CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 142, 19 June 1922, Page 3

CHESS

OTAGO V. WELLINGTON

The Otago and Wellington Clubs commenced their 20-aside telegraphic fixture on Saturday evening, when an unusually prompt start was made, thanks to the good offices of the Superintendent of telegraphs, the punctual attendance of the players, and the attention given during the afternoon to the necessary preliminaries by a. working bee, the club's energetic hon. secretary, Mr. W. Tooniath, being assisted by Messrs. E. S. Taylor, S. Faulknor, A. W. Gyles, T. •Fouhy, W. Wring, and H. E. Crandle. The experienced operating of Messrs. G. Clark (Wellington) a.nd A. Goodwin (Dunedin) assisted .greatly to the success of the contest, and the reminder given at the outset by Mr. Toomath that there must be no analysis over the board left no one in doubt about the rules in that respect. Mrs. Gyles and Messrs. A. Clark, W. Murphy, H. E. Crandle, E. Hirter, W. Toomath, and Master Fouhy acted as scrutineers. Mr. A. W. 0. Davies, the Otago captain, won the toss fram Mr. W. E. Mason, and the Otago players consequently had the first move at the odd-numbered boards. Mr. Dunlop of Oamaru, the present New Zealand champion, is playing at board 2, the reason given being that he may possibly not bo able to attend when the match is a'esumed next Saturday.- The pairings •and openings used were a3 follow, the , .Otago name being given first in each instance : —Board 1, Davies v. Barnes (French, defence); board 2, Dunlop v. W. E. Mason (Queen's pawn game, irre- | -gular variation); board 3, J. Edwards v. A. W. Gyles (Vienna game); board 4, O. Balk v. E. A. Hicks (Philidor's defence) ; board 5, L. D. Coombs y. W. Mackay (Queen's gambit declined) ; board 6, W. G. Stenhouse v. Kelling (Ponziani opening); board 7, J. H. F. Hamel v. G. P. Anderson (Queen's gambit declined); hoard 8, A. Ellis v. R. G. Lee (Ruy); board 9, S. S. Myers x. Fouhy (Scotch game); board 10, G. D. Wright v. Purchas (Queen's gambit declined); board 11. J. C. M'Crea v. H. Jessup (Ruy); board 12, J. J. Marlow v. S. Faulknor (Ruy); board 13, H. H. .Henderson v. E. S. Taylor (Ruy); board 14, Lawson v. C. W. Tanner (Bishop's opening); board 15, &' J. Penrose v. Gyles, senr. (Ginoco piano); board 16, W. H. Alien v. W. Wring (Ruy); board 17, A. Young v. A. E. Jessup (Buy); board 18, L. Grige v. A. L. Lawson (Ruy); board ,19, F. Warman v. T. A. -Fletcher (Four knights' game); board 20, D. H. Hastings v. F. Grady (Fukertort's opening). It will be seen that the Buy Lopez opening was in great demand. There ■was a gratifying absence of clerical errors, and very good progress was made with the play, nearly all the games having got beyond the 20th move, while at one board 28 moves have been made by each player. The work of the operators was naturally heaviest during the first three hours, but they never allowed an accumulation of moves at any stage. The two teams are clearly very wall matched. The Southern.™ team holds an advantage at 4 boards, a knight having been won at board 17, the exchange (rook for knight) at board 16, and a pawn at .hoards 5 and 11. Against this the local team has a two-pawn advantage at boardr 19 and 20, and at boards 3 Gyles has won a pawn with a fine game. At board 1 Davies has given up a pawn to maintain a lively attack, which Barnes is staving off with his well-known resourcefulness, though he has so far been able to get a pent-up rook into play. Enthusiasts who attend the finish of the match next Saturday should witness some very instructive endings. It should .be added that while the scores made at the 20 boards determine the annual inter-club fixture, only the scores at the first twelve hoards count for the newly-organised club championship of New Zealand.