Arthur William Oswald Davies
DEATH OF THE CHAMPION OF NEW ZEALAND [2]
A local chess enthusiast received a wiro yesterday from a friend in iuckl&vid stating that Mr. A. W. O. Davics, the chess champion of New Zealand, bad died from heart failure earlier in the day. Mr. Davies formerly resided in this city, and was for some years a member of our two oldest chess clubs, viz., the Wellington Chess Club and the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute. He also rendered valable assistance when the South Wellington Chess Club was formed on 8th June, 1905. The sad news of his sudden death naturally camo as a great shock to his many friends here, with whom he was a great favourite on account of his genial disposition and unassuming manner. Wreaths bearing cards suitably indicating affection and grief have been sent from this centre by the New Zealand Chess Association, by the two senior clubs mentioned above, and by Mr. F. K. Kelling, who played off a tie with the decease'1 when the latter won the chess championship of New Zealand at Christchurch only a fortnight ago. The many letters exchanged by Messrs. Davies and Kelling during their long and close friendship indicated that entire absence of envy that is such a fine feature of New Zealand chess. The latter invariably closed his letters with " yours till the last check," and naturally hoped that the "Great Keaper" would not call for some years to come, but, alas, the call came yesterday, and New Zealand chess circles mourn the loss of a popular and worthy champion. The late Mr. Davies, who was only 52 years of age, was an accountant by profession. He learnt,,the game in 1896, when 21 years of age, and was a member of the London Polytechnic Club before coming to New Zealand in the latter part of the year 1902., Before leaving England he twice contended against Dr. Emanuel Lasker, when the latter, who was then the world's champion, played twenty opponents simultaneously. Mr. Davies gained distinction by scoring a win and a draw in.these two encounters. When revisiting Britain some years later he played with marked success against well-known chess exponents, notably Mr. Macdonald, the Scottish champion. He was also honoured by his county, Middlesex, being placed at board 5 in an important county fixture — no small compliment, seeing what a large number of good players were at the disposal of the Middlesex committee. There is hardly room here to do full justice to the fine chess record that the late Mr. Davies has made in New Zealand. He has won the Dominion title four times (1905, 1908, 1927, and 1928), he has been runner-up four times, and he also has been well up in the prize list on several other occasions. He has at different times held the Auckland, Wellington, and Otago championships. His records in local tournaments and in telegraphic fixtures are also very fine. Mr. Davies ably represented New Zealand at the fourth Australian Chess Congress, which was held in Melbourne in April, 1922. He was a prominent prize winner on that occasion, making the same score as Mr. G. Gunderson (who has won the Victorian championship eleven times). The wins that Mr. Davies scored from Messrs. W. S. Viner and E. N. Wallace (two famous ex-champions of Australia) and also from Mr. F. K. Esling (a runuer-up for the Australian title and six times champion of Victoria) wero especially fine efforts that gained him many congratulations. His play has variously been described as "bold and energetic," "dashing and effective," and "daring, but sound." It may be added that his enterprising style gained him fame as a most successful odds-giver, and his readiness at all times to help learners enhanced a popularity that would have been great without this admirable trait. His quickness in sizing up a position accurately enabled him to figure successfully in the dual role of competitor and reporter. It only remains to add that he has at different times conducted chess columns in Wellington and Dunedin in a very able manner, ever wielding a generous pen. His death is a great blow to New Zealand chess. Of the eighteen players who have won the New Zealand championship six have crossed the Great Divide, viz., H. Hookham (1879 and 1890), A. M. Ollivier (1889), J. Edwards (1894), B. A. Cleland (1899), D. Forsyth (1901), and A. W. O. Davies (1905, 1908, 1927, and 1928).
OBITUARY [3]
A. W. O. Davies, the chess champion of the Dominion. The cause of death was heart failure, aged 52. The late Mr Davies, who formerly resided in Wellington, made many friends in this city by his unassuming manner and genial disposition, and the news of his sudden death will come as a great shock to them. Wreaths arc being sent by the New Zealand Chess Association, tiw Wellington Chess Club, the- Wellington Working Men’s Club and Literary Institute, and also by Air F. K. Kelling, who played off with the late Mr* Davies when the latter scored his fourth, championship win at Christchurch a fortnight ago. His three previous winnings of the championship ol New Zealand viz- At Oamaru in 1901-5, at Wellington, Easter, 1908, and at Auckland 1920-27. He also made the best New Zealand score when Viner, of Perth, W.A., annexed the title at the Christchurch. Exhibition' Congress of 1900-7. He was runner-up for the championship three times, and on several other occasions won either third or fourth prize at New Zealand’s annual congress.
