CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 26, 1 February 1926, Page 14

CHESS

THE CHAMPIONSHIP CONGRESS

The fhirty-flfth tournament to decide the chess--championship of New Zealand was held lv the Allen Hall, Otago University Buildings, Dunedin, during the recent Christmas holidays. Tor the benefit of those readers who were spending the holidays in out-of-the-way places, it may be mentioned that there were eighteen competitors, including three formidable Australians, and several of the Dominion's provincial and club champions. The contest,was therefore followed by the chess fraernlty with unusual Interest. Six of the players have, between them, won the New Zealand championship, on fifteen occasions. Only two of the competitors were making a first appearance—viz., Messrs. J. A. Erskinc, of Melbourne, and H. Fenwick, of Hamilton. Some of the players could not, spare the time for a full-round tourney,' and section-play was therefore resorted to n order to. shorten the contest. The four lighest scorers in each section qualified for the finals. The time limit was twenty moves per hour. The scores in section A were as follow:—S. Crakanthorp (Sydney, N.S.W.), 6%; J. M. Molr (Auckland), 5; J. E. Dunlop (Oamaru), 5; It. J., Barnes (Wellington, W.M.C.), i%; A. W. Gyles (Wellington C.C.), 4%; H. Fenwlck (Hamilton). 4; E. H. Severne (Nelson), S; Bey. A. Miller (Westport), • 2; and E. E.mcks (Ngaio C.C.), 1%. The tie for fourth place was decided in favour of Mr. Barnes in accordance with an arrangement made before ' the tourney com- ; menced. His score against the three higher players was l'/i, as against Mr. Gyles's 1. In Section B the various tallies were:—J. A. Ersklne (Melbourne), 6 1/-: G. P. Anderson (Wellington South C.C.), 01/.;o 1/.; D. Phil (Can- • terbury C.C.), 4%; B. W. Stenhouse (Otaco CO, 4M:; C. Purdy (Sydney, N.S.W.), 4%; ; A. W. 0. Davis (Otaio C.C.), 3»,i; F. K. Kelling (Wellington, W.M.C.), 3; E. A. Hicks , (Wellington CO, 2; and W. J. Fairburn ' (Wellington, private entry), 2. Mr. Purdy, , who won the Dominion. championship at Nelson a year ago, was eliminated in the . triple tie, the scores against the two higher , players being as follow:—Pihl 1%, Stcnt house 1, and Purdy 0. If anyone had pro- , phesied that Messrs.. Furdy, Davies, Gyles, Severne, and E. A. Hicks would all fail to qualify for the finals, he would have been laughed at. yet that was what actually occurred! The sectiou-play automatically provided three of the seven rounds comprising : the finals. When the four additional rounds > were played off the prize-list was made out ; as follows:— . ; ■ Wins.-Losses. Pdze. 1 Crakanthorp, S. ...;.. 6 1 £25 . 2 Barnes, R. J. .... 5%. I'/. £12 ; 3 Dunlop. J. B 5 2 £8 ' 4 Moir, J. A. ;.:■ 4 3 £5 5 5 Stenhouse, B. W. ... 4 4 £4 , 6 Erskine, I. A. .. IV, r.V" £2 - 7 Anderson, G. P l'/-~. !<V. £2 8 . Pihl, D. ' Vf, 514. ■ £2 As a result of his accurate and forceful 1 play, Mr. Spencer Crukaothnrp, who was : born in Sydney in 1885. is now our champion for the second time. He first won the • New, "South Wales championship at the age , of nineteen,'and he has regained that title . in several subsequent tourneys. In 1912 he competed for the British championship, and ' made a good impression, winning exactly 1 half his .games in a formidable field of • twelve. As he was not representing Aus- . tralia at cricket, he was able to bring his , wife with him. She, too, is an expert chess . player, and New Zealand enthusiasts were pleased to make her acquaintance. Mr. R. J. Barnes, of Wellington, whose ' name has long been a household one in Australasian chess circles, took second place, , half a point behind the champion. Although he ia now climbing the sixties, and has of late years had many bouts of sickness to contend with, his play is as formidable as ever. It was greatly admired for its breadth of view, eood generalship, and sound common -sense. Mr. Barnes has been champion five times, and Is now runner-up ' for the ninth time.' Be was not so successful j In his efforts at the Dominion bowling tour- | nay. Re was a schoolboy In Dunedin half a century ago, and naturally enjoyed the renewal of old friendships at odd momenta. Mr. 3. B. Dunlop, winner of the third place, Is stilt living at Oaratru, but on thla occasion \v»« nominated by the Otago C.C. The sound ami forceful play that gained him the New Zealand title three years runnfnj (1921-22-23) was often in evidence, notwithstanding that he is under'the no small handicap of being unable to get anything like regular practice. Mr. J. A. Moir,' .winner of. the fourth prize, is 29 years of ago. He recently annexed the Auckland championship for the fifth time, his last four wins being consecutive. This, very consistent performer was making his third Congress appearance on this occasion. The "Aussies" have not yet "bagged his scalp," his record