CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 79, 27 December 1928, Page 12

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS OPENED

PLAY IN FIRST ROUND The thirty-eighth annual contest for the chess championship of New Zealand was opened yesterday morning, in the Education Board’s building, Mercer Street, by the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Stout, tlie chair being occupied by Mr. W. Mackay, a vice-president of the New Zealand Chess Association. Sir Robert Stout, who was greeted witli emphatic applause, referred to the part he took half a century ago, or more, in forming the first chess club started in Dunedin, and which still survives. With the assistance of Mr. Begg, who afterwards became chairman of the London Stock Exchange, and a member of the House of Commons, they collected sixteen players (all that there were in Dunedin in those days, probably), including the late Mr. John Mount and Mr. D. R. Hay, whom Sir Robert Stout described as the finest chess player he had ever met. “A Scotsman once told me,” said Sir Robert Stout, “that the person who could find amusement in chess could find amusement in anything,” but that was not his opinion, because the game afforded not only amusement to any one who wished to avail themselves of it, but instruction, also, of an advantageous character. In playing a game of chess, there was a pleasure in trying to think what was the right thing to do, and the more one’s knowledge of the game advanced, so, also, did the pleasure increase, ami one’s thinking powers strengthened. It was, in fact, an education in itself. If it did nothing else than give pleasure, it justified itself, because a life without pleasure of some sort could not be said to be an ideal life. Though he had never had much time to spare for mere pleasure, he had always looked upon the game of chess as one that deserved to he supported, for it had no drawbacks, and had always been kept free from any undesirable influence. It gave him great pleasure to open tlie congress, and he hoped that the players would find much pleasure in it. The chairman, on behalf of the players, thanked Sir Robert Stout for venturing out in sueh bad weather in response to their request, and said that to a gentleman of his age that must have been a risk, but it showed his enthusiasm for the game they all admired bo much. Mr. Mackay extended a hearty welcome to the visiting players, and hoped they would enjoy the contest. He especially referred to the Melbourne representative. Mr. J. A. Erskine. “If he succeeds,” said Mr. Mackay, “in winning the championship we can still claim that it has been won by a New Zealander, because Mr. Erskine was born in Invercargill.” The chairman regretted that six of the fourteen entrants had been compelled to withdraw from the contest for various reasons.- Still, there was first-class material left for a hard struggle for supremacy. and he hoped and expected that the standard of play would be up to the best of former contests. Mr. Brooker, chairman of the Management Committee, announced that play would be conducted daily from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m., unfinished games too be resumed at 10 a.m. To save alteration in the pairing owing to the late withdrawal of Mr. Pleasants, Mr. J. C. Mcßae consented to take Mr. Pleasants’ place. The Rev. A. Miller (Westport) and Mr. Erskine returned thanks for the welcome accorded. First Round. The draw for the first round was as follows Scott, R. O. v. Rev. A. Millar. Kelling, F. K. v. Severne, 12. H. Mcßea v. Gyles, A. W. Hicks, E. E. v. Fairburn, W. J. Erskine, J. A., a bye. Jn this and succeeding reports, it will be understood that the first-named at each board has the first move, and the words between brackets name the opening adopted. Scott, R. O. v. Miliar, Rev. A. (Queen s Pown opening).—The early stages of the game were conducted on the usual lines, with slight variations, until the 21st move was reached. Here the Wanganui representative, who had hitherto showed that he was no novice, missed his opportunity of forcing a very hot attack by the sacrifice of a knight for pawn. The Rev. Millar, playing witli less impulsiveness than usual. was lucky to be able to stave off defeat, and in the end-game, outplayed his opponent, securing a win on the 63rd move. Kelling, F. K. v. Severne. E. H. (Ruj-Lopez-Morphy Defence).—’The treatment of this four-hundred-years-old opening, generally leading to close and complicated positions, showed that neither player was deficient in book knowledge of the. analysis. The game progressed very evenly until the 49th move, when Severne won a pawn. This advantage, however, was not sufficient to overcome Kelling’s wellknown end-game tactics, and a draw was agreed upon on the 55th more of a game soundly played by both players. Mcßea, J. C., v. Gyles, A- IV. (Bird s Opening).—This opening, very rarely adopted in match play, kept Gyles on the defensive in the first part of the game, but he soon got a level position. On move 14 Mcßea exchanged queens with slight loss of advantage, which, however, by no means meant defeat. Gyles gradually increased the pressure until the 26th move was reached, and here he missed a mate in two moves, preferring to capture a pawn, enabling Mcßea to struggle on to the 42nd move before he resigned. Hicks, E. E., V. Fairburn, W. J. (King’s Knights Opening).—This was defended by black irregularly and somewhat timidly at first, resulting for him in an undeveloped and somewhat cramped position, of which white did not take fullest advantage. Still the middle game was reached in a fairly even position, white having slightly the better prospect which careful and correct play enabled him to convert into a win bn the 55th move. Second Round. The draw for the second round, which will commence at 2 p.m. to-day, is as follows :— Millar v. Kelling. Fairburn v. Erskine. Gyles v. Hicks. Severne v. Mcßea. Scott, a bye.