Chess Congress.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 3208, 7 January 1896, Page 2

Chess Congress.

(PBR PBESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, January 6. Hookham v. Mackay, Buy Lopez. A great deal of interest was shown in this game, Mr Hookham having to either win or tie with his opponent to get second, Mr Fleasants having drawn bis game. White, however, made a blunder on his 21st move, thereby losing a piece and in consequence had to resign and take third place in the championship. - Fleasants and Anderson (Queen's gambit declined). This was another game which the public were interested in, but on the 32nd move the players agreed to draw, and so Mr Pleasants got 8£ points and second place. " Mouat v. Meldrum. — Another good game, but as Mr Meldrum only had to draw to get the coveted first it did not attract as much attention as the others. White eventually resigned on the 36th move, Mr Meldrum getting ten points and the Championship.

The following are. the final scores for the Championship : — Meldrum, Ist prize and Championship, 10 points; Fleasants, 2nd, 8£ ; Hookham, 3rd, 8; Barnes, 8 ; Anderson, 7£ ; Mouat, 1\ ; Mackay, 7£ ; Lelievre, 7£ ; Pearee, 6 ; Cocks, s£ ; Sexton, 5 ; Hatherly 4£ ; Edwards, 3J ; Remington, 2.

It will be noticed that Messrs Hook* ham and Barnes tied for third place, but as the latter had left for Wellington and was not here when called on to play, the prize was awarded to Mr Hookham. The following is a brief chess autobiography of the winners. Mr Meldrum, who wins the championship, learned the game as a boy, but has not taken part in match play until the formation of the * Rangitikei Chess Club some three years ago. Since then he has played for his club in almost all their matches, and generally with success. During the last two years he has held the club championship in both years, winning without suffering a defeat. He imputes bis present success to avoiding practising too much with opponents over the~~ board, preferring,' as practice, the careful analysis of games by recognised masters. The present is his first try for championship honors. Mr Meldrum has for the past four years practised as a barrister and solicitor at Hunterville.

Mr Fleasants, who takes second prize, * learned the moves of the game about eight years ago, but did not take an active interest in the chess world until the last two years. Since then, however, he has played in the two previous champion tourneys, and improved his position every year. He was born in London, and is now 24 years of age. The third prize winner, Mr Hookham, is well known to all chess players as an ardent lover of the game and an exchampion. Mr Hookham also edits the chess columns of the Canterbury Times.