Close final for “Press" chess

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 24

Close final for “Press" chess

Burnside High School, which caused an upset in the first round of “The Press” round-robin final when it beat Christchurch Boys’ High School A, was itself on the receiving end last week.

Shirley Boys’ High School had its .best win in the tournament this year, beating Burnside, 3|-2|. Burnside lost three games on the bottom four boards, and might have missed the services of its regular member on board six, P. R. Crooks, who was in Fiji. Christchurch Boys’ High B emerged as the only unbeaten team after two rounds by defeating the Christchurch Boys High A team, 3|-2|. Three of the matches were decided after adjournments, and one required adjudication. The final round of the competition will be played at Christchurch Boys High on Friday evening, and the key match to decide the champion team should be between Christchurch Boys’ High B and Burnside. The. two teams met in the zonal preliminary competi-

tion, and Christchurch was successful, 3j-2|. » To win the tournament for the first time, Burnside must beat Christchurch B by 5-1. Shirley and Christchurch A meet in the other match,, and either team, with a convincing victory, has an outside chance of taking the title. It has been the most absorbing final since “The Press” first sponsored the tournament in 1971. Detailed results:— Shirlty 3), Burnside 21 B, Bolton lost to S. G. Thornton, R. Falloon drew with A. Johnstone, P. Lyman beat A. Novis, P. Noble lost to G. Guerin, S. Rynsburger beat M. Eves, S. Bermingham beat S. Duckworth. Christchurch B.H. B 31, Christchurch B.H. A 2) A. J. Pool beat R. Nokes, P. Bates lost to J. Smith, M. Jackson drew with A. Gin, T. Wong drew with M. van Voorthuizen, M. Steel beat M. Averill, R. Mason drew- with C. Shaw.