CHESS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19198, 3 January 1928, Page 16

CHESS.

—-* — CONCLUDING ROUND. AN INTERESTING POSITION. The final round of the New Zealand Chess Championship, which will be concluded to-day, should prove most interesting. Da vies (Auckland) has gone through without a loss and Kelling (Wellington) with only one. The two met last night in an unfinished game, and Davis needs a win or a draw to give him the championship and Keliing a win to draw equal with him, when « further game would be necessary. At the adjournment last night Kelling was in a strong position. Severne (Neison) and McDermid (Otago) have improved their position each having registered five wins and three losse.;. Each ha.< a game to play. On Saturday the first round was completed in a match in-tween Friberg and Fisher. The seventh round was ako concluded and the eighth began. Yesterday saw the finish ot the eighth round. The final round liegan last night when two games were decided. Neville heat Friberg and Fairburn gained a tvin over Joyce. It is hoped to conclude the championship to-day. The following are the details of play:— First Bound. N. Friberg (Canterbury Chess Club.i t. G. Fisher (Wanganui Chess Club)— (Irregular opening). In effect this opening became a Vienna. After even development both players castled on the queen's side, when Fril>erg had to submit to double pawns on both sides of the board. This gave Fisher slightly the better position for the end game which, however, Friberg hastened bylosing a rook. Seventh Bound. R. McDormid (Otago Chess Club) t. F. K. Kelling (Wellington W.M.C.).— This seventh round game was completed on Saturday morning. The Otago man played a very fine game against the ex-champion and at the 44th move won a pawn. He, however, could not force a win, and at move 64 a draw was agreed upon. E. H. Severne (Nelson Chess Club) r. N.' Friberg (Canterbury Chess Club). This game also, which had l>een adjourned the previous evening, was concluded on Saturday morning. The game ended with a 'lot of pawns and neither player could break through, so it was agreed to call it a draw. Eighth Bound. G. Fisher (Wanganui Chess Club v. F. K. Kelling (Wellington W.M.C.)--(Caro-Kann defence). In the middle gamo the first-mentioned player unfortunately made exchanges in the wrong order which lost him a minor piece at move 22. He then fought a fine rearguard action, but ultimately lost further material and resigned a hopeless gamo on move 46. W. H. Joyce (Canterbury Chess Club) v. A. W. O. Daries (Auckland Chess Club)—(Bird's opening). Davies played, the. Queen's Fianchetti defence in which Joyce obtained a good attack and kept his opponent on the defence. The Canterbury man put up n line performance in the middle game, but towards the closing stages Davies gradually improved his position, and on the 40th move Joyce resigned. . W. J. Fairburn (Wellington W.M.C.) v. A. Summers (Canterbury.)—( Queen's Gambit accepted). The game proceeded on novel lines until the middle stage was reached, when Summers made an indifferent move of which Fairhum did not take the„best advantage. Afterwards Summers missed his way and allowed Fairburn to reduce forces and register a win in a position which should have resulted in a draw.

E. H. Severne (Nelson Chess Club) t. F. H. It. Neville (Canterbury Chess Club)—(Four Knights game). Severne obtained a good position with his favourite opening but relaxed in the middle game to allow Neville to regain all Inst ground and a winning position. Neville, however, did not continue on the best lines, and Severne won.

MoDermid (Otago Chess Club) v. N. Friberg (Canterbury)— Queen's Pawn game). Friberg had a little the better of the position, being a pawn up towards the end of the game. He threatened to make further headway, when McDermid sacrificed a bishop for two pawns and drew by perpetual check at the fiftieth move.

Ninth Bound. Fairburn (Wellington W.M.C.) v. Joyce (Canterbury Chess Club) — (Queen's Pawn game). Joyce played a Dutch defence and Fairburn worked up an attack. Joyce did not defend carefully, with the result that Fairburn's attack on the king side became too Btrong ( and Joyce resigned. McDerrmd nr. Fisher- —(Queen's Gambit declined). Fisher obtained a cramped defence and \o relieve the position went for several exchanges. The game is adjourned, McDermid having a pawn up. '■;■■ 'Kelling (Wellington) v. Davies (Auckland) —(French 'Defence). Both displayed very canny opening tactics in which' Kelling castled on the king's side and Davies on ,the queen's side. Both, were launching a strong attack at :the adjournment. . Summers (Canterbury) iv. Severne (Nelson) —(Irregular). Summers ob[tained an open king knight's file and attacked strongly. There is still a lot- of play in the game, which stands adjourned. Friberg . (Canterbury) v. Neville (Canterbury)—(Pretsoff Defence). The game did "not proceed on orthodox lines. Friberg, playing rather cautiously, developed a difficult game. Neville took full advantage of this and Friberg resigned on the 45th move. Position of Players. The following is the position of the players at the close of the dav's play:— Won. Lost. Davies ... ... 8 <> Kelling '... ... 7 1 Severne ... ... 5 3 McDermid ... o 3 Neville ... 4| 4J Friberg ... ... 4 5 Fisher ... 3 o Fairburn ... 3 (> Joyce ... ... 1J 74 Summers ... 1 7 The Hon. Mr Wigram, a past president of the Association, sent his best fishes ; for the success of the tournament, and greetings were also received from Mr O. C. Pleasant, of Wauganui, • vice-president of the Association.