DOMINION CHESS TOURNAMENT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21976, 28 December 1936, Page 4

DOMINION CHESS TOURNAMENT

GAMES AT AUCKLAND DETAILS OF FIRST DAY’S PLAY (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, December 27. Fourteen players are engaged in the New Zealand chess championship, which opened at Auckland on Saturday After the players were welcomed, they had a business meeting and decided to play m the afternoons and evenings, leaving the mornings free for the continuation of adjourned The first round began on Saturday night, the draw being as follows (the first-named playing white in each instance):—D. I. Jones (Auckland! v. H. McNab (Auckland), E - H - Se ,Y e ™f (Wellington) v. D. Lynch (Hastings), H. R. Abbott (Christchurch) v. J. A. Erskine (Invercargill), I. Hunter (Christchurch) v. G. P. Anderson (Wellington), C. B. Newick (Auckland) v. K. Beyer (Wellington), F. K. Kelling (Wellington) v. R. O. Scott (Wanganui), I. Burry (Auckland) v. S. Hinden (Christchurch). The absence of players from overseas, and the fact that the holder of the title, A. W. Gyles, is not present, has robbed the tournament of some of the glamour of former years. The players, however, are representative, and some thrilling contests should result as the play proceeds and the contestants are in a position to judge the playing powers of their adversaries. At the adjournment on Saturday four games were completed and three adjourned. Scott defeated Kelling, Burry defeated Hindon, and Anderson defeated Hunter, while Severne gained his usual draw against Lynch. Details of the play are:— Severne v. Lynch (Pour Knights game)— After an orthodox development, exchanges in the middle game left an even-pawn position, with one rook each, and neither could force an issue. A draw was agreed , upon at move 30. Newick v. Beyer (irregular)— This game was adjourned at move 46. with the board in favour of the Wellington player. Newick has two minor pieces and a pawn against a rook and four pawns. Jones v. McNab, Queen’s Pawn game, was in no way spectacular. At the adjournment 41 moves had been recorded. The players are equal in material, with a queen, a rook, and six pawns. White had the attack, with a slight positional advantage. Abbott v. Erskine (Queen’s Pawn game, with the Greenfield defence)— This was a hard-fought game. It was adjourned at move 52, Erskine being a pawn up. Kelling v. Scott (Sicilian defence)— Scott developed more rapidly than his opponent and won a pawn early, the players castling on opposite sides. Scott’s attack on the king’s wing was quicker than Kelling’s attack on the queen’s side, Kelling resigning at move 44. Burry v. Hindin (Sicilian defence)— Burry gave up a pawn in the early stages for the attack, .and Hindin’s position became cramped. As the middle game proceeded Burry, regained his pawn and a superior position. He pressed an attack, which forced Hindin’s resignation at move 36.

Hunter v. Anderson (Reti’s opening)— The game was even until the nineteenth move, when Hunter initiated an unsound combination, giving up two pieces for a rook and a pawn. Later Anderson made a fine combination with a bishop, knight, and rook, which forced Hunter’s resignation at move 43. In the premier reserve tournament 15 players are taking part, including three women who entered for the women’s championship, which was abandoned as there were insufficient entries. Mitchell (Christchurch) beat Stephens (Wellington), Langabeer (Auckland) beat R. Christensen (Palmerston. North), Moloney (Wellington) a bye. The remaining/ games were adjourned. J