Chess and Draughts

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7985, 16 December 1911, Page 9

Chess and Draughts

(Column Conducted by “W.F.C.")

Solution of Mongredeins Problem No. 103 White. Black, 1. Q—B 7 1. QxQ ch 2. B—B 6 (double ch) 2. K —Kt sq 3. K—lt Boh (mate)

To Correspondents. “Juggins," Auckland. —Chess No. 103 solved correctly. F.A.L.XC., Wellington.—Chess No. 103 solved correctly. F.K.K., Wellington.—Thanks for problem and notes.

Wellington Chess Club. The ladder match for rung 1 was concluded on Wednesday evening, victory resting with Mr Burnes. A miscalculation at move 21 lost Mr W. E. Mason a knight for a pawn. He was at this very pushed for time, and in order to get his thirtieth move made within his second hour he resorted to a number of exchanges which in no way diminished Mr Barnes’© advantage. The game then became “a mere procession" Mr Mason resigning at move 43. Mr Barnes thus regains the club championship which his present opponent deprived him of a year ago.

New Zealand Association. At the quarterly council meeting of the New Zealand Chess Association tho following delegate© were present: B. B. Allen (Auckland), James (Gisborne), Sinun (Napier), .Armstrong (Wanganui), S. Mackay (Masterton), E, W. Petherick (Wellington C.C.), Kelling (Wellington W.H-C. and Tiniaru), and A. G. Fell (Canterbury C.C.). Mr B. B. Allen presided.

Mr Kelling, official reporter to the association, said that he had a duty to perform that was a very great pleasure to him. viz., to ask Mr Fell to accept a testimonial from the affiliated clubs and a few personal friends. The splendid work that Mr Fell had done throughout the four years that he had been hou. secretary and treasurer to the New Zealand Chess Association had evoked feelings of admiration and gratitude throughout the chess circles of the Dominion. In responding Mr Fell said the work done by him had been a labour of love; it had been a pleasure to help the game along, and he did not think his efforts had been worthy of special recognition. As long as he had the time to- devote to the executive office it would bo a pleasure to carry on the work, which he believed to be a good one. (Loud applause.) The bon. secretary reported that copies of the rules, as revised, had been distributed.

In response to an order received last week a copy of tho Congress Book had been forwarded to a firm in Leipzig.

Five guineas had been remitted to England for the Blackburne Testimonial Fund, ithe amount being made up as follow©; Otago C.C., -BX 15s 6d; Wellington C.C., 12s 6d; Oamaru C.G., .£1 Is; and the Now Zealand Chess Association, 16s.

The Napier hon. secretary (Mr J. H. Kidd) reported that *th© Napier Council Chamber had been secured for the forthcoming championship congress, play * u which was to commence on Wednesday, the 27th. inst. The following eleven entries were received for the championship tourney: Messrs Grierson and Miles (Auckland), Saiusbury (Gisborne), Jourdain. (Napier),. G. Jones (Masterton), W - . E. Mason and James (Wellington), Hicks (South Wellington C.C.), F. K. Kelling (Wellington Working Men's Club), A. W. Gyles (Westport C. 0.), and Severn© (Canterbury). The Wellington Working Men's Club wrote expressing regret that Mr Barnes would not be representing the club on this occasion. ■ It was decided that in the event of a brilliancy prize being available (as is probable), Messrs W. Mackay and P• Still be asked to adjudicate on the games entered for same. The question, of publishing a book of the forthcoming congress was held over. DRAUGHTS., Problem No, 93. (By William Deal, Southampton.) Black— 9 Men.

White—9 Men, Black—X, 2,5, 6. 8, 12, 16, 20, 23. White—lo, 15, 18. 19. 23, 24, 27. 30. 32. White to play and draw. Working Men's Draughts Club. A special general meeting of the draughts' players of the Working Men's Club was held on Tuesday everting, the chairman, Mr W. G, Lightfoot, presiding over a large attendance. As there are some unplayed games in the annual handicap tourney it was unanimously decided not to open the sealed handicap until a special general meeting has been held to. consider the proportionate adjustment which the handicaps will require as they were framed on the basis of all games being played. Arrangements for the New Zealand draughts championship tourney (which, is to be held in this city next Easier under the auspices of the club) were ;hm discussed. It was announced that tho use of the social hall had been granted for this important contest, which is expected to attract first-class talent from various parts of the Dominion, On the motion of Mr Erickson it was decided that subscription lists be issued throughout New Zealand as soon as possible for the purpose of raising the funds necessary for this tournament. The general committee is being recommended to agree to the issue of season-tickets to each subscriber of 2s 6d or more, and day tickets at Is each, —it being understood that club members have the rights of the tournament free, though no doubt many will be glad of the opportunity to give some little assistance to the tourney fund. In reply to an inquiry submitted to tho club it was decided to write that the feeling in circles here is to prefer the championship to be decided by a full-round tourney/rather than by/the two-life, knock-out system, but that the local committee would like to have the opinion of the New Zealand Draughts Association as to which is the more desirable system. Another meeting is to be held'on Friday nest, tb* 22nd inst., to further the arrangements for the l championship tournam^t.