December 28 1947
The Herald-Sun, Durham, North Carolina, Sunday, December 28, 1947
W. J. Peters Is Chess Champion
O. W. Upchurch To Head Federation
The 1947 State chess championship match here yesterday was won by W. J. Peters of Durham. Peters placed second in last year's games.
The match was held in the Recreation Department office at the Durham City Hall. Winston-Salem was selected as site of next year's match on Labor Day.
Officers were named in the business meeting of the North Carolina Chess Federation accompanying the match. Oliver W. Upchurch of Durham was elected president; H. E. Snyder of Winston-Salem vice president; and Murray H. Upchurch of Durham, secretary-treasurer.
Permanent award of a silver championship cup went to Peters, and of a gold cup to Murray Upchurch for winning the second flight.
Ten contestants entered Placings in the championship division were:
Peters, three and one-half games won, one-half game lost (draws count one-half); Dr. J. U. Gunter of Durham, three and one; M. L. Silverstein of Greensboro, a student at State College, Raleigh, two and one-half and one and one-half; Charles Muller of Durham, one and three; J. Browne Evans of St. Pauls, N. C., zero and four.
Rankings in the second flight, for novices were M. H. Upchurch, four games won, none lost; S. A. Agnello of Durham, two and two; R. E. Ware of Durham, two and two; Christopher Crittenden, Jr., of Raleigh, one and three and H. S. Leonard, Jr., of Durham one and three (lost).
In the decisive game, Peters feated the Durham Chess Club champion, Dr. J. U. Gunter. Silverstein was sole player to score a draw with the new champion. Earlier this month Gunter defeated Peters in winning the Durham Chess Club championship.
Retiring State Federation president Sam Agnello of Durham was in charge. He said matches between the Durham Chess Club and Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, and Richmond groups are expected a time and place to he arranged in coming months. He said the Durham Chess Club of 26 members is largest in North Carolina, and has been victor in inter-city competition losing in its only out-of-State match with Richmond, Va., Chess Club 11 to 7.
