TELEGRAPHIC CHESS

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 16

TELEGRAPHIC CHESS

OTAGO V. CANTERBURY Play in the telegraphic chess match between Otago and Canterbury was continued on Saturday in the Otago Chess Club rooms, when the games between the two teams (as Jar as the playing is concerned) was finished. The first Otago player to win his game was Mr O. Balk,_ who staged a good recovery after losing a piece in the initial stages. In addition to the 20 players there was a large number of visitors present, including Mr Armstrong, a prominent member and top board player of the Canterbury Chess Club. The results after the second night’s play appear to indicate that Otago will win the match, as most of the games unfinished seem to be strongly in favour of the local team. The games of Messrs Dunlop, Williamson, and Seddon appear to be wins for Otago, and on this supposition and counting the two draws Otago will have a total of eight wins out of the 20 games played. Of the remaining eight games to be adjudicated upon, Otago to win the match has only to secure 2i further wins. The Otago team will possibly now play the winners of the North Island match in a final for the silver cup which was presented by Lord Bledisloe during his sojourn in the Dominion as Governor-General.

The following is a list of the players with their scores (x means that games are submitted for negotiation between the captains of the two teams, and, failing an agreement, to be submitted to an adjudication committee) :

Otago: Pour wins, two losses, two draws. Canterbury; Two wins, four losses, two draws. The following is a commentary on the undecided games not already mentioned : No. 2.—This game is being played bv the Otago captain. The material is even, and a draw seems probable. No. 4. —This game has also an even position and material, and a draw will possibly bo the result. No. s.—The Otago player ha,s two pawns np, hut the position at a glance seems full of complications. No. 7 is an even game after 27 moves, and a draw appears likely. No. 10.—Otago is a pawn down and can expect a reverse. No. 11.—This game should be a win for Otago, as he is a pawn up with a fair attack. No. 12.—The Canterbury player is a knight up for two pawns and should, win. No. l-'i. —Otago is the cxcdiaugo up, but most of the pieces are still on the board. If the game had been more developed the Otago player could have

claimed a win. Possibly a draw will decide it. . No. 20.—This was a game of ups and downs, although Otago is the exchange down.

OTAGO Dunlop, J. B., X CANTERBURY. Abbott, A. H, x M'Dermid R. (Captain) X Hindon, S. ... X Lang, W. ... * Hunter. J. ... i Watt, R. X Darwin, L. J. (Captain) X Bennett, Dr E. W. X Kennedy, Hans X Williamson, R X Friberg, Rev. X Coombs, L. D. > Abbott, Mrs X Balk, 0. ... 1 Hoy, H. E. 0 Seddon, G. H. X Dalton, E. ... X d'Dermott, A. J X Mitchell. L. J. X Langley, D. X Adair, F X Fraer, A. H. X Joyce, AV. H. X Wright, G. D. X Lovell-Smith, R X Lang, J. F. 0 Gray. A. 0. ... 1 Evans, E. ,F. 1 Gray', C. W. ... 0 Ward, A. E. B. i Hawkins, T. J Barnett, Dr G. 1 Conch, L. AA : . 0 Mooney, B ... 0 Dobson, W. A. 1 Rawnsley, Dr E. J 1 Penrose, R. J. 0 Merrington, Dr E X Hollander, I. S. X