Blunder costs Chandler chess

Press, 7 April 1978, Page 4

Blunder costs Chandler chess

PA Wellington The whispering of the spectators grew louder as the chess master Murray Chandler made a move that looked like an incomprehensible mistake. Chandler, playing in the second round of the Burroughs Computers grand master tournament in Wellington yesterday, appeared to be throwing away a rook for nothing. Then the spectators began to see what Chandler had in mind—a chance to force a brilliant checkmate if the rook was taken. His opponent, the young Iranian, Kamran Shirazi, took the rook. But instead of instantly making the clever reply he had planned, Chandler sank into thought again. There was a flaw in his calculations—he saw that Shirazi had one. unexpected saving move. Chandler played on but, a rook down, his position was hopeless and he soon had to resign. It was a disaster for the 18-year-old New Zealand international master, who was playing in the tournament he had organised himself to bring grand master chess to New Zealand for the first time For more than four hours he had steadily outplayed the Iranian and had built up a winning position. The one oversight threw it all away.

i Grim-faced, Chandler immediately left the tournament hall in the World Trade Centre without taking part in the customary discussion of the game with his opponent. The Christchurch student, Vernon Small, who had beaten the grand master Eugene Tone in the first round, also lost after achieving an excellent position. A couple of careless moves allowed Small’s opponent, the Indonesian international master Herman Surdiradja. to break into his position and win material. Ewen Green (Auckland; defended well against Torre but he ran short of time, had to make his last eight moves very quickly, and made a losing mistake under the pressure. Two other Auckland players, Ortvin Sarapu and Richard Sutton, agreed to draw after Sarapu had neutralised Sutton’s advanI tage. The Argentinian grand master, Miguel Quinteros, arrived In Wellington yesterday afternoon and is to play the international master, Mershad Sharif, of Iran, tonight. The Israeli grand master, Kraidman, and two more overseas players are expected to arrive today. Torre, Chandler. Suradiradja, Sarapu, Small, Shirazi. Sutton and Green all have one point from two games.