Edwin Agnew Hicks

Born: 14th July 1884, Dunedin, Otago, NZ [1]
Died: 25th March 1934, (aged 49), Wellington, NZ [1]

E. A. Hicks,



OBITUARY. [1]
The late Mr Edwin Agnew Hicks, who died in Wellington on tne 25th nisi., was well-known throughout the dominion as a brilliant chess player. He was born m Dunedin on July 14, 1884, and learned the game whilst a pupil at the Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institute, being taught by the head master, Mr J. E. Stevens. On leaving school he joined both the Wellington and South Wellington Chess Clubs, passing quickly, despite the handicap of deafness, through ihe junior and intermediate classes to the senior grade. He has been a prizewinner in many local tourneys, and has twice been champion of the Wellington Chess Club (in 1925-26, and again, m 1932-33). His fine record in telegraphic matches against other centres has done much to give the Wellington Club the distinguished place that it has long held in New Zealand chess. He could show eleven prizes for his thirteen congresses. His best bid for the dominion title was made at the first Nelson congress (1912-13), ivlien he tied with Messrs J. C. Grierson and A. W. Gvles for the coveted honour—which the late Mr Grierson won in the triangular play-off. Mr Hicks, however, had the satisfaction of winning the brilliancy prize on that occasion. He had a great natural ability for the game, in the playing ot which he showed marked originality, skill, and resource, his games always proving attractive and educational to spectators. Curiously enough, his first and last appearances were both in Auckland in 1909-10 and 1932-33. In his second congress he shared the fourth prize with J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin) and T. O’Mara (Timaru). At his sixth congress (held in Christchurch in 1914-15) he shared third prize with the Rev. C. E. Fox (Solomon Islands). He was also in good company at Christchurch eight years later, when he shared fourth prize with Messrs H. J. Andersen (Christchurch), E. H. Severne (Nelson), and Rev, A, Miller (Westport). In Wellington in 1923-24, he won the consolation tourney, in which the Danish Gambit had to be offered and accepted in every game. His two cousins, Messrs E. E. Hicks, wbo made a good showing at the recent Dunedin congress, and Warren Hicks are well-known chess players, and to them, as well as to the late Mr Hicks’s other relatives, sincere sympathy is extended.


NZ Chess Championships Results
Year
Location
Won
Draw
Lost
Points
Place
1909-10
AUCKLAND - 23rd
3
3
5
4 1/2
8-9
1910-11
TIMARU - 24th
5
1
4
5 1/2
4-6
1911-12
NAPIER - 25th
5
3
3
6 1/2
4-5
1912-13
NELSON - 26th
7
3
1
8 1/2
1-3
NELSON - 26th Play-off (Grierson & Gyles)
0
0
1
lost
1913-14
AUCKLAND - 27th
3
0
11
3
14
1914-15
CHRISTCHURCH - 28th
7
2
3
8
3-4
1919-20
WELLINGTON - 29th
7
4
2
9
5
1921-22
AUCKLAND - 31st
7
4
1
9
5
1922-23
CHRISTCHURCH - 32nd
4
7
2
7 1/2
4-7
1923-24
WELLINGTON - 33rd Preliminary Group B
4
2
3
5
5
1924-25
NELSON - 34th Preliminary Group A
4
1
2
4 1/2
3-4
NELSON - 34th Final
3
2
4
4
6-7
1925-26
DUNEDIN - 35th Preliminary Group B
2
0
6
2
8-9
1932-33
AUCKLAND - 42nd
4
5
2
6 1/2
4



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References:
[1] Obituary - Evening Star 31 March 1934
[2] MR. E.A. HICKS; a well-known Wellington chess player, tuho died at the Hospital last Sunday. He twice ivon the championship of the Wellington Chess Club,'and at the 1912-13 New Zealand Congress tied'tvith two other well-known players for the Dominion title, the play-off.being.icon by the late Mr. I. C. Grierson. The late Mr. Hicks took part in thirteen Dominion Congresses. (Evening Post, 29 March 1934).
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23463548