CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 130, 6 June 1927, Page 16

CHESS AND DRAUGHTS

WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The thirty-eighth annual general meeting of the above club's chess and draughts section was held recently, there being a large attendance of members. The annual report gives the following survey of the past season:—The chess season was opened with a sides match, the vice-captain's side defeating the captain's team by two games. There were 17 entries in the annual handicap chess tourney, in which the prizes were won as follows: First, G. Walker (class 4); second, J. Lindsay (class 1); third, J. Burgess (class 2); fourth, H. E. Crandle (class 2);- and fifth, a tie between H. M. Rosenberg (class 2) and T. Ccstello (class 5). In order to encourage junior players Messrs. A. E. Ballard, H. M. Rosenberg, and F. K. Kelling donated prizes for a minor tourney, from. which the seniors were barred. This contest was also won by Mr. G. Walker, who is heartily congratulated- on thus gaining two "firsts." Mr. W. Wring take 3 the second prize and Mr. J. Martin the third. The annual match against the Wellington Chess Club was lost (4-13), the fixture against the South Wellington Chess Club was drawn [7-7), and the match against the Ngaio Chess Club was won (8-5). In summarising the contests played to date it is found that the club has lost a majority of its matches with the powerful Wellington Chess Club, but has a "credit balance" against the South Wellington and Ngaio Chess Clubs. Congratulations are tendered .to the Wellington Chess Club, on the successes that it gained in its jubilee year, and to Mr. A. W. Gyles (South Wellington C.C.) on winning the Wellington Chess League's "champion of champions" tourney, from which contest Mr. R. J. Barnes, the clubs champion, had to retire on account of ill-health after playing only one game (which he won). The thirty-sixth tourney to decide the chess championship of New Zealand was held in Auckland during the Christmas holidays, when-the club was represented by Mr. F. K. Kelling, who won one of the "finalist" prizes. The championship title was won by Mr. A. W. 0. Davies,, a former member, to whom hearty congratulations are extended. Eleven members competed in the club's annual four-round handicap draughts tourney, each having to play 40 games. Mr. J. Leggat, the local champion, made the best score, viz., 35 wine, 4 draws, and 1 loss. When the sealed handicap was opened it was found that Messrs. J. Leggat and J. Wright (handicap 9) Jiad tied for first place. They thus divide the first two prizes. The remaining three prizes were divided by the four players who tied for third place viz., T: Costello (handicap 5), T. Nolan (handicap 20), G. Walker (handicap 20), and H. Anderson: (handicap 24) Ihe annual tourney for the draughts championship, of New Zealand was held in the club's social hall during the Easter holidays, when several of the Dominion's leading players. were seen •in action for eight strenuous days. The club was represented by Messrs! J. Leggat and T. Costello, the former being a prominent prize-wmner in the sealed handicap event that was run in conjunction with the tourney. Congratulations are tendered to Mr-_J- Gardiner, of Nelson, who gained the Dominion championship for the fourth time, and also to ex-champions J. A Boreham, ofWaipiata; Otago (winner of second prize), and G. A. Brown, of Christchurch, who gained the third prize Regret is,expressed at the deaths of Messrs • T- APPlegarth (a former hon. iiecreS' William C.-Nqot (president in 1905), and J. G. W. Dalrymple (a vicepresident in 1917). The report was adopted unanimously, various speakers making appreciative, references to, the good work done during the year just ended. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President A E Ballard; vice-president, F, Curtice; lion' secretary, W. Wring; hon. treasurer," J Coulter; hon. reporter and recorder, F X Kelling; match committee for chess' Messrs. Coulter, Rosenberg, and Nolan; tor draughts, Messrs. Leggat, Corbett, and i 7-SJ ,r; referee for chess, W. Mackay (Wellington Chess Club); referee for j draughts, E. Butler (Waters^ders' DC)- I delegates to New' Zealand Chess Association, W. Wring and F. K. Kelling; delegates, to Wellington Chess League, S l'.aulknor and W. Wring. Entries for handicap tourneys on the usual lines are,to close on Saturday next wiien the chess .'season;-is being opened with the customary sidesmatch, "captain v. vice-captain." It was decided to nominate ,F. Is Kelling f or the. Wellington League s champion of champions tourney in the event of R. J. Barnes being too unwell to play, and also to adopt ladder rules similar to those of the Wellington Chess Club. The prizes won in last season s chess and draughts tourneys were happ,ly presented by Mr. E. Lane, in the unavoidable absence of the president. An enthusiastic meeting closed with votes of thanks to the club's general committee for continuing the support accorded by previous executes, to thr» Press of this city for valued reports, and to last year's office-bearers for their very useful " r ! vices.