CHESS TOURNEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 3

CHESS TOURNEY

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY JOHN MASON, OF WELLINGTON. PEEBS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, January 8. Tho final game for the chess championship was concluded this morning. Grierson’s sealed move was probably not his strongest. John Mason pushed on his attack, winning a piece on the 24th move. Later on he added a pawn, which disorganised the position of Grierson's forces, and on the'4lst move Grierson resigned. Mr Mason, who is twenty-eight years of age, is a cousin of Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P., and a law student at. Victoria College. He always favours the close game, and is particularly partial to 1 tho Zukort-ort opening, which he used on every possible occasion. He knows tho books thoroughly, having studied' them under his father’s tuition with his brother, Blako Mason, an equally good, if not superior, player. Mr Mason has taken part in eight Congresses, including that of 1910, and has tied for championship honours on three occasions. The first time he lost in the play-off with Barnes, and the second he was beaten by W. E. Mason. He has twice won the Brilliancy Prize. Mt J. C. Grierson, runner-up, is an old chess player, and has often been prominent in the honours list. Ho won-the championship of the Ponsonby Chess Club in 1895, in addition to the gold medal for the - Auckland district championship. In the contests for the Auckland championship in thirteen years he has secured seven first' and five seconds. In 1902 at Dunedin he won the New Zealand championship. Three months ago he regained the Auckland championship. CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL . Tho following shows the winners of past championship tournaments held in New Zealand, and the centres represented hy them: 1879. —H. Hookham, Christchurch. 1883.—A. M. Ollivier, Christchurch. ISB9. —H. Hookham, Christchurch. 1890. R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1891. F. Y, Sisdeberg, Dunedin 1892. —F. V. Siedeberg, Dunedin. 1893. —J. Edwards, Wellington. 1894. —W. Mackay, Wellington. 1895. W. Meldrum, Rangitikei--1896. R. J, Barnes, Wellington. 1897. R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1893.—R. A. Cleland, Dunedin. 1900.—W. Maaon, Wellington (held at Easter, instead of commencing, as before, on Boxing Day, 1899). 1501.—D. Forsyth. Dunedin (held at Easter). 1902. —R. J. Barnes, Wellington (commenced on Boxing Day, 1901). 1903. —J. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1904. —W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1905. A. W. O. Davies, Wellington. 1905.—R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1907.—W. S. Vincr, Perth, Western Australia-. 1908 (Easter).—A. W. O. Davies, Wellington. 1903 (Christmas). —P. K. Rolling, Wellington. 1939 (Christmas).—John Mason, Wellington.