Chess

Bearded, pipe-smoking, publicity-seeking (on his own admission) law student Roger Chapman became news recently when he won the North Island Chess Championship at Wanganui. Local pundits were amazed to learn that he had beaten several nationally-ranked players, including ex-New Zealand and North Island champ. Rodney Philips; but Mr Chapman himself, with characteristic modesty, merely commented: "How can I help it if I'm a genius." He appeared page 7 ill at ease when It was alleged that, he had, in fact, won almost every game by blowing pipe smoke over the board, thus obscuring completely both board and pieces from view, and asphyxiating his opponent, but he denied In any case that this was a form of gamesmanship. In his capacity as President of the V.U.W. Chess Club, he answered a query about his previous career (in chess of course), by saying that the best move he ever made was when he went to . . . (censored). Though admitting that his excellent technique was due mainly to his grasp of strategy and tactics, he indignantly repudiated the suggestion that his feeling for positional play had been acquired during a training session with the famous French grandmaster Bardot. He affirmed: "Like all true artists, I am alone responsible for what I produce." We agree. He said, however, that his study had enabled him to penetrate deeply into the subtleties of openings.

—H.E.D.