THE WELLINGTON CLUB

Evening Post, Issue 119, 16 November 1925, Page 9

THE WELLINGTON CLUB

When, the final round of the Wellington Chess Club's championship tourney was being contested on Saturday evening, interest mainly centred in the game between G. P. Anderson (the leader) and A. W. Gyles (who, like W. E. Mason, is one point behind the leader). Gyles, who had the move and utilised the Ruy Eopez opening, was a pawn to the good when the game was adjourned at 11 p.m. As all the pieces are still on the board, and only three pawns have been removed, it is obvious that there is a lot of play left in this bout. Gyles is also a pawn up in his unfinished games v. W. E. Mason and G. Wigham. The fixture G. P. Anderson v. Faulkner stands adjourned in a very even state. This issue ia now narrowed down to Messrs. Anderson. Gyles, and Mason, as Edwin A. Hicks (the present champion) and F. K. Kelling, who are sharing fourth place, are now definitely out of the running. There are fifteen competitors in this contest. -

The October number of the "British Chess Magazine" records the death of Mr. ■ William C. Sandford, a former member of the club, who won the third prize when competing in New Zealand's 1903-4 champiori'sbip congress. It was his only bid for the New Zealand title, and he made a better score than six New Zealand champions. The late Mr. Sandford, who had previously played at board 5 in the Cambridge University's matches, returned to England in 1904, and commenced the practice of his profession as a barrister. He became a member of the Imperial and City of London. Chess Clubs, being champion of the former club in 1923 and also on a previous occasion. In June last he wrote a few lines to an old friend in this city, stating that he was "very ill indeed, with. acute. neurasthenia of the worst kind." Hjs end was,, apparently, a^happy release from much suffering.