Chess

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 31

Chess

Dive decisive winner

By

ADRIAN LLOYD

The recently held South Island chess championship in Nelson attracted a weak field in spite of generous sponsorship from the Nelson Building Society. The event resulted in a convincing victory by a Wellington student, Russell Dive, aged 20. Earlier this year Dive recorded some impressive results round New Zealand, including the defeat in an exhibition of the visiting Soviet grand master, Edvard Gufeld. In the last few years the Wellingtonian has developed a sound positional style of play which sees him rarely encounter difficulties. After scoring six straight wins at Nelson, Dive faltered, losing to Jon Jackson, and barely managed to repel a strong attack by Mark Wilson in the final round. Dive had competed in an Auckland tournament just before the South Island championships, so this may explain his pedestrian finish. The Nelsonian, Jackson, finished second, but took the South Island trophy as the highest placed "Mainlander. A former Cantabrian, Jackson jftast won the title inj£973 and Thas his sights set oirthe 1999 event.

Highest placings: R. Dive (Wellington) 7/8, 1; J. Jackson (Nelson) 6,2; B. Alexander (Christchurch), K. Boyd (Dunedin) and A. Lloyd (Christchurch s>/2, equal 3. The following game from the event was between two promising Christchurch juniors: Nelson 1986. White: M. Wilson. Black: B. Alexander. Ruy Lopez 1, e 4 e 5 2, Nf3 Nc6 3, Bbs A sixteenth century Spanish priest named Ruy Lopez invented the opening system arising from this jabbing bishop move. Ironically, Ruy was allegedly reprimanded by his own bishop for spending too long at the chessboard. 3, .. a 6 4, Ba 4 Nf6 5, 0-0 Be 7 6, Rel b 5 7, Bb3 0-0 8, c 3 d 5 Black’s last move is a potent pawn sacrifice concocted by an American, Frank Marshall, early this century. 9, d 4 Wilson chooses not to accept the pawn. After 9, exds Nxds 10, Nxes Nxes I’fe Rxes c 6 12, d 4 Bd6 13, Rel Qh4 14, g 3 ’ Qh3 Black’s kingside

initiative provides some compensation for the pawn. 9, .. exd4 10, e 5 Ne 4 11, cxd4 Bg4 12, Be 3 After 12, Nc3 Bxf3 White will have weak pawns. 12, .. Nqs 13, Bc2 Nc4 14, Bel 15 Black cements his strong knight position. 15, Qd3 c 5 16, Nbd2? Preferable was 16, b 3 Nb 6 17, dxcs Bxcs 18, Be 3. Now White is forced backwards. 16, .. Ncxd2 17, Nxd2 c 4 18, Qfl Qb6 Also good was 18, .. Bb4. 19, Nxe4 fxe4 20, Be 3 b 4 21, Bdl Qg6 22, Bc2 22, Bxg4 was better, since Black’s bishop is powerful. 22, .. Qc6 23, Reel Qd7 24, Qel a 5 25, Bd2 Bh4 26, Be 3 Ra 6 27, Bdl Bf 3! 28, gxf3? Alexander threatened 28, .. Bxg2 but 28, g 3 would have put up some resistance. 28, .. Qh3 29, Resigns. There is no defence to 29,..' Rg6 mating.