NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2925, 6 April 1910, Page 71

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY.

The eleventh tournament for the championship of New Zealand -was commenced at Leys Institute/ Auckland, on Tuesday, March 29, with 12 entries. Only two Tepreß«ntaives from the south were present—Messrs Boreham (title holder) and Hilliker. Special interest attaches to the competition this year, notwithstanding the absence of players like G-ardiner, Brodie, Dueas, etc. That interest centres in the presence of three recent arrivals from the Old Dand in the persons of Messrs A. and W. Penman and D. Calderwood. We were able to notify their coming to this Dominion on their respective dates, and predicted their appearance in this year's tourney. Mr Calderwood is a strong player, hailing from Dreghorn, Scotland, and by the scores shown below he stands a gilt-edged chance of securing the championship, although., of course, it is not safe to predict anything till the numbers go up. Mr W. Penman is a noted player of the famous Kelty Club. Glasgow a'd ba,s had the benefit of practice with clubniates like B. Stewart, who i 3 likely to aim au mo world's championship. W. Penman has competed in a number of Scottish, championship tournaments, and was only defeated in the semi-finals of last year's l event by Sweeney (runner-up). Penman had to defeat A. Miller and Battersby in earlier rounds of that oonteßt. The Messrs Penman arrived in New Zealand on November 30 last year, and, like Calderwood, found occupation at Huntly, Auckland province, aB miners. Mr Calderwood arrived here in September last. Mr A. Penman is a brother of W. Penman, and came to the Dominion with him. The Penmar.s were entertained at an

enthusiastic valedictory social jnst prior to leaving Home, and v.-ere then spoken of in. terms of warm, eulogy. From the foregoing facts it will be understood that th« New Zealand ex-champions, Boreham and Hilliker. are up against a. serious propositon n meeting W. Penman •and Calderwood fresh from the greatest playing centre in the world, and it is gratifying to find that the two Dunedin representatives have mad* such a good fight. The scores tabulator below give the results up to the clcse cf Monday's play, and although Boreham, is on paper a full point in the rear, Hilliker is only half a point behind the Isader, CaldeTwood. As no details are to hand, however, it is impossible to predict the resuii, and any one of t<:e first four may come out on top. For instance, Calderwood, with 12 points out of a possible 16, is betteron paper than W. Penman's 13 out of 18. But the same proportion may not be maintained by either of them in the games still to play. The tournament should be concluded eaaily on Wednesday, and next week we expect to have details to present to cur readers. Tho following are the scores to the close of Monday's play:— Games played. Points.

Each player has to play 22 games (Heavey is finished), and a win counts one point and a draw half a point.

W. Penman 18 13 Calderwcod . . 16 12 Hillikor ... ... 16 11£ Boreham 17 114 Smith 14 S Bruce 18 8 Campbell 16 n Gibson. ... ... 17 n A Penman ... ..\ 18 7| Lowther 16 6 Mackay ... ... 18 .. 6 Heavey .22 34