new champion) .advocated bringing a chess-master to the Dominion to popularise the game and to i raise the standard of our play. It was ! suesesisd that the chess forces of Australia ■; ml New Zealand might well combine !: •■ the carrying-out of some such project. Thanks were accorded to the ladies who provided afternoon tea. during the congress—viz., Mesdftmes Cleland," Hastings, Henderson, Lawson, Storie. and, the Misses Watson. The visiting competitors presented framed copies? of the congress photo to the Ota-ffo Chess Club, and also to Mr. Harris Hastings, the club's hon. secretary, in appreciation of the many kindnesses received during their' very pleasant stay in Dunedin. Two prisses have to be awarded—via,," 'the brilliancy prize, " donated by the Otaffo Chesß Club, and the "best save" ni'ize, donated by the club's president, ! Rev. N. Fribonr. The question of issuinir a book of this well-manaeed congress is tt> be considered by the New Zealand Cbpss Association nt an early date.