Blunders cost chess points

Press, 10 April 1978, Page 6

Blunders cost chess points

PA Wellington Chess grand masters and masters displayed a reassuring human frailty during the two week-end rounds of the Burroughs grand master tournament In Wellington. The top-ranked players in the tournament have shown the talent that won them titles on the international chess circui, but thev have also made some mistakes that would have shamed the average club player. The 40 spectators, many ‘of them analysing the games with pocket chess sets, as the moves were shown on large display boards, registered surprise and a little malicious amusement at the blunders. They seemed pleased at the proof that even the great can make mistakes.

The Argentinian grand master, Miguel Quinteros, was involved In two of the games marred by blunders. Yesterday he took only one hour of the five-hour playing session to dispose of the Indonesian international master, Herman Suradiradja, who gave away first a pawn and then a bishop. On Saturday, Quinteros was at both ends of blunders in his game against fellow grand master. Eugene Torre, of the Philip ; pines. The game developed into a tense fight as Quinteros attacked on the king-side, and Torre on the queen-side. Torre made an uncharacteristic blunder that gave away a rook, but then Quinteros, very short of time, made an even worse blunder to lose his queen and the game.

Vernon Small, of Canterbury, continued his run of good form Iby beating Richard Sutton (Auckland) on Saturday and drawing with Mehrshad Sharif (Iran) yesterday.

The best chess of the four*:, and fifth rounds wag played by Wellington’s Murray Chandlei, as he beat two other International masters, Suradiradja and Ortvin Sarapu, of Auckland. Against Suradiradja he played a brilliant attack, sacrificing two pieces to force checkmate. Chandler and Torre lead the tournament after five rounds, with 31 points each. “I feci I’m good enough io win the tournament but I’ve got to prove It to myself. I’ve played in this standard of competition before but I'Ve, not been consistent.” Chandler said last night. The tournament field has been reduced to 13 by the non-arrival of the Israeli grand master, Kraidman. This means that international masters cannot gain a grand master qualification in the tournament. However, untitled players can win a partial qualification for the master title by scoring eight out of the possible 12.

The former Wellington and Auckland player, Paul Garbett, has gained a master result at a strong tournament in London. If he can repeat this performance in another tournament he will be awarded the international master title. Results:

Round four.—Torre beat Quinteros; Chandler beat Suradiradja; Kamran Shirazi (Iran) beat Rodolfo Tan Cardoso (Philippines:; Jacobus Sampouw (Indonesia: drew with Rico Musctriras (Philippines); Sarapu drew with Ewen Green (Auckland); Vernon Small (Christchurch) beat Richard Sutton (Auckland).

Round five.—Shirazi beat MaScarinas; Chandler beat Sarapu: Small drew with Mehrshad Sharif (Iran); Torre beat Cardoso; Quinteros -beat Suradiradja.