CHAMPION LEADS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 308, 29 December 1944, Page 6

CHAMPION LEADS

N.Z. CHESS CONGRESS

YOUTH DEFEATS A. VETERAN

By -winning his game in each of the first four rounds of the New Zealand Chess Congress, now being held at the Auckland Chess Club's rooms, R. G. Wade, of Wellington, the present holder of the championship, is leading with four points—the possible. T. Lepvukman (Wellington), J. A. Moir (Auckland) and M Stewart (Christchurch) are runnersun each with three points. Moir and Lenviikman have, each won three games and lost one, while Stewart, the youthful Dlaver from Canterbury, has had two wins and two draws, which brings his total to three points, one point counting for a win and half a point for a draw. In the major open tourney, four plavers are heading the aggregate each with three points and a half. They are Sergeant Richards (Auckland), H. Christensen (Palmerston North) and N. T. Fletcher (Wellington). The highlight of the congress to date was the plav between the veteran, F. K Kelling, of Wellington, who has taken cart in championship games for half a century, and a "colt" from Christchurch, M. Stewart, who, at 16 years of age, is ulaving for the first time in championship chess. The game started last night and was adjourned at the call of time and completed this ipornmg. The board on which this match was fought over was the centre of interest throughout last night's session. Several times tlie umpire had to ask the onlookers to "keep back and keep silent" What imnressed the spectators "was trie coolness of the Christchurch boy, who was playing a man live times liis age. It was a grand tussle between youth and age, youth getting the verdict. Brilliant Youth "Stewart plays with all the coolness of a veteran," said Mr. Kelling, at the conclusion of the match. "I think he has a creut chess future. He lias brilliance, steadiness and other qualities which single him out as a coming top-notcher." Mr. Kelling said he had played against another 16-year-old youth in the congress held at Wanganui in 1905-6. His name was E. Rutherfurd, and he belonged to the Wanganui Collegiate School. "Strangely enough, I lost also on that occasion." he added. , . _ ■ Mr. Kelling recalled that at the first Wanganui congress held in lSao—the vear in which Brigadier-General Meldrum won the championship—Canterbury sent up a "colt" of 16 years in the person of thp late Harry L/- Andersen, who on that occasion was fifth in the championship. Hewasthe brother of Johannes C. Andersen the New Zealand literary authority who was in charge of the Turnbull Library for many years. Andersen was brilliant," said Mr. Kelling. "Canterbury has produced another youth equally brilliant." The Aggregates Championship". Wade, 4 points; Moir, Lepviikman, Stewart, each o; Remdler, 21; Belton, Adkins, Meyer, each 2; Fletcher, Kelling, each 1; McSherry, $, W Major'open tourney: N. T. Fletcher, H. Christensen, Sergeant Richards, each 3 a points; Mrs. Short, Henderson, R. Christensen. Sim, each 25; Pearse, 2, Watt, 1, Miss Hollis, i; Godtschalk, Summers, each 0. THE FOURTH ROUND F G McSUevrv (Auckland) v. R. G. (Wellington), Sicilian defence: McSherry lost a piece at the tenth move through an ovwsigM. Wade took full advantage of this, and with a mating attack forced McSherry s resignation, on the nineteenth move, Wade thus winning the fourth gamo in succession. Tne play lasted less than (Wellington) v. J. A. Moir (Auckland), Retti's opening: Early jin the proo Moir lost a pawn and he had a hard fight in consequence, resigning at move 44 when Lepviikman threatened to queen a pawn. E. Meyer (Wellington) v. J- Adkins (Auckland), Queen's pawn: Adkins was two pawns up in toe middle game, finally forcing a win on the 4itn m £ e p. Belton (Auckland), v. J. K. L. Webling (Wellington)', Sicilian defence: Belton was several pawns up in the middle game and forced Webling's resignation at move 64. _ , „ A- L. Fletcher (Auckland) v. W. Reindler (Wanganui), Caro Kann: In the earlier stages the game was even, but Reindler won the exchange and was a pawn up in the middle game. Despite tills, Fletcher made a strong attack, but Reindler was too strong and forced a resignation at the fortieth move. J. K. Kelling (Wellington) v. M. Stewart (Christchurch), King's pawn. Scotch game: Although Stewart won a pawn early in tne match he had to meet a strong attack. The issue was in the balance for a long time in the middle game. Kelling's attack looked so good at one stage that he decided not to take advantage or an opportunity of perpetual check which would have given him a draw, although he was two pawns down. Later he lost another pawn. Stewart, with excellent defence, worked himself into a safe, sheltered position, and Kellioffft attack gradually faded. Stewart, with admirable precision, played a faultless ending and forced Kelling's resignation at move 69. OTHER GAMES In the adjourned championship game of the third round between W. Reindler (Wanganui) and F. G. McSherry (Auckland), Reindler forced his opponent's resignation on the 60th move. Major Open Competition.—Fourth round: Sergeant Richards (Auckland) beat L. Sim (Palmorston North); H. Christensen (Palmerston North) beat R. A. Godtschalk (Wellington), by default; N. T. Fletcher (Wellington) bea". Miss Hollis; R.' Christensen (Palmerston North) drew with W. Pearse (Timaru); N. Watt (Auckland) beat A. E. Summers (Wellington): N. S. Henderson (Wellington) beat Mrs. T. G. Short (Auckland).