CHESS CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19812, 27 December 1929, Page 2

CHESS CONGRESS.

FIRST ROUND GAMES. (PBKSB ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WANGANUI, December 26. The Chess Championship Congress first round commenced on Boxing Day. Results were as follows: — Topp (Wellington) v. Jeffreys (Auckland). —The latter adopted the French defence, the development being even. In the middle game Jeffreys changed off a bishop for a knight, leaving Topp with doubled pawns, and the king open to the knight's file. Topp saw visions of winning Jeffreys' queen for bishop and rook, but his opponent made a safe reply. An oversight by Topp enabled Jeffreys to change off the queen and win a bishop. The end came, resulting in an easy win for Jeffreys. Erskine (Melbourne) v. Beyer (Wellington). —Beyer declined the queen's bishop's gambit offered by Erskine, and, playing his knight to king rook s fourth, gave the latter player an opportunity of winning the exchange and weakening Beyer's queen side pawns. Erskine doubled rooks, and forced the exchange of queens and rooks, whereupon Beyer resigned. Hicks (Wellington) v. Severne (Nelson)— Hicks played Reti's opening, and careful play led to a very even position. The skirmishing in the middle gave no advantage to either player, and with the exchange of queens and major pieces, and much uninteresting play in prospect, a draw was agreed upon at the 26th move. Fairburn (Wellington) v. Anderson (Wellington). —Anderson adopted the Fianchetio defence, winning a pawn at move six, and greatly weakening Fairburn's pawn positions. Anderson worked up a fine attack, threatening to win queen for rook and bishop. Fairburn's defence was not sound, and Anderson, scorning to win queen for rook, worked up a mating position, when Fairburn resigned. Purdy (Sydney) v. Gundersen (Melbourne). —In this encounter the Sicilian game was played, Purdy gaining the preferable pawn position. Gundersen attacked in the centre with queen, rook, and bishop, but in throwing up his kingside pawns to dislodge Purdy s knight and bishop, left his king somewhat open. Gundersen was tempted to win a pawn at knight's seven, whereupon Purdy made some telling exchanges, which left Gundersen s position very weak. Purdy, playing with great care, forced Gundersen's resignation. Rutherford (Stratford) v. Helling (Wellington). —Rutherford played the Ruv Lopez game, and Kelling, pinning Rutherford's knight, gave his opponent a chance to make a queen side pawn attack. Rutherford won a pawn and established a strong passed pawn at rook's fifth. This should have enabled Rutherford to win. but Kelling's clever strategy got his opponent into "litneulties. Rutherford, seeing mate threatening, or the loss of a rook, resigned. Scott (Wanganui) 7. Pleasants (Wanganui). —The queen's pawn game was played, the opening being eeryeven. Scott attacked early, and Pleasants, in making a counter, allowed Scott to change off queen's and win the exchange. Scott pressed his advantage and won a bright little game.