CHESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8783, 13 July 1914, Page 8

CHESS

WELLINGTON CLUB. The Wellington Chess Club had a “ birthday ” on the Ist instant, having been founded on July Ist, 1876. It has, like many another club, had many “ups and downs” in its time. For some time past the membership has been very small, and at one time it looked as if the annual handicap tourney for the Petherick Trophy No. 2 would have to be abandoned. A few veterans have, however, emerged from retirement, and the committee is glad to be able to announce that this timehonoured competition will not have to lapse after all. Play will be commenced on Wednesday evening with fifteen entries, viz.:—Messrs Barnes, Still, Barraud, Kerry, S. Gyles, Hill, C. W. Tanner, Gyles, senr.. White, Bock, McCarthy, Cimino, Varney, Dornbusch, and Cornwall. It is interesting to recall that Barnes has won no less than five of these “ Petherick ” tourneys, while Messrs Tanner, Gyles, senr., and Hill have each come out first on one occasion, the last-named being the present holder of the trophy. In the “ ladder ” contests Mr S. Gyles captured rung 7 from Mr A. G. Fell. In the incomplete contest for rung 13 Messrs Bock and White have each scored one win. Mr McCarthy has challenged Mr Tanner for rung 11. Mr W. E. Mason, the present New Zealand champion, is unable to devote any time to chess at present, and has had his name removed from the ladder for the time being. Mr W. F. Barraud, the club’s, piesident, has rejoined the ladder, the first four rungs on which are now held by Messrs Barnes, Still, W. Maokay, and Barraud, in that order. WELLINGTON SOUTH CLUB. The third round of the Wellington South Ghees Club’s annual handicap tourney was contested on Friday evening, when Bland won frOm Welton, Perrott from Murray, Purohas from Douglas, and Berry from Weine. Two games are marked incomplete, viz.. Harper v. Thompson (in which the positions are very even) and Loney v. Laughton (in which the former holds the advantage, having won the exchange). The fixture Allen v. Booth was postponed, the latter being prevented by indisposition from attending. The game Armstrong v. Clark is also outstanding, the former having been unable to attend owing to another engagement. WORKING MEN’S CLUB. Eight more games have been disposed of in this club’s annual handicap chess tourney, wins being scored by Messrs Jensen, Key, Mowtcll (2), Burgess, C. Reid, and Featonby, while the fixture Larking y. W. H. Smith ended in a draw. Those who have so far won half or mote of their games are: —J. Reid (Class V.), 4 wins, I loss; Gray (Class II), 3—o; Mowtell (V.), 3—l; Featon by (IV.), 2—o; J. E. Perry (HI.), 2—o; Burgess (I.), 2—l; C. Reid (VI.), 2—l; Larking- (V.), 2J—li; Jensen (IV.), I—1; Milesi (V.), 1—1; and Key (VH.), I—l. Messrs Dalrymple and Curtis have withdrawn from the competition, neither player being able to devote the necessary time to it. Pldy has also been brisk in the draughts tourney (sealed handicap), with the following results: —J. Reid (3) v. Wright (1), J. Reid (2i) v. Jones (li), Erickson (3i) v. C. Reid (i), Burgess (3f) v. Hudson (i), Hudson (3) v. Wallace (1), Manson (3i) v. Wallace (i), J. Reid (3) v. Hudson (1), C. Reid (2i) v. Jones (li), and Wright (3i) v. Colville (i). 'The best tallies to date are:—Erickson, 23 wins, 1 loss; J. Reid, 21—7; Manson, 14i—5i; Burgess, 10—6; Wright, 6 —2; and Warren, 6 —6. •