TELEGRAPH CHESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 6

TELEGRAPH CHESS

»»■ OTAGO v. CANTERBURY A commencement was made in the interprovincial chess telegraph match between the four major provinces of the Dominion on Saturday evening, when Wellington played Auckland and Otago played Canterbury. The champion club last year was Wellington, which successfully beat Auckland in the first round and then the Canterbury Club in the play-off. The Wellington team now holds the handsome Bledisloe Cup, which Lord Bledisloe presented to the New Zealand Chess Association as a prize for this popular annual competition. At the Otago end in the Canterbury v. Otago match play commenced at 6,30 p.m. sharp in the Otago Chess Club's rooms in the Capitol Building, twenty boards being in operation. Otago won the toss and played White at the odd boards. In addition to the 20 players participating in the match, there was present a fair number of onlookers, who watched with interast the respective games as they progressed. Great interest was manifested in the game between J. B. Dunlop and H. R. Abbott, who are both lop-board players in the match. Abbott is the present New Zealand champion, having distinguished himself by beating all-comers at the New Zealand Chess Congress, which was held at Auckland last Christmas. Dunlop, of course, is well known in chess circles, and has held the New Zealand championship on three occasions. The following are the names of the players for the respective teams and the' number of the board played upon:— OTAGO CANTERBURY 1. Dunlop. J. B. Abbott, H. R. 2. M'Diarrnid, R. Hindon, S. (captain,). 3. Lang, W. Hunter, J. 4. Watt. R. Darwin, L. J. (captain), 5. Bennett, Dr E. Kennedy, Hans. W. 6. Williamson. R. Friberg, Rev. N. E. 7 Coombs, L. E. Abbott, Mrs H. R. 8. Balk, O. Hey, E. H. 9. Seddon. S. H. Dalton, E. 10. M'Dcrmott, A. Mitchell, L. J, J - . „ 11. Langley, D. Adair F. 12. Fraer, A. H. Joyce, W. H. 13 Wright, G. D. Lovell-Smith, R. 14. Lang, J. F, Gray, A. O. 15. Evans, E. F. Gray, C. W. 16. Ward, A. E. B. Hawkins, T 17. Barnett, Dr G. Couch, L. W. 18. Mooney, B. Dobson, W. A. 19. Rawnslcy. Dr Penrose, R. J. E J. 20 Mer'rington. Dr Hollander. I. E. N. The following is a commentary on the progress of the games up to the conclusion of the first nights play (11 p.m.):— , ... „ Game No. 1 commenced with a Vienna opening. The game has gone to 20 moves, and material is still even. Dunlop's greater experience should give him the game against the new champion. . ... 2 This game is even material witn 17 'moves made. The Otago captain has a doughty opponent with international experience and the advantage of playing white. 3. A Stadgy French Defence by Canterbury, and the Otago player has met it in 'fine style to 18 moves, with material even. Otago is now developing a good attack. 4. Commenced with an irregular opening, and has gone to 19 moves, with material even. This game is obviously going to be hard fought. 5 "This game has gone 17 moves, on an irregular Queen's Pawn opening. The material is. still even, and both players are sparring for positions on the board. ,_ , .. 6. The Otago player offered the Que-n's Gambit in the opening, which Canterbury declined. The game has gone 20 moves, with material even Hopes are high in this game for Otago. 7. The Canterbury opponent is the New Zealand chamnion lady chess player Only 15 moves have been made, and progress is slow. Material is even, and the game is just developing to a critical stage. 8. This game was the gem of the evening. The Otago player lost a piece in the early stages through a clerical oversight which the Canterbury player held him to. Black thereupon launched crushing attacks, and at the 20th move regained it and is now in a good mating position with 22 moves gone 9 Sicilian Defence. Seventeen moves have gone with pieces even. Whitehas a slight attack and an opinion at the present stage is not possible. 10. Moves 19. The opening was Queens Gambit Declined. Pieces ar* even and the game is developing to a critical sta^c ' 11. An English opening. The game developed slowly to 15 moves, with material still even. 12 Twenty-three moves have been made with material even, the openini' being the Queen's Gambit Declined. The Canterbury player has a menacing advanced pawn which is very worrying at the present stage . 13 Otago played a Guioco Piano opening. Only 14 moves have gone, with nieces even and small exchanges. H This was a more lively game and 29 moves have gone. Otago played a Dutch Defence and has now good possibilities, although pieces arc even 15 A still livelier game, which ha= gone 32 moves on a Queens Pawn opening. 01 ago is at present a pawn up, with only a knight left on the board besides pawns. , 16 A King's Pawn game which has gone 14 moves It is an even gome at present with no progress on either side. 17 This should be a definite win for the Otago plaver. who has a piece ui> and a tremendous attack. 18 Twenty-two moves have been made, Otago playing a Dutch Defence Canterburv has a niece up, with good prospects against the Otago plaver. 19. Seventeen moves have been nlayed with Otaeo a pawn down after 17 moves The Canterbury man is an oirl Otasfo nlnvcr. 20 A King's Bishop's Pawn opening developed to 30 moves. Canterbury is the exchange up. but Otago is attackin" with pood prospects. The match will be continued at 6.30 next Saturday evening. Mr J. J Marlow, the president of the club acted as umpire. Messrs J. Lawson nnd W. M'Millan as scrutineers and Mr A. Smith as telegraph operator.