William Benjamin Eyre
Otago Daily Times 20 August 1884
DUNEDIN CHESS AND DRAUGHTS CLUB.
W. B. Eyre is the winner of the first prize in the chess handicap tournament.
Otago Witness 8 October 1886
Chess at Port. Chalmers.
The following brilliant chessikin was played recently between Mr W. B. Eyre, Duuedin, and Mr D. A. De Maus, Port Chalmers.
De Maus, D. A. vs. Eyre, W. B., Port Chalmers, 1886
ECO "C37" King's Gambit Accepted, Silberschmidt Gambit
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. Kf1 Nh6 7. d4 f3 8. gxf3 d6 9. Bxh6 dxe5 10. Bxf8 gxf3 11. Qxf3 Bh3+ 12. Kg1 Rg8+ 13. Qg3 Rxg3+ 14. hxg3 Qxg3# 0-1
Otago Daily Times 25 March 1935
OBITUARY
MR W. B. EYRE The death of Mr W. B. Eyre, at Devonport, Auckland, last week, in his seventy seventh year, removed a well-known figure from the sporting world. Mr Eyre was born at Ballarat in 1858 and later came to Dunedin, where he was educated. He was prominent as a handicapper of sporting events, such as cycling, swimming, rowing and athletic meetings, in Dunedin and also in Christchurch and Auckland, where he lived in later years. He was several times the winner of chess championships in Otago, Canterbury and Auckland, and was also a good billiards player and a keen bowler. Mr Eyre was an accountant by profession. He lives a widow and two sons, Messrs Ernest and Fred Eyre.
Auckland Star 22 March 1935
OBITUARY.
MR. W. B. EYRE. The death, in his 77th year, of Mr. W. B. Eyre at Devonport removed from the Dominion's sporting world a wellknown personality. Mr. Eyre was born at Ballarat, Victoria, in 1858, and was brought to Dunedin by his parents in 1860. He was educated at Dunedin, where he displayed such an unusual aptitude for the theory of music and mathematics that he was able to transpose music and handicap athletics and rowing races with marked success. He was one of the originators of sculling in Dunedin, and later, when he settled in Christchurch, was prominent, not only as a handicapper, but in various official capacities connected with the amateur cycling and athletic carnivals held at Lancaster Park. He had a great interest also in swimming, and performed like services for the Christchurch clubs associated with that sport in the late 'eighties and early and middle 'nineties. Upon his arrived in Auckland in 1897, his activities in sporting circles were continued, and many of the important meetings held on the Auckland Domain and in the Albert Street Baths and the Graving arid Calliope Docks were handicapped by him. lie won at different times the chess championships of Otago. Canterbury and Auckland, and was in addition a good amateur billiards player and bowler. At his death he was the oldest member of the North Shore Bowling Club. He often astonished a company by adding up twelve columns of figures simultaneously. Mr. Eyre was an accountant by profession. He leaves a widow and two sons, Messrs. Ernest and Fred Eyre. There are four grandchildren, seven sisters and two brothers. His cremation took place at Waikumete.
NZ Chess Championships Results
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References:
[1] Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18931223-0543-02
[2]