CHESS CONGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 307, 28 December 1934, Page 8

CHESS CONGRESS.

CHAMPION EXTENDED. SECOND ROUND PLAY. WELLINGTON COMPETITORS LEAD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The New Zealand Chess Congress was continued yesterday and to-day. The second round was completed and one game in the third round was finished before the end of last evening's play. F. K. Kelling and A. W. Gyles, both of Wellington, were leading on the play in the first two rounds, each having won two games. H. J. Armstrong (Canterbury) played soundly in the second round to force a draw with J. B. Dunlop, the present champion. The results of the games played in the second round were: Friberg beat Fairburn; Abbott beat Watt; Erskinc beat Gray; Kelling beat Darwin; Dyer drew with Beyer; Dunlop drew with Armstrong; Gyles beat Hicks; Severne drew with Le Petit. The game Scott v. Hardy was not finished. In the third round, which was still in progress, Abbott beat Fairburn. Comments on the Play. In the game between Fairburn and Friberg Fairburn opened with the queen's pawn game, and Friberg played a GrufTcld defence. Even play went on into the middle of the game, Fairburn advancing his two wing queen's side pawns. After some exchanges these proved weak, and Friberg captured them, remaining with a bishop and two passed pawns, against a knight. The pawns on king's side were equal and safe. Fairburn resigned 011 move 40. In the game Watt v. Abbott, Watt opened with the Ruy Lopez, and Abbott offered (lie usual defence. Watt gained a. slight advantage early, but later allowed an exchange of queens, giving Abbott the initiative. Abbott attacked strongly, but the defence was sound, though Abbott was a pawn up. After several exchanges Abbott gained another pawn, eventually winning the game at move 81. In the game Erskinc v. Gray, the qilecn's gambit declined, Erskinc played queen's Indian defence, and early had Gray in difficulties, but steady play by Gray enabled liim to work up a strong attack, winning three pawns for one. After some exchanges a complicated- end game ensued, with bishops of the same colour, and Erskinc was able to force Gray's resignation at the 70th move. The Sicilian defence was used in the game Kelling v. Darwin. Darwin captured the centre pawn at move eight, but immediately suffered a fierce attack from his opponent's rapidly developed forces. Kelling regained a pawn at move 18, with a superior position, entering the end game with a queen and two passed pawns to Darwiii's rook and bishop. Darwin resigned a hopeless game at move 31. Queen's gambit declined was used in the game Dyer v. Beyer. The game throughout showed little advantage to either player. Play was very even both in the developmental stages and also in the later exchanges. At the end of the sitting each player was left with two bishops and six pawns, with 110 hope of a "break through," and a draw was agreed to at move 31. It was a fitting end to a soundly played game. Dunlop adopted the Ruy Lopez attack against Armstrong, and his opponent parried successfully. After a series of exchanges a draw was agreed to at move 33. Another Sicilian defence was played in the game between Hiektf and Gyles. It was an even game, but in the course of play Hicks developed a pawn weakness, eventually allowing Gyles to win a pa.wn. Hicks resigned at move 02 when "mate" was threatened. In the Le Petit v. Severne game, the queen's pawn opening was used. Severne played the Cambridge Spring defence, and worked up a fairly strong attack in the middle game, but Le Petit defended successfully. The position became locked, and a draw was agreed upon at move 39. PLAY IN THIRD ROUND. <5 . DUNLOP ANOTHER DRAW. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. In the third round of the New Zealand cliess tourney Hardy beat Gray and Sfcverne and Dunlop drew 011 the 41st move. Armstrong and Dyer played a drawn game. Kelling beat Erskuie, Beyer beat Le Petit and Gyles, beat Watt.