CHESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16277, 9 January 1915, Page 8

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY MR KELLING. (Pkb United Pbess Association CHKESTCHURCH, January 8. The thirteenth and final round in th» chess tournament was played to-day, with the following results: — Hill v. 0. E. Fox (Caro Kann). —Hill won two pawns, and had an easily won game, but -blundered badly and lost. Mara v. Kelling (Philidors Defence).— Mara sacrificed a pawn for the attack. Kelling carefully, but later on, through an oversight, allowed Mara to win a bshop. Mara, however, went astray, lost a rook, end eventually the game. By winning this game Kelling gets the championship. He received hearty congratula- ■ tions. Buckett v. Pleasants (Scotch Gambit). — Plcasantg defended weakly, losing a pawn and getting a cramped game. Buckett pressed his advantage, and obtained his opponent's resignation at move 32. Severne v. Grierson (Four Knigbta Game.)—Severne succeeded in winning a pawn, and, with this advantage, ultimately secured the game. Dodds v. Moore (Queen Knights Opening).—Moore went in for a premature attack at the expense of development, lost two pieces, and capitulated on the twentysixth move. Hicks v. B. G. Fox. —Hicks scored by default. Barnes, a bye. The unfinished games Buckett v. Barnes (round 4) and Kelling v. Severne (round 12) were completed in the afternoon, Buckett resigning on the 102 nd move, and Severne resigning to Kelling. The scores of the completed games are:— Games. Wins. Losses. Kelling 12 11£ i Barnes 11 9g lj Hicks 12 8 4 O. E. Fox ... 12 8 4 Severne „. 11 65 44 Buckett ... 12 6g 5A Grierson ... 12 5£ Dodds 12 5 7 Hill 12 5 7 Mara 12 4£ 7i Moore 12 4j 7| Pleasants ... 12 2j 9| B. G Fox (ret.) - — 12 Barnes and Severne will complete their unfinished game to-morrow morning. Barnes is a passed pawn to the good. The first championship played in New Zealand was promoted by the Canterbury Chess Club, and played in Christchurch in 1879, the winner being Mr H. Hookham, of Christchurch, who won after a play-off with Mr D. R. Hay, of Dunedin. Though another Championship Congress ,was not played till 1688, Mr Hookham had some very hard tussles in defending his title during the intervening period, notably one with Mr P. F. 'Jacobsen, in 1884. The player with the first seven wins was to be proclaimed victor, drawn games not to count. After a match lasting some three months, the result was : Hookham 7 wins, Jacobsen 6 wins. Eight drawn games. In 1888, on the motion of the Canterbury Chess Club, the first of the series of annual chcss championships was held in Christchurch. There were six competitors. the winner being the late Mr A. M. Ollivier, of Christchurch. The next year the congress was held in Dunedin, when Mr Hookham regained the championship, losing in the following year to Mr R. .J. Pi-inics. During the 35 years since the first congress was held in Zealand three names stand high in championship history--the late Mr Henry Hookham, of Christchurcli; Mr R. J. Barnes, of Wellington; and Mr W. E. Mason (last year's champion, who did not compete this year), also of Wellington. Mr Barnes has been champion five times, and has been placed " second" no fewer than seven times. The following is a list of previous 'winners : — 1879. —11. Hookham, Christchurch. 1888.—A. M. Ollivier, Christchurch. 3889.— H. Hookham. Christchurch. 1890.— R. .T. Barnes, Wellington. 1891.— F. V. Siedeberg, Dunedin. 3853. —J. Ed-wards, Wellington. 1894,— W. Mackay, Wellington. IE9S.—W. Meldrum, Rangitikei. 1896.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1897.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1898. —R. A. Cleland, Dunedin. I£CO.—W. E. Mason, Wellington (held at Easter, instead of commencing, as before, on Boxing Day, 1899). 1901.—D. Forsyth, D'unedin (held at Easter). 1902.— R. .J. Barnes, Wellington (commenced on Boxing Day, 1901). 1903.—. T. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1904. —W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1905.—A. W. 0. Davies, Wellington. 1906.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1907.— W. S. Viner. Perth, West Australia. 1908. —A. W. O. Davies, Wellington. 1909.— F. K. Kelling, Wellington. 1910.— J. Mason. Wellington. 1911.— W. E. Mason. Wellington. 1912. —W. E. Mason, Wellington. 1913.—-T. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1914.— W. E. Mason, Wellington. — Everywhere I find the French doctors cultivated men of wide interests as well as men absolutely devoted to their duty (write® Mr Hamilton Fvfe, in the Daily Mail). They can keep discipline, too. The other day two fashionable women from Paris drove </wt to see one of the battlefields of the Marr.-'. They wore Red Cross badges, but it was plain they were merely ghoulish sensation-seekers. " Where are the doadi thickest?" they icquired. An army doctor overheard them. " Come this way, mcfdamrs," he said. "There are plenty here. We are just burying them, and, as you aro Red Cross ladies, you can help." And they had to uatil ho chose to let them go.