CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 111, 13 May 1938, Page 4

CHESS

WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The forty-ninth annual chess and draughts meeting of the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute Was held recently, Mi'. D. Stephens presiding over a good attendance. The report stated that the annual tourney for the championship of the club was won by F. K. Kelling, who was the club's first chess champion 49 years ago. He therefore retains for another term the Pressley Championship Shield, which has at different times been held by Messrs. S. Faulknor, K. Beyer, J. Lindsay, and E. E. Hicks. K. Beyer won the second prize and W. McClure gained the third rung on the ladder by defeating L. Gneiss when playing off a tic for third place. The annual handicap ches3 tourney was won by K. Beyer. The contest for second prize is narrowed down to Messrs. Rosenberg and Cornish, the result depending on the outcome of two outstanding games. All the ladder matches played during the year were won by the defenders, which would appear to show that the club's ladder is a better indication than usual of the members' playing strength. The club's representatives did well in the three teams tourneys of the Wellington Chess League, gaining one first and two seconds. They were runners-up in grades 1 and 3, and won the second grade competition, the successful team being Messrs. Hinter, McClure, R. Brown, Stephens, Cornish, and Pascoe. The club's representatives in the three champion-of-champions tourneys were as follows:—Grade 1, F. K. Kelling; grade 2, G. Smith; and grade 3, G. M. Morpeth. Mr. Kelling succeeded in winning the senior event after playing off a tie with F. Vincent (Brooklyn F.B.C.C). Mr. Kelling represented the club in the forty-seventh tourney to decide the chess championship of New Zealand, and shared fifth prize with Mr. H. McNabb, the Nelson expert. Kelling can now show 26 prizes for his 30 New Zealand congresses. It is worthy of note that the club has b.een represented at 46 of New Zealand's 47 chess congresses, and has failed to secure a prize only in six of the 46 tourneys. For this remarkable record the club is in a large measure indebted to the late Mr. R. J. Barnes whose formidable list of successes still' commands admiration. Reference is made to'the success of the club's diaE2 1 => J^lu 6 celebl- ations in July last, and to the much-appreciated visits of Messrs. L Steiner (chess champion of Hungary) and C. Wreford Brown (a prominent member of the Imperial 2m S - + C^ b, London )- A tribute is paid to the memory of the late Captain and ß chair a m^. a f ° rmer **«*«**«*

v 3! report as ad °Pted, and all last elected: e Olflcers Were «" wlir^ s nl? e^i ded to nominate Messrs Kelling, McClure, and Morpeth for the L W " ch t am P lon °J champions events! 2?& to t enter . for the flrst and sec ondl grade teams tourneys. Good entries have been received for the club's annual championship and handicap tour-

MIRAMAR-SEATOUN CLUB

u T£ e - Mtfamar-Seatoun Chess Club held its seventh annual meeting last week Mr. G. W. Wood, the retiring president, occupied the chair, and fourteen members were present. The annual report stated that there had been a welcome increase in membership during the past year. The annual handicap tourney was won by E. W. Hutchings, who thus holds the handsome silver cup donated by Mr. G. W. Wood for the ensuing year. The annual championship tourney was won by W. Arbuthnot, the runner-up being E. W. Hutchings. The club occupied fifth place in the Wellington League's sec-ond-grade teams tournament, and E. W. Hutchings, the club's representative in the league's B-grade champion of champions event, was succesful in winning that competition. The balancesheet showed that the club had paid its way during the past season. The report and balance-sheet were

adopted unanimously. It was decided to make a small increase in the annual subscription to assist the club in purchasing chess sets. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, ' Mr. A. Walker; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. Wood; committee, Mrs. Gadd and Messrs. H; Dyer, Loretz, and Knudsen, with the officers ex-officio; handicappers, Messrs. E. and W. Hutchings; delegate to Wellington Chess League, Mr. H. N. Robie. It .was decided to invite entries tit once for the annual handicap tourney, and to hold a series of ladder competitions in lieu of the customary championship tourney. Two teams are to be entered in the league's second-grade teams tourney; and Mr, W. Arbuthnot is to represent the club in thfe league's second-grade champion of champions competition. In handing over the Wood Cup to Mr,.E. W. Hutchings, Mr. Kelling, th 6 president of the league, complimented him on his good and consistent play.