in this respect being two draws against Crakanthorp and wins from Ersklne and Purdy. Mr. B. W. Stenhouse, who took the fifth prize, is a young player of exceptional promise. He and Mr. A. W. 0. Davies are this season fighting out the Otago Club's championship. Mr. Stenhouse, who is also a splendid blindfold '■ player, appears to have a great future before him. He should be In the , forefront of New Zealand ches's^ for many years to come. Messrs. J. A. Ersklne (Melbourne), O. P. Anderson (champion of the Wellington and South Wellington Chess Clubs), and Dirk Pihl (Canterbury CO all tied for sirth place, and divided the three remaining prizsa. Messrs. Erskine and Pihl failed to score in the four final rounds, while Anderson, who took rather much out of himself In the section-play,' had to be content with s meritorious draw against Crakanthorp. Mr. Ersklne drew his game against Crakanthorp In the Victoria v. N.S.W. telegraphic, match of June last. He was formerly a student at Canterbury College, where he gained with much distinction his M.A. degree, and was awarded .the 1851 Research Scholarship in Experimental Science. .Six of those who failed to qualify for the finals took part in a Consolation Tourney, the time limit In this event being 25 moves per hour. Key. .A. Miller (Westport) and C. Purdy (Sydney) tied for first place, and divided the two prizes. To save time Messrs: Crakanthorp and Erskine acted as judges for the two special prizes. They awarded the "best recovery" prize to Mr .A. W. O. Davies (game mottoed "Spero") for the win that he scored from Pihl after losing the exchanEe. The brilliancy prize was not awarded, as be worthy of It. The donor, Mr. Paul Kummer, of the Masterton C.C, Is accordingly being asked If he Is willing to allow jilt donation to be earmarked as the brilliancy (or elegance or' beauty) prize of the next Congress (which may possibly be held In Auckland at the end of the year), A liberal donation by Mr, Pihl (who has joined the Otago C.C.) enabled more prizes than usual to be liven. Two games ran to only three moves, while the longest bout was the fixture Barnes v. Stenhouse, the latter resigning a stubborn rearguard action at move 100. Tho percentage of drawn games was much lower than usual, being only 14.77. [Tho only Congress in whlch-thcro were no draws was that held in Dunedin twenty-seven years ago.] Those who failed to reach the final stage did not, speaking generally, display the form expected of them. A word of praise, however, is due to Mr. H. Fenwlck, of Hamilton, who made a very successful first appearance. He was the only player to score a win from the champion, this being a fine effort. The pessimists wiio reckoned that the three "Aussies" would annex tho first three prizes were out in their reckoning. The reduction of the champion's margin to half a point suggests that New Zealand is much Dearer to Australia in chess than, say, in cricket. At these congresses the competitors aro generally seen playing with their coats off, but on this occasion the weather was so cold that they very often wore overcoats while playing their games. The association will, apparently, have to rigidly enforce the rule in future about not allowing a win until the winner has handed in a correct score of his game. Some of the score-sheets handed in to the Dunedin supervisors were absolutely "hopeless." The rule making arrangements between players illegal can also usefully be brought to the notice of competitors year by year. The Innovation of publishing the drawings one day in advance was greatly appreciated. There seems to be no reason why all the rounds should not be made known In advance. Tho suggestion to have North and South Island championships—the two winners to play off for the Dominion title—was made at Dunedin. - There ate, however, drawbacks to. this interesting scheme, which is. hardly likely to be taken up with the enthusiasm necessary for its success. A tour through Duneilin In observation buses and a picnic at Waipori Falls were greatly enjoyed. For the splendid way in which the tourney was worked up and carried out, the New Zealand Chess Association is greatly indebted to the Otago Club's Committee, of which Mr. 0. Balk (president New Zealand Chess Association), D. D. Wright (lion, secretary), and D. Harris Hastings (lion, treasurer) were the executive officers. Sir William Sim, a former active , member of the OU'.go C.C, formally opened the congress on Boxing Day, in the absence from town of the' Mayor (Mr. Tapley, M.P.). On his return'to Dunedin, Mr. Tapley visited the congress room, and extended a. civic welcome to the visiting • players. The kindness .of the ladles, who took turns in providing afternoon tea, was also much appreciated. Before and Purely paid a "visit to Mllford Sound. It. »#» mi «ntj,¥»blo wip. Mid they are nm» better foaled. u> till detenu to Uu uslflj