CHESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10884, 26 April 1921, Page 10

CHESS

WELLINGTON CLUB GOOD PROGRESS reported at ANNUAL. MUEi'ING. HOKE MEMEERS WANTED. The annual meeting of tile Wellington rl.t»s i lul> wvs held at 52. Luba street, on iakUuUy evsuiMtf. 3Lr yMueliav u*r*#uleiit* occupying cnan. member* were P*«*® n *; eluding two Indict, nauielj Mia U>U,s and Mrs Cieiaaa (Miiacovtoii). ANNEAL RE INART. The forty-tilth annual re!>oi-t prejent*<i by the H«m. secretary, Mr fc. N. layer *as r.retaei'd with a feeling reteronce to tho <letuit3 of two old and very 1. .fhly esteemed uvcinbere, namely. Air Defer Still amlyllr W. Brown. lhe latter, « lioao death occurred on May jtj-h. was the sole survivor of those who took part in the second New Zealand Championship Congress (IS-;8-9>. U« tied for eeeond piuce at the 1893-4 c°ngie«4. Mr Still, who died a tortnighc Liter, was also for many years one of the club'e moat distinguished players, tls record in tourneys and matches being an exceptionally fine one. For sev- •: ul terms he was a vice-president, ana was also a member of the New Zealand Chess Association, representing the Auckland Club on that body. The season was opened with a very successful match. North v. South, rotmembers being invited to take part. No less than Ilk players were paired, the team dirawn from south of the Manners street line defeating the “North" team by four games (30 —26). The annual championship tourney was eon by Mr W. E. Mason, with the good -.illy of 7 wins and 3 draws (SJ—l4), Messrs Barnes. A. W. Gyles, and Burch as (each 7—3) tieing for second place. The annual handicap tourney was easily won by Mr 11. Jessup (121 —l). who thus repeated 'his fine triumph of 1907. The next best tallies were made by R. J. Barnes (»i—3*) and S. iaulknor r7(_ 4}) A gratifying feature of the season was the popularity of tho “ladder*' contests, no less than thirtyseven matches having bean played. The challenger was successful in IV. matches and the defender in the remaining 90 contests. Air VV. White wins the president’s prise for the best ladder performance during the past year. Four interclub matches were played and won as follow :—(a) Wellington C.C. 11. ;v. Canterbury C.C. 6; (b) Wellington C.C. . 11l v. Masterton C.C. hi: (c), Wellington C.C. 13i V. Auckland C.C. 61; and (d) Wellington C.C. &4 v. Otago C.C. ss. The match against Auckland created exceptional interest ns these clubs had not opposed each other since 1904. The New Zealand Championship Congress was held at Dunedin during the Christmas holidays, the club’s representatives being Messrs W. E. Mason and T. Fouhy. The former won the third prise, and Mr Fouhy the special prize for the best score against the prizewinners. Congratulations are extended to Mr J. B. Dunlop, of Oamaru, on his securing the championship, this being the first "South Island" win since Easter. 1901. The annual all-Wellington contest for the solving of twelve twomove problems was held, as usual, under the auspices of "The Good Campion Club," on February 22nd (George Washington's birthday). The prize-win-ners were Mr D- Purchas. who scored the possible 02 solutions). F. K. Kelling (10), A. W. Gyles (8), J. C. Andersen (9), and 3. F. Faulknor (9). Mr Purchas has won this contest two years in succession. Thanks are accorded to the daily papers for their interesting reports of local chess activities, and also to Mr W. Mackay (president) for donating a copy Tegularly of "The British Chess Magazine." As there is a small debit balance and the club’s rent is shortly to be doubled, a vigorous canvass for new members is strongly urged. The membership to-day is only about half what it was some twenty-five years ego, and the committee are anxiously wondering how the good old club is to par its way in the future. The annual report and balance-sheet vere adopted unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follow:—President, Mr W. Mackay (reelected amidst loud applause); vicepresidents, Messrs R. J. Barnes, G. 11. Clutten. and E. 8. Taylor; hon. secretary. Mr Leo Sim (38, Connaught terrace, Brooklyn); hon. treasurer. Mr A. Gyles; committee. Messrs W. E. Mason, D. Purchas, 11. Jessup, T. Fouhy, and W. White; hon. auditor. Mr A. W. Gyles; delegates to N-Z. Chess Association. Messrs E. & Taylor and X- Bim. The prizes won last year were presented by tho chairman. A very cordial welcome was extended to Mr A. Clemas, the hon. secretary of the Masterton Chess Club. Mr Toomath took the opportunity to convey to Mr Clemae tho thanks of the many chess players formerly stationed at Featherston Camp for many kind attentions shown them while the war was current. In has reply Mr Clemas said he 'hoped to bring down a strong team in June to play the auwual fixture with the Wellington Club. (Applause.) The Canterbury Club is desirous of playing the annual telegraphic match against Wellington on the last two Saturdays In May. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr E. S. Taylor for his three years' valued service as hon. secretary and treasurer, and a similar compliment was paid to Mr F. K. Kelling for various services rendered. Tbe ”‘new membership aampaign" was launched. and a promising start was made with this project.