DOMINION CHESS TOURNEY

Press, Issue 22599, 3 January 1939, Page 11

DOMINION CHESS TOURNEY

VETERAN PLAYER IN LEAD WADE WINS PREMIER RESERVE (rasss association m.saaiv.) WANGANUI, January 2. With nine out of 13 rounds completed in the New Zealand chess championship, F. K. Kelling (Wellington), a veteran player, is leading with 6i points. He has completed all his games. R. O. Scott (Wanganui), who has one unfinished game, has 51 points, and can tie with Kelling in the event of winning this game. H. McNabb (Nelson), who was leading at the finish of the eighth round, lost his next game and has six points, and so has J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin), J, A. Erskine (Invercargill) has 5i points, and D. 1. Jones (Wellington) 5, with one game unfinished. Results: —

Championship

Eighth Bound—W. J. Fairbairn (Wei* lington) drew with C. J. Taylor (Auckland), D. I. Jones (Auckland) beat E. H. Severn (Wellington), K. O. Scott (Wanganui) beat D, Lynch (Hastings), J. B. ■ Dunlop (Dunedin) beat D, Heenan (Hastings), H. McNabb (Nelson) beat B. J. Dyer (Wellington), J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) beat F. K. Helling (Wellington), E. Hutherfurd (Stratford) v. G. Cole (Nelson) unfinished.

Ninth Bound —Helling v. Fairburn: Buy Lopez. At move 37 Kelling won a second pawn which gave him the game 10 moves later. Lynch v. Heenan: Queen’s pawn, king’s Indian defence. Lynch won a piece for two pawns at move 22, forcing Heenan’s resignation at move 30. Cole v. Ers-, kine: QUeen’s pawn, king’s Indian defence. Erskine got the better opening, winning a pawn. Cole made a mistake which cost him a piece, and he immediately resigned. Dunlop v. McNabb; Sicilian defence. As McNabb was leading at the end of the eighth round and Dunlop only one point behind him, considerable interest was taken in this game, which was an attractive exposition. McNabb, in the middle game, initiated a strong attack, but in manoeuvres he overlooked that a piece could be taken with check, and as he had previously given up an exchange to continue his attack, the position became untenable and he resigned at move 35. Dyer v. Hutherfurd: Queen’s pawn, Semmering variation. A fairly even game throughout, with a pawn ending, neither side being able to break through, and a draw was agreed to. Jones v. Scott: Queen’s gambit accepted. After a hard struggle the game ,was adjourned with equal positions, each player having a bishop, knight, and three pawns. Taylor v. Severne; Queen’s pawn. At the adjournment Severne was a pawn up, but a good deal of play Was left.

Adjourned Gaines

Fifth Round—Cole drew with Scott.

Sixth beat Heenan* McNabb drew With Kelling, Scott beat Dyer< Seventh Round—Kelling beat Rutherford. Premier Reserve The final round of the premier reserve was entered upon to-night, and all the games were finished except that between R. Q. Wade (Wellington) and N. M. Cromarty (Wanganui), which was adjourned at move 43. This can make no difference to the aggregate, as Wade has 7£ points to his credit, if Cromarty wins or draws the adjourned game he Will be runner-up with 7 or fl£ points. Otherwise, B. Christensen (Palmerston North) Will share the honour of secohd place with Cromarty. , Other leading scores are:—B. Beach (Wanganui), fi points and a game to play; N. R. Meads. 5 points; H. P. Whitlock, Zi points, with one game to play; W. A. Dobson (Christchurch) and S. Smith (Wanganui), 3 points.