CHESS CHAMPION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18924, 28 January 1936, Page 4

CHESS CHAMPION

MR. J. S. PURDY'S VISIT GISBORNE EXHIBITIONS A distinguished figure in the realm of chess, and holder of She Australian championship, Mr. J. S. Ptirdy, was welcomed with enthusiasm by members of the Gisborne Chess Club on' his arrival here yesterday morning by plane from Napier. Mr. Purdy is engaged in a tour of the Dominion, in the course of which he is giving a series of exhibitions with the principal object of building up public interest in chess, and the Gisborne Club considers itself extremely fortunate in securing his visit, to this district. The Australian champion is an interesting personality, slimly-built and athletic, keen on surfing and tennis but giving his chief devotion of course, to the game in which he has established his position so thoroughly in the past few years. He welcomed yesterday an opportunity to indulge both his minor hobbies, in preparation for his public appearances in Gisborne. He is the guest of Mr Charles Lawn, .during his stay in Gisborne, and will leave to-morrow morning for Napier.

Gisborne Chess Club members gathered in force last evening to greet Mr Purdy on his first public appearance, and there were also present a number of members of the general public. Mr K. E. Somervell, president of the club, extended a hearty welcome to the guest from Australia, and Mr Purdy made a brief response, expressing his pleasure in being able to visit Gisborne and to meet the enthusiasts of the club. In the first of his exhibitions, Mr Purdy met 17 Gisborne players simultaneously, his opponents toeing Messrs L. C. Meredith, 0. H. Smythe, P. Fischbaeh, F. T. Venning, E. E. Somervell, G. Harris, M. McMahon,' C. Aitken, jun., H. L. Gleave, M. F. Robinson,' R. .1. Thompson, n. Harris, 0. A. Lawn, M. Pere, A. A. Whitehead, R. Halbert, and the Rev. R, C. Aires. The Australian champion won every game, and in discussing the play afterwards, was able to demonstrate his amazingly retentive memory by selecting various 'individual moves'on the part of his opponents, and indicating the turning-points in the respective games.

Complimenting the club on the arrangements for the exhibition, Mr Purdy stated incidentally that the standard of -j* chess in Gisborne, judging by the A strength of the opposition he had met, f was at least as strong as in any other town in the Dominion, apart from the four centres, where players found a natural advantage from the variety of opponents and the more frequent opportunities for play.

At an afternoon session at the Selvyn Hall to-day Mr. Purdy was to meet six opponents simultaneously placing himself under the handicap of playing with Ins back to the boards and] calling his moves from memory of the positions on the respective tables. This evenings session will provide an opportunity for all-comers to fry their hands against the Australian champion, who will play as many opponents as are available. Theie games will be carried on simultaneously, and those who wish to meet the champion have been requested by the club committee to furnish their own boards and chessmen, in case of a shortage. "■■'■ ' " : r