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Chess Summary
Sydney and Brisbane 1908 13th New South Wales - Queensland Telegraphic Match
Davies, A.W.O. - Parkinson, S. 1 - 0
Davies, A.W.O. - Dunlop, J.B. 0 - 1
Melbourne 1922 (1) 12th Australian Championship 8 / 13
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Australian Championship, Melbourne 1922 [4]
Two players were expected to come from New Zealand, its champion J.B.Dunlop, who won the 1920-21 tournament as well as that of the following year, and the 1920-21 runner-up A.W.O.Davies. At the last rroment Dunlop was prevented from playing and was replaced by Boyce from Queensland. So the task of keeping up the colours for New Zealand was left to Davies, who proved to be a worthy representative of that country.
Davies finished equal 4th - 6th.
Davies beating Viner in Round 9, as follows, costing Viner the championship.
Davies, A. W. O. vs Viner, W. S., Australian Championship, Melbourne, 1922
Date "1922.04.25"
Round "9"
ECO "A46" Queen's Pawn Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. Bf4 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. Bd3 Qa5 7. Qd2 Bxd3 8. cxd3 e5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. b4 Qd8 11. d5 c5 12. Rc1 b6 13. O-O Nxg3 14. fxg3 Be7 15. bxc5 bxc5 16. e4 O-O 17. g4 Nb6 18. Ne2 Qd7 19. h3 Rac8 20. Ng3 Bd8 21. Qe2 g6 22. Rc2 f6 23. Kh2 Rc7 24. Nd2 Qg7 25. Nb3 Rcf7 26. Qf3 Nc8 27. Nd2 Ne7 28. Nc4 Bc7 29. Rcf2 Qh6 30. Ne3 Qg5 31. Rb2 Bb6 32. Nc4 Nc8 33. a4 Qh6 34. a5 Bd8 35. Rb8 Bc7 36. Rb7 Qg7 37. Rfb1 Rd8 38. Qd1 Qf8 39. Qa4 Qe8 40. Qb3 Qd7 41. Rf1 Rdf8 42. a6 Qe8 43. Ne3 Bb6 44. Nc4 Rg7 45. Ne2 Rff7 46. Rb8 Bc7 47. Ra8 Rf8 48. Nc3 Qd7 49. Qb7 Rgf7 50. Nb5 f5 51. gxf5 gxf5 52. Nxc7 Qxc7 53. Rxf5 Qe7 54. Rxc8 Rxc8 55. Qxc8+ Kg7 56. Rxf7+ Qxf7 57. Qb7 {and Black resigns.} 1-0
British Chess Magazine, 1928
Obituary
We made a bare mention last month of the sudden and much lamented death of Mr. A. W. O. Davies, New Zealand champion in 1905, 1908, 1927 and 1928. Details have now reached us, which show that after winning his tie-game with F. K. Kelling on January 2nd, Mr. Davies returned to his home in Auckland, where, on January 16th, he expired of heart-failure.
Fifty-two years of age, Mr. Davies learnt the game in 1896, when he was a member of the London Polytechnic. Towards the
end of 1902 he went out to New Zealand, where he followed his profession as accountant. Besides winning the four championships we have mentioned, deceased ably represented New Zealand at the fourth Australian Chess Congress in 1922, tieing for fourth place and defeating in individual encounters W. S. Viner, A. E. N. Wallace, and F. K. Esling. At different times he won the Wellington, Otago, and Auckland championships, and his record in telegraphic matches was very good. He was a vigorous and enterprising player, and personally he was very popular. His death, savs Mr. Kelling in the Wellington Evening Post, is a great blow to New Zealand chess.
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NZ Chess Championships Results
* - Includes win against C. J. S. Purdy
** - Games played by the finalists against each in the preliminaries were carried over to the final
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References:
[1] Wikitree - Arthur William Oswald Davies (1875 - 1928)
[2] Evening Post 17 January 1928
[3] OBITUARY - Feilding Star 17 January 1928 - DAVIES, CHESS CHAMPION per Press Association) Auckland, Jan. 10
[4] Australian Chess Lore, (VOLUME V), by A.C.L. Partnership, 1986
WILLIAM SAMUEL VINER, Chess Champion of Australia and New Zealand
A Chronicle of his Life and Chess Career (continued from volume 4) by John van Manen