CHESS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12689, 31 December 1906, Page 10

CHESS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP CONGRESS. THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION LEADS. The fifth round of tJio Championenip Tournament was comim>noed on Saturday morning at 9. 30 punctually—so punctually indeed, that one player, ■who wae 10 minutes lato, found that hie alock hnd been going tor that length of time. The round produced somo interesting pluy, oiMt garno being finisned in the record* number of 8 niovte. Ciunniings. ono of the Christcliurch players, fittviiVlnerthe Australian champion, a tough n»mo until a miscalculation cost liim the gnuvo. In this round Parker's fimt loss, was registered uyainst mm, whilst Blake Mason, by defeating Arcndeacon Gould, took second position on tho score eheet. •, The draw f6r the fifth round was ac follows: —Kelling v James, Uarnee r J. Maeon, Parker v Da vice, 0. Mason v Gould, Vioer v Cnmmiiigs, .Samebury v Stewart, Crarkanthorp v Pleaeante, Grienon v iSnxton, Kdwnrda v Gilford, Kumtncr α-bye, Foreyth a bye. THIS PLAY. Edward* T- Clifford.—The former offered Ihc King's Gambit, whioh was declined. At the eevonth move, with tho positions quite even, Giflord niudo an unaccountable overuabt and ac this meant tho loss of his Queen ho resigned. Thie is tho shortest ganio of the tournament Viner v. Cummings.—The latter adopted the French Defence, and although Viner apucared to be working uu v strong attac.'t the locked p*wna made tho game Tory blocked, and the Australian champion found groat difficulty in breaking through. An exchange of pawns made an opening, and Oummuga. trying to win a pawn, mad.; a miscalculation and lost » piece, Hβ shortly afterwards resigned. ~.,-. Sninebury v. Stewart. —A Queen a Gammt, declined. The former annixed a pawn early, which he retained until shortly before tho luncheon adjournment. Stewart won tho exchange on the 34th move, which gave him rach a decided advantage that Sainsbury #oon rwMßned. Kelline v. James.—The centre gambit waa played here, *tid tho ganio remained perfectly even throughout the morning sitting. Kelung in tho afternoon transformed a J.'awn into a Knight , with a check, bringing him out a Rook ahead, and Jemcs resigned at movo 37. . Barnes r. J. Mason.—The opening was tho popular Buy Lopez, nnd Barnoe very coon ■worked into ft good position. Ho pushed the attack Tory skilfully, and won n piper. This wae not all. for Mason paw the lons of bi« Qneon could not be fttaved off, and ho renigned on the 33nd movo. Parker r. Duvies.—A King Fianchetto. Tho game wae fairly even until tho tJilth move, when Parker sacrificed v piece for attiicli. The sacrifice proved uni>ouiid, but the gumc wae in an interesting plage at the adjournment. After lunch Davios soon pushed his pii«cp advantage t< , victory. B. Mason v. Gould.--Another Kuy Lope*. which Mason played corioctly, nnd won ii pawn on the 10th nunv. ife nlw doubled two of his adversary's i-awn?. and hn<l v gdo<l position at tho adjournment. Afterward?, with only minor moci< or th.» h.iurd. Momiii h«(i sonic jliffcitlty in brcuking through a «iil("n<'.id defcuci , . (iould roaigned on the ?ixtietli move. Crackanth'orp v I'leafanln. — Tho Inttor declined lhi» Kvar.«Oßmbit which wa« offoro.l him. and even play resulted until ('rnckeiithor'p won a pawn. After the adjournment IMeananls vn« xtill the pawn down, but had n slij-ht attack. Crarkantlmrp broke through on his Queen's •ide, winning a Pawn, •nil the gaini , on tho iiiti.'th move. Orierson v. —Pctroff> Defence. The piny wan fiiirly oven ff.r pomp time, but after »onio exchanm'H (frierson emerged with »

"pwsed" pawn to the Rood, nnd pushing it on harassed his opponent c-nxiderably. rhe l.osilion was interesting wncn tho players tidjonrncd. and in the afternoon a weak move on Sexton's part ha'tercd the end, anci the Aucklaudcr wun a hard-fought gam<?. Tho sixth round »«i commenced at seven o'clock, the draw resulting a» follows . — James v Clarke Ma.»on. J. Mafwn v. Kelling. Davies v' Banirn (inuld v. ' Viner, Cummings v. Sainnbury, Sfwnvt v. Cracka.Jhorpe, Pl« cants v. Griemxi, Kuiiiinvr v. Edwurds, Gifford v. Forsvth, Parker a bye, Sexton a bye. James v Uiaku Mason.—The former played a Kuy Lopez, and notwithstanding Mason 8 correct defence, the former worked up a strong attack. Good play by Mason rendered tho attack abortive, and after a eeriea of exchanges he won a pawn, which he retained nt the adjournment. J. Mason v Kelling.—This wae a centre Counter Gambit. The play was fairly even until tho 19th move, when Mason sacrificed a pieco for two pawns and a strong attack. Kelliug was still under a hot fire when play coiced for the night. . Davies v Barnes.—lt'iy Lopez Opening. A ding-dong fight remained quito even up to tho dee' of play. Gould v Viner.—Tho opening wa* tho Scotch Game, which tho Archdeacon played well until the 20th move. Hero a weak movo tost him a piece, and Viner rapidly forced a win. Plenanute v Grierson.—A. Queen s Pawn Opening, which was well conducted by both players! At the adjournment the material was even with every promise of interesting piny to follow. Kumuifv v Kdwards.—The latter played the Sicilian Defence, and the game- wae evenly contested until the 25th move, when Knmmer won n pawn, nnd shortly after another. ,Ho still retained them at the adjournment. Gifford v Forsyth.—A Ruy Lopoz Opening, from which Forsyth emerged with, tho superior prairie, lie worked up an attack, and Cliffords 23nd move being a weak one. t'orsyth won a piece. Cummins;* v Sainsbury. — The former played a Qneen'e Pawn Opening, and tho game was evenly .contested until shortly befpre the adjournment Cnmminge won a pawn, whioh ho etill retains. Stewnrt v C'rakantho-rp.—A Two Knights Defence, and a porticuiarly sparkling During its progress a couple of incidents upcosifsted an interpretation of tho rules by the Msiiairing Committee. The, matter is still sn'i jndice. and the result therefore in abeyance. HCOIJKS TO DATE. Won. Lost. R. .T. Barne«, Wellinston ..4 t S. Craknnthorp, X.S.W, .. -1 1 K. l<. Cummimr*. Cint-orbtiry .. - .1 (). W. Davies. Wellington .. '1\ J J. Edwards. Otago .. .. - 1 D. Forsyth. Otago .. ..I 2 A. Gifford. A\>»tnort .. ..J ."?i Archdeacon Gould. Oamaru ..0 5 J. C. Grierson. Auckland .. 3i 1J If. Ti. W««'irston .. 0 5 F. K. lu'lMn?. Wellington .. 3 'i V. Kninim-r, i?a=tertoii .. .. ]\ 2.J H!«ko Mason, I,ower Hutt .. 4V i .Tohn Ma«on. Wellington .. 1\ 1J Hen Parker, Wellington 4. 3 1 (). C. Pleasant". Hansitikei .. J 44 C. IJ. Sainshnry, Argentine .. H nt T. Sexton. Wniouru .. ..2 3" M. S. Ptewnrt. Cnnterbtiry ..2 3 W. S. Viner. Perth. U' A. ..6 (I Play will be rent ' if 9.30 this morning.