CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 3

CHESS

WELLINGTON LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING

The eleventh annual meeting of the Wellington Chess . League,. was held, last Thursday (May 4) in the chess room of the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute., Mr.' A. T. Craven (Wellington C.C.) occupied the chair. The following were also "present:—Messrs. Giesen, Kelliug, Bennett, Faulknor, Beggs, Rosenberg, S. H.1 Perry, G. W. Wood, R. A. Godtschalk, Dyer, Robie, McCrone, W. R. Carter, J. A. Glasgow (hon. treasurer), and J. L. Hardy (hon. secretary J. Apologies were received from Messrs. Il'. J. Brooker, H. J. Topp, R. Gilkison, W. Kemble Welch, .A. F. Harding, and A. H. O'Keefe (president Victoria University College Chess Club). Pleasure was expressed at the good recovery that Mr. O'Keefe is making from the effects of his recent fortnight's exposure in the Tararuas. The report presented by the retiring hon. secretary, Mr. J. L. Hardy, was as follows:— During the year- three clubs were admitted to affiliation to the league, the Brooklyn Fire Brigade Club, the Miramar Club, and the Victoria University College Club. There are now eleven affiliated clubs. ■The usual three competitions were held during the year. There were four entries i'or the A grade teams' shield, the winners being the Wellington Chess Club's Xo. 1 team, half a point ahead of the Ngaio and Working Men's Club teams. Thanks to the affiliation of the^two new clubs, a record entry of nine teams was recorded in the B grade teams' contest, Brooklyn, Hutt (two teams)', Karori, Miramar, Wadestown, Ngaio, Wellington, and Working Men's Clubs being represented. The result was in doubt till the last round, when the Working Men's Club emerged victorious, Hutt Xo. 1 team being the runners-up. The champion of champions competition was played off between six champions. Mr. G. P. Anderson, representing the Wellington South Chess Club, was the winner, and Mr. A. W. Gyles and Mr. S. Faulknor shared second place. A NOTABLE EVENT. The year was made notable in local chess circles by the extraordinary success of the siriiultane,ous chess display given by Mr. M. E. Goldstein on February 6. Xo fewer than 117 games were played, and as this handsomely eclipses the Australian record of 82 games held in Sydney, the executive is very pleased by the support given by local chess players. The league was honoured by the presence of his Excellency the Governor-General at this function. The North v. South match was held on Saturday, April 22, and 124 players took part. During the supper adjournment the prizes were presented by Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P., in the absence of the patron, the Mayor of Wellington. The matches against Wairarapa and Palmerston North lapsed during the year. Strenuous efforts •• are being made in the Wairarapa towards^the "resuscitation of chess in that district, and in Palmerston North 40 players played in their North v. South match recently. The annual statement of receipts and payments and balance-sheet, submitted by Mr. J. A. Glasgow, hon. treasurer, show that, in spite of a deficit on the year's working, the league's position is still sound. The league .acknowledges services rendered by Mr. M. J. Kennedy and the Wellington Gas Company, whose services greatly assisted the Goldstein simultaneous display; the president and committee of the Working Men's Club for the use of their rooms for meetings;. Messrs. Gamble and Creed for services rendered in connection with the Goldstein display and the North v. South match; Mr. R. A. Wright. M.P., for presenting the prizes at the North v. South match; Messrs. Gyles and Son for printing gratuitously the invitation cards to the North v. South match; and the sub-committees established to control the Goldstein and Xorth v. South matches. ' • OBITUARY. The report records the deaths of three members." Mr. W. Mackay, who died on April !),' 1933, was president of the league for the whole eleven years of its existence. Particularly during the league's difficult years of formation, his tact and wise counsels •were of great benefit to those concerned. His memory and example will long be a source of inspiration to his successors. Mr. A. D. Pickard, president of the Working Men's Club, who died on Christmas' Day, 1932, 'was for several years a vice-president of the league, and many times rendered the league valued assistance. Mr. D. Purchas, who died on September 1, 1933, was for many years honorary secretary of the Wellington South Chess Club, and a delegate to the league. Chess in Wellington has also sustained a severe loss in the passing of Mr. L. Sievers, the hon. treasurer of the Brooklyn Fire Brigade Chess Club. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted unanimously, members standing in silence as a token of respect for the memory of those who have passed away ( during the year. OFFICERS ELECTED. Tlie election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop); president, Mr. F. K. Rolling (the new president of the Wellington Chess Club); vice-presidents, Mr. A. T. Craven ■ (senior-vice-president of the Wellington Chess Club) and the presidents of the ten other affiliated clubs; hon. chairman, Mr. F. J. Brooker; hon. secretary, Mr. X. Robie (care Messrs. Ross and Glendining); hon. treasurer, Mr. J. A. Glasgow; hon. reporter, Mr *. K. Kelling; hon. auditor, Mr. A. W. Gyles; permit committee, Messrs. 1. J. Brooker and A. T. Craven. The draw for the first round of matches in the A grade teams' tourney is as follows:—Ngaio v. Hiitt \ alley, \\ ellington C.C. v. Wellington South C.C, Working' Men's Club a bye. The pairings for the second round of the B grade contest are as follows:—Ngaio v. Hutt Vallcv, Wadestown v. Miramar, Wellington No. 1 v. Brooklyn F.8.C.C., Wellington Xo. 2 v. Karori, Working Men's Club v. 'Varsity. These various fixtures have to be accounted for by 20th instant. Ihe first round draw in the ehampion-of-champions competition is as follows:— E. E. Hicks (W.M. Club) v. W. White (Brooklyn F.B.C.C), A. W. Gyles (Karori C.C.) v. E. A. Hicks (Wellington CC), J. Morton (Wadestown) v. I. X. Rolling (Xgaio). Mr. G. P. Anderson (Wellington South), the present holder of the title, has the bye. Mr. S. laulknor, who won the championship of the W M Club, is not available for this contest, and the club has accordingly nominated the runner-up, Mr. Ernest h. Hicks, as its competitor. These games have to be played during the present month. The Shell Oil Company Chess Club s request for matches was brought to the notice of the affiliated clubs. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH. A detailed report on the recent open-ing-of-scason match ("Xorth v. South ) showed that as a result of reducing the price of admission to one shilling there had been a small loss, but on the other hand there was a record attendance (130) In these circumstances the loss was generally held '-to be " worth while. Of the 11 matches played to date, "North" has won six, "South has won four, and one ended in a tie. Ten ot the eleven matches have .provided close finishes, which shows 'that teh line taken to divide Wellington North froui_ Wellington South has worked yery well indeed. The amendment to the rules proposed by Mr. Glasgow (Ngaio), under which each club would inj future only have one vote on any matter coming before tlie league, was not carried. It was, however, conceded by 'several speakers' that the league's management committee has become unwieldy, (and it is probable that the'desired reform will be secured at the next annual general meeting by forming a small management committee from the assembled! delegates. A general reminder was give's to clubs regarding the rule that requites the captain of a side to place his men in the order ot their playing strength as disclosed by match play or by the club's ladder. _ The meeting closed with a • hearty vote of thanks to last year's office-bearers, particular reference being made to _tne highly valued services rendered by Mr. J. L. Hardy during the four years that he has been the league's hon. secretary. .