Isolation a hindrance to N.Z. players

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 41

Isolation a hindrance to N.Z. players

By

MICHAEL ROCKS

New Zealand’s isolation from the major chess playing centres of the world has always been a hindrance to local players wishing to compete on the international circuit. The former New Zealand players. Bob Wade and Murray Chandler, both left the country to settle in England in order to compete on the international circuit and in both cases they subsequently switched allegiance to England in order to further their careers.

Despite the difficulties of gaining competition, New Zealand players are making their mark on the international scene. At the Thessaloniki Olympiad last year, Vernon Small, of Christchurch, finally nailed down the International Master’s title he had been chasing. After the Olympiad, Russell Dive, of Wellington, gained an International Master norm (part qualification for the title) at a tournament in Aosta, Italy. If Dive can gain two more such norms within the next five years he will be awarded the title.

Thre6 years ago on his way home from the world junior tournament in Norway, Anthony Ker, of Wellington, stopped off in London at the Lloyds Bank Masters and picked up an IM norm. Although he has not managed to repeat that success, he has two more years to do so. Hopefully, he will have better luck than Paul Garbett, of Auckland, whose single norm expired after five years.

In correspondence chess, isolation is not such a big problem and it is in this field that a resident New Zealander has recorded probably this country’s greatest chess success.

Roger Chapman, a Wellington lawyer and Chairman of the New Zealand Correspondence Chess Association, recently won the first invitational Anglo-Pacific championship ahead of three correspondence International Masters. The field of 17 included players from the United States, Canada, Australia and the Pacific region, one of whom, IM Max Salm, of Australia, was placed fourth in the third world championship final. With his win Chapman advances to the World Candidates Tournament. This tournament is played in three sections of fifteen players each with the top three or four advancing to the World Championship Final. Final placings and scores were as follows: 1, R. Chapman, NZ, 12>/ 2 ; 2, C. Parre, Canada, 12; 3-4, IM Max Salm, Aust., C. van Dyck, U.S.A, U'/ 2 ; 4, D. Eisen. U.S.A., 11; 6, H. Glaser, Singapore, 10>/ 2 ; 7, T. Mori, Japan, 9; 8-9, T. van Dyk, NZ, M. Majima, Japan, B>/ 2 ; 10-11, D. Keast, Australia, IM W. Muir, U.S.A., 7‘/ 2 ; 12-13, K. Harrison, Australia, P. Jurgens, Canada, 7; 14-15, J. Henri, Australia, A. Domenden, Hong Kong, si/ 2 ; 16-17, K. Schepel, Hong Kong, IM S. Tennant, U.S.A. 0. Roger Chapman — Helmut Glaser, Singapore, King’s

Indian Defence. 1, d 4 Nf6 2, c 4 g 6 3, Nc3 Bg7 4, e 4 d 6 5, f 3 0-0 6, Be 3 Nbd7 7, Qd2 c 5 8, d 5 Nes 9, Bgs a 6 10, f 4 Ned 7 11, Nf3 RbB 12, a 4 ReB 13, Be2 h 6 14, Bh4 Qc7 15, 0-0 NfB 16, h 3 Bd7 17, Rael N6h7 18, e 5 Bfs 19, g 4 Bd7 20, Kg2 h 5 21, gxhs gxhs 22, Bg3 QcB 23, Ngl h 4 24, Bxhu4 Ng6 25, Bg3 dxes 26, fxes Bxes 27, Bxes Bxes 28, Bhs Ng6 29, Rxf7 Kxf7 30, Qh6 NhfB 31, Bxg6+ resigns. Chapman has not played a serious game over the board in more than 20 years. He is, however, a former winner of the North Island championship in 1961.

The Canterbury C.C. championship begins this week at the clubrooms, 227 Bealey Avenue. Since the tournament lasts most of the winter school term late entries will be accepted. Phone Michael Rocks 480-154 (evenings) for further details.

Anyone interested in playing correspondence chess should contact the N.Z.C.C.A. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr J. Maxwell at P.O. Box 3278, Wellington. Both international and local games can be arranged

Solution to No. 38: (5R2/7r/2P4p/7N/p3plpl/ 4klPl/P7/82K182 — Mate in 4) 1 Rfs Rf 7 2 Rxf7 a 3 3 Bf 6 Kf2 4 Bd4++ (3 ... Kf3 4 Bgs+ + 1 ... a 3 2 Nf6 Rd 7 3 cxd7 h 5 4 Nd6++

1 ... Re 7 2 Nf6 Res 3 Nxg4++