CHESS CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 154, 28 December 1936, Page 13

CHESS CONGRESS

DOMINION TOURNEY

PLAY IN FIRST ROUND

• (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 27. Fourteen players are engaged in the New Zealand chess championship, which opened at Auckland on Saturday. After the players had been welcomed they had a business meeting and decided to play on afternoons and evenings, leaving the mornings free for the continuation of acljourned games. The first round commenced on Saturday night, the draw being as follows, the first-named playing white in each instance:—D. I. Jones (Auckland) v. ,H. McNab (Auckland); E. H. Severne (Wellington) v. D. Lynch (Hastings); H. R. Abbott (Christchurch) v. J. A. Erskine (Invercargill); I. Hunter (Christchurch) v. G. P. Anderson (Wellington); C. B. Newick (Auckland) v. K. Beyer (Wellington); F. K. Kelling (Wellington) v. R. O. Scott (Wanganui); I. Burry (Auckland) v. S. Hindon (Christchurch). The absence of players from overseas and the fact that the holder of the title, Giles, is not present, have robbed the tournament of some of its glamour of former years. The players, however, are a representative lot, and some thrilling contests should result as play proceeds and the contestants are in a position to judge the playing powers' of their adversaries. On the ad-, journment on Saturday four games were completed and three were adjourned. Scott defeated Kelling, Burry defeated Hindon, and Anderson defeated Hunter, while Severne notched his usual draw against Lynch. Severne v. Lynch (Four Knights).— After an orthodox development, exchanges in the middle game left an even pawn position with one rook each. Neither could force the issue and a draw was agreed upon at move 30. Newick v. Beyer (Irregular) .—This was adjourned at move 46 with the board in favour of Beyer. Newick has two minor pieces and a pawn against a rook and four pawns. Jones v. McNab (Queen's Pavjn).— The game was in no way spectacular. At adjournment 41 moves had been recorded. Both players are equal in material, with the queen, a rook, and six pawns. White has the attack with a slight positional advantage. Abbott v. Erskine (Queen's Pawn, Greenfield Defence) .—This was a hardfought game, adjourned at move 52. Erskine being a pawn up. Kelling; v. Scott (Sicilian Defence).— Scott developed more rapidly than his opponent, and won a pawn early. With casting on opposite sides, Scott's attack on the king's wing was quicker than Kelling's attack on the queen's side, Kelling resigning at move 44. Burry v. Hindon (Sicilian Defence). —Burry gave up a pawn in the earlystages for the attack, and Hindon's position became cramped. As the middle game proceeded Burry regained his pawn and a superior position. He pressed the attack which forced Hindon's resignation at move 36. Hunter v. Anderson (Reti's Opening). —The game was even until the nineteenth move, when Hunter initiated an unsound combination, giving up two pieces for a rook and a pawn. Later Anderson made a fine combination with bishop, knight, and rook which forced Hunter's resignation at move 43. In the premier reserve tourney fifteen players are taking part, including three women, who entered for the women's championship, which was abandoned on account of insufficient entries. Mitchell (Christchurch) beat Stephens (Wellington), Langabeer (Auckland) beat R. Christensen (Palmerson North), Moloney (Wellington) had a bye, and the remainder of the games were adjourned.