CHESS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1932, Page 15

CHESS

DOMINION TOURNEY

FURTHER PROGRESS MADE

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Ist January. The seventh round of the New Zealand chess championship was completed this morning. Results of the games are as follows:— C. J. S. Purdy (Sydney) beat Rev. A. Miller (Westport). Queen's pawn same. Purdy won the exchange on move 23, and' Miller's resignation followed almost immediately. J. C. Grierson (Auckland) beat E. L. Smith (Napier). Won pawn on move 21 and brought about Smith's capitulation on move 24. A nice trap. H. N. Maddox (Auckland) drew with Gundersen (Melbourne). Queen's pawn game. A very carefully played game in which white appeared to retain the initiative. A draw was agreed upon after 36 moves. O'Halloran (Napier) lost to F. K. Selling (Wellington). Queen's gambit declined. After a slip by O'Kalloran on move 23 Kelling had a decided advantage which he had no difficulty in converting and won the game. W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) beat A. W. Gyles (Wellington). The sensation of the round. Gyles, with a difficult game, lost his queen through bad oversight. J. A. Erskine (Southland) beat E. S. Rutherfurd (Stratford). Erskine won pawn early in the second session and, with a distant positional advantage, secured a win. R, 0. Scott (Wanganui) lost to E. H. Severne (Nelson). Queen's gambit declined. Scott's twenty-first move lost the game, which Scott resigned at move 54. Prior to this oversight a draw seemed certain. THE SIXTH ROUND. Play in the sixth round ou Thursday resulted as follows:— G. Gunderson (Melbourne) beat J. A. Erskine (Southland). Alekhiue's defence. Gundersen played a sparkling game, and by declaring mate in five moves, the combination including a knight sacrifice.' This is the more creditable when his opponent's strength is taken into consideration. F. K. Kelling (Wellington) beat H. N. j Maddox (Auckland). Ruy Lopez. Kelling won a knight on his 33rd move, and a rook a few moves later. A. W. Gyles (Wellington) beat C. J. S. Purdy (Sydney). Queen's pawn game. Purdy, by an oversight, lost a pawn in the opening, and thereafter a blunder on his opponent's part was his only chance. Gyles made no mistake. E. L. Smith (Napier) beat K. O'Halloran (Napier). Queen's Gambit declined. Smith kept the upper hand throughout and finished with a rook and bishop mate, which his opponent facilitated. E. S. Rutherfurd (Tarauaki) lost to W. J. Fairburn (Wellington). Queen's Gambit declined. Fairburn won a pawn, but for some time the game looked drawisVi. Fairburn played well and won in 59 moves. E. S. Severne (Nelson) drew with J. C. Grierson (Auckland). Sicilian defence. Severne won a pawn, but Grierson recovered it later by clever play, and a draw resulted. Rev. A. Miller (Westport) lost to R. O. Scott (Wanganui), Sicilian defence. Scott won the exchange on his 16th move and later a clear piece. THE EIGHTH ROUND. NAPIER, Ist January. The eighth round of the Dominion chess championship congress being held at Napier was notable for the fact that Gyles, the holder of the title, fell into second position. The position is now full of interest, as the four leading players are separated by only half a point. Gunderson's finish against Kelling is a fitting companion to his mate in five again Erskine in round six.

G. Gundersen (Melbourne) beat F. K. Kelling (Wellington). Four knight. Gundersen move; a beautiful mating net threat causing Kelling's resignation, involving double mate with rook and bishop after queen sacrifice.

E. L. Smith (Napier) lost to R. O. Scott (Wanganui). Sicilian. Smith once again fell to lure of pawn-hunting. Rev. A. Miller (Westport) beat W. J. Fail-burn (Wellington). Miller played in his best style, and very quickly had an overwhelming attack,, which he completed by declaring mate in two. A. W. Gyles (Wellington) lost to J. A. Erskine (Southland). The result placed Gunderseu ahead. Sicilian on stage. Gyles''appeared to have the better game, but Erskine gradually forged ahead and finished with a piece up. Gyles's win in the play-off last year is his only congress win against Erskine.

K. O'Halloran (Napier) beat J. C. Griersen (Auckland). Queen's pawn game. O'Halloran won a piece early in the game. Thereafter he gradually wore his opponent down.

E. H. Severne (Nelson) lost to C. J. S. Purdy (Sydney). Sicilian. Purdy played very carefully, and at the adjournment had the advantage, two bishops for a rook. Severne resigned early in the second session.

E. S. Rutherfurd (Stratford) drew with H. R. Maddox (Auckland). Queen's pawn game. Rutherfurd, with a pawn up, missed an easy win on his forty-ninth move, and had to be content with a halfpoint.

Scores after the eighth round are:— Wins. Dr'u.L'st.Tl. Gundersen 6 1 1 6V» Gyles G 0 2 0 Erskinc 0 0 2 6 Pimly G (I 2 G Kdlinpr 4 2 2 5 Sevcrno 3 3 2 -iVz Ma.l.lox 3 2 3 4 Scott ."! I 4 3V£ Kairbiirii 3 0 5 3 Gi-ievsen 2 2 4 3 Kuthcrfunl 2 2 4 3 Milloi- 2 1 5 2Kb O'Halloran 1 1 G 1M, Smith 1 1 6 IVi