CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 83, 7 April 1924, Page 11

CHESS

THE BRILLIANCY PRIZE

In connection with the 33rd Championship Tournament of" the New Zealand Chess Association, which was ljeld in this city during the Christmas holidays, ■ Mr. Dirk Pihl, of Christchurch, kindly donated a brilliancy prize (£3), and also a " best recovery prize " (£3). As none of the championship competitors came from Dunedin, it was decided to ask Messrs. A. W. 0. Davies, 0. Balk, and L D. Combs (the Otago members of the New Zealand Adjudication Board) to award these two special prizes. Their report has just been received by Mr. S. Faulnor, hon. secretary of tba Wellington Chess League. They award the brilliancy prize to the game bearing the motto " Rasputin." Mr. F. L. Vaughan, of Auckland, thus wins the prize for the game that he scored from Edwin A. Hicks (Wellington) i n round 7. This was a lively Queen's Pawn game, in which Vaughan, as a result of the excellent mobilisation of his pieces, was able to constantly vary the attack, and finally to overcome Hicks's resourceful defence. The note of the adjudicators is as follows:—" There is no striking brilliancy ' in this gams any more than m other games submitted, but it stands out as a forcible and well-played game." THE BEST RECOVERY PRIZE. The Dunedin Committee has awarded the best recovery prize, which is sometimes called the " best save prize," to the game mottoes " a close call." Mr Cf , K-m^ ?lling (weUington Working Men s Club) is thus the winner, through' the draw that he scored against Mr. S. Crakantborp (champion of New South Wales and New Zealand) in the last round of the section play. It was then known that this game would not count in the finals, and Mr. Crakanthorp therefore played it with one eye on the brilliancy prize, giving up two pieces for a formidable attack that threatened to establish a mating position. Kclling temp"orarily staved off trouble by giving up. a piece and working up a counter-attack. Then came some further ingenious play by Crakanthorp, who started building up a queen sacrifice that would have carried all before.it, Kelling^ however, extricated himself from sundry tight corners, and ultimately compelled Crakanthorp to resort to a perpetual check to keep his own end up. Mr. Coomb?, one of the judges, commented as follows: —" This game is the best recovery from threatened mates'submitted. Black (the winner of the prize) plays remarkably well, and white (i.e., the champion) is also to be congratulated on the way he kept Tip an almost irresistible attack." Mr. 0. Balk, another judge, wrote as follows:—"It is a really wonderful game, so full of real chess that I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent.' upon it. There was some hard thinking put into that game." It may be. added that a " best save " prize has hear. given on two previous occasions, J. B. Dunlop (Oamaru) winning it at Dunedin three _years ago, and F. K. Kelling winning it at Christchurch a year ago. THE NGAIO CLUB. v The annual meeting of the Ivgaio Chess Club was held in the local schoolroom on j Tuesday evening, Mr. F. J. Brooker • (president) occupying the chair. There I was a large attendance of members, including Mr. R. A. Wright,, M.P., the club's patron, whose live interest in the club is greatly appreciated. " The eleventh annual report returns thanks to Mesdames Brooker. 'E. E. Hicks, and W. J. Hicks for their services at the supper table on match occasions. Indebtedness is also expressed to Messrs. R. A. Wright, M.P., J. J. Esson, J. B. .Lea, -B. Lynneberg, F. J. Brooker, and E. E. Hicks for donations to the club's funds. The prizes in the club's annual sealed handicap tourney were won as follow :—lst,' J. A. Glasgow; 2nd, E. W. Ford; and 3rd, L. Fink. Reference is made to Mr. E. E. Hicks's fine score (U£-£), and to the successful handicapping of Mr."A. B. Topp. Mr. J. A. Glasgow has won the club's junior championship, sooring 4£ points out of a possible 5. The senor. contest is rapidly approaching completion. The issue is now narrowed down to Messrs. J. Lindsay and E.E. Hicks, the former being one point ahead. The results of the matches played by the senior and junior teams in the competitions of the Wellington League are placed on record. < During the year the club played its first telegraphic match, losing to "Palmerston A'orth by one game after an exciting finish (s£-6£). The club is deeply indebted to Mr. H. L. Cummings for arranging details, and for operating at the match. Congratulations are extended to Mr. E. E. Hicks, who represented the club at the recent New Zealand Championship Tournament, and succeeding jn qualifying for the finals. The club starts the new season with thirteen active, one life _ honorary, four honorary, and three junior members. • • The balance-sheet shows that the club, despite the smallness of the membership r.as succeeded in paying its way during the year. ■ The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted, votes of thanks being passed to the ladies mentioned above, . and also to the executive officers. The election of officers resulted as follows •— Patrons, Messrs. R. A. Wright MP J- J. Esson, J. B. Lea, William Watts' and B. Lynneberg; president, F. J Brooker; vice-presidents, F. Hicks, sen., and E. E. Hicks-, jun.; hon. secretary, Ax 1. Eades; hon. treasurer, J. A. Glasgow ; committee, W. J. Hicks, H. Prince, I arid the officers ex officio; ladder committee, A. B. Topp, E: E. Hicks, and W. J. Hicks; handicapper, A. B. Toppdelegate" to New Zealand Chess Association, E. E. Hicks; delegates to Wellington League, the president and the secretary. .. . ' A special vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring hon. .secretary, Mi\ H" Prince, for his highly-valued services during Ins six years of office. It was decided to at once invite entries for the annual handicap tourney which is to be run on the sealed points system as in the past. A vote of thanks to Mr. Brooker for presiding, and to Mr R. A. Wright, M.P., for presenting the prizes, closed a very enthuiastic meeting.