CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 74, 25 September 1923, Page 4

CHESS

WELLINGTON V. OTAGO

The eleventh telegraphic match between the Otago and Wellington Clubs was commenced on Saturday evening, 20 boards being in use. This fixture is atI tracting niore than ordinary attention in New Zealand chess circles, it being the last of this year's contests for the j club championship of the Dominion. Mr. i T. M. Gillies umpired for the Wellington Club in Dnnedin, while Mr. W. Too--1 math looked after the Otago Club's in--1 torests at this end. The fine work of I the two operators, Messrs. A. Smith, of Dunedin,. and D. Hamlin, of Welling- j ton, left nothing to be desired.'Messrs. jW. Toomath and W. J. Fair-burn, the I local working bee, once more, attended I most thoroughly to every detail of the many preliminaries that are incidental to a match of this kind. This careful supervision by the local scrutineers, viz., Mrs. Gyles, Messrs, G. H. Clutten and W. Toomath, and Masters D. and E. Fouhy, was also of great assistance. clubs were well represented, though neither , was quite at full strength. Messrs- 'Purchas, Brooker, and C. W. Tauner were unable to play for Wellington, and the Otago Club was minus the services of J. B. Dunlop (the New Zealand champion), who was probably playing for Oamaru v. Nelson (which match was also schednled to commence on Saturday). The Otago Club won the ■feosa, and thus had first move at the odd numbered boards. The pairings and openings used, were as follow :— ' Bd. Wellington. Otago. Opening. 1. Mackay, W." Balk, 0. ... French 2 Barnes, R. J. Davies, 0. ... Q.P. . 3. Gyles. A. W. Coombs. L. X>. ij P. I 4. Anderson, G. P. Steuliouse, W.... G. 5. Mason; W. E. Uamel, J. H. Q.Gd. 6. Hicks, E. A. M'Crea, J. C. .. F. t. Fouhy, T. Myers, S. S S . B.Kel!iitK, F. K. Wright, G. T3. ■ ..; S. 9. Lee, H. G. Henderson, H. ... QP. 10. Faulknor, S. Steniiouoe, J. Q.G. d. 11. Wigham. G. ' Bottihg, J. ... K.B. ! 12. White, W.. Ellis, A Giuoco I T3. Godtsclialk, H. ' Allen, W. H Q.G. d. I 14. .lessup, H. Lawson, J. SI. Ruy I 15. Craveu, A. T. Moody, J. Giuoco I 10. Taylor, E. S. Ward, A. E. Qiuoco I 17. Vairburu, W. J. Penrose, R....Q.G.G. U. 19. Craudle, H. E. M'Caskil!,- F. W. r. 19. Doneshue, N. Griffg, L. D. Evaus 20. Jessup, A. E. Watßon, C. J. ... K.B. The match did. not start punctually. and the play.proceeded more slowly-than j usual. Furthermore, the greater part of half an hour was wasted on a tea adjournment, the Wellington team being I kept idle in their room while their ! I Southern •_ opponents were engaged on what a. local player alliteratively desccib!ed as a "eenseleas. stomach-stuffing stunt." The Otago captain wired that the Dunedin players could not stand the strain of playing five hours without a break. This is not very convincing, when only about 15 moves are made in the Sve'lioare, for the reascn that in atele- ,. graphic, match 55. minutes out of every 60 are pure "leakage," i.e., time during which neither clocif is running. Indeed, on Saturday evening, owing to the . general sluggishness that prevailed, the .leakage was in many instances 40 minutes out 'of 60, in a few instances .as .- much as' 45 minutes- It seems highly j desirable, therefor?, if clubs wish to avoid i-evevf.ing to the old-time method [ of devoting three eveiiings to a match, that Otago should follow in the wake of the Auckjsnd and .Canterbury Clubs,' and abandon what h?s been drily termed "the meats for the belly* interval. Ac regards the strain .of playing a short five hours, the st.imihs. of the. Dunedin players of to-day appears to be somewhat inferior to that of- the Dunedin team which fought Auckland in 1876 from 8 p.nt-j till 8 a.m. without a, break, and without ! a murmur 1. In. last ."year's match Ohural v. TaiHnarunui play proceeded unbr.ok~| enly from 8 • p.m. till 5.30 a.m., and only ceased 'then because the time 1 had arrived "to get the cows in." In the present match the games are in a very backward slate. Nine Wellingtofiians ■ wishad to play an extra half-hour* on Saturday,, but not. one. of these timegaining offers ytfkt accepted. Last year, only 7 games out of 20 were finished at the end of the second night's play. This year the position. wilL be. even more absurd,''unless both clubs "shake a leg"' next- Saturday. Fourteen of the gam?/are,' in an even state. Wellington is a pawn down at boards 5 and 7, and - s yawn up a,t- board 20. Wellington 'Aas greater advantages at three boards, viz. "(a) Faulknor has -won tljf. exchange irook;, for knight)" and .is following'this up strongly: (b) Godtschalk tpok finp ■idvantage of a faulty combinatltti, and u-ou a knight, and. (c) Doneghue./ who is ..inaking.. an. excellent first appearance. 'ias won'a rook in addition to/retaining t-lie gambit pawn. In vievv of. the time \ost. on Saturday, and the back/ward stat? of. tlis match",'it behoves both executive? ' £0 co-operate in_ seeing that,-when next Saturday comes along 6 o'clocji "reall; means 6 o'clock, and nothing later.