CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 7

CHESS

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

WELLINGTON V. OTAGO

The final match of tho present season for the club championship of New Zealand was commenced on Monday evening, when the Otago and Wellington Clubs opposed each other in a 16-board match by telegraph. The operating was In the capable hands of Messrs. A. Smith (Dunedln) and W. D. Kennedy (Wellington). Mr. P. W. Rivers, who has done all the operating for the Wellington Chess Club during the past few years, is being transferred to Chrlstchuch during the present week. In a farewell letter to the Wellington Chess Club he referred to the pleasure it had eiven him to officiate at the club's fixtures, and concluded by wishing the local side further successes. This kind letter, which was read before the Otago match commenced, was greatly appreciated bj the Wellington team, which, in its turn, extends to Mr. Rivers Its best wishes for his future happiness and prosperity. The umpiring duties in the present match are being carried out by Mr. H. M. Rosenberg (Wellington) and Mr. M'Dermld, senr. (Dunedin). Good work was also done by the local scrutineers, Messrs. H. M. Rosenberg, W. Toomath, J. L. Hardy, R. Williams, M. A. Craven, and J. B. Craven. The use of the English notation was attended by the happy result that there was an entire absence of clerical errors, and the play could not have been more expeditious if clocks had been used. The toss was won by the Otago Club, which thus had first move at the odd-numbered boards. The pairings, and the openings used, were as follow: — Bd. Wellington. Otago. , Opening. 1. Gyles, A. W. Dunlop, J. Sicilian 2. Anderson, G. Pihl, D. Buy 3. Mason, W. E. Balk, O. Petroff 4. Kelling. F. Stenhouse, W. ' Buy 5. Mackay, W. Coombs, L. Q.G. dec. 6. Hicks, B. A. ' Hamel, J. H. French 7. Craven, A. Wright, G. Buy . 8. Wigham, G. M'Dermld, R. Bird's 9." Purchas-, D. Barnett, Dr. Q.G. dec 10. M'Crea, J. Grigg, L. D. Ruy 11. Hicks, E. Tibbies, W. Giuoco 12. Taylor, E. Morris, J. P. Giuoco 13. Jones, W. B. Watt, R. Buy 14. Jessup, A. Ward, A. E. French 15. Thompson, H. M'Dermott. Ruy 16. Grady,F. Herbert,. Irregular At board 8, MTDermid, an ex-champlon of tho Otago Club, won the exchange and a pawn. On the other band the Wellington Club holds a pronounced advantage at board 4, and is a pawn up in two other games. The annual fixture between these two clubs invariably provides a close finish, a happy feature that promises to be In evidence on this occasion. Spectators who attend when play Is concluded on Monday evening should witness some very Interesting and Instructive end-game play.