CHESS CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 7

CHESS CONGRESS

TWO MORE ROUNDS ABBOTT IN THE LEAD (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 1. With eight rounds completed in the New Zealand chess championship, the leading players are:—H. R. Abbott, Christchurch, 5} points; I. Burry, Auckland, 5; S. Hindin, Christchurch, 4J; D. I. Jones, Auckland, K. Beyer, Wellington, and J. A. Erskine, Invercargill, each four points, and each with one game adjourned. Both Abbott and Hindin have to complete an adjourned game, but Burry has completed the eight. Five more rounds have yet to be played. In the sixth round all games were adjourned. Details of the seventh and eighth rounds are as follows: — Seventh Bound. Beyer v. Anderson (English).—A keenly-contested game that resulted in a draw at move 77. Scott v. Erskine (Centre Counter).— Scott resigned shortly after Erskine had won a piece in the middle game. Hindin v. Lynch (King's Pawn).— Hindin won a pawn and an exchange. Lynch resigning. Burry v.. Jones (Ruy Lopez).—An even game with a difficult rook and pawn ending, resulting in a draw. Kelling v. Severne (Ruy Lopez).—At the adjournment the honours were even, but the game has to be fought out during the week. Newick v. Abbott (Vienna).—Newick lost a piece through an oversight and resigned. Hunter v. McNabb (English).—Hunter was a pawn to the good at the adjournment. Eighth Round. Erskine v. Beyer (Bird .Opening).— An even game resulted in a draw. McNabb v. Anderson (Queen's Gambit Declined). —Anderson resigned after McNabb won an exchange in the middle game. Lynch v. Scott (Queen's Pawn).— Scott found himself short of time and lost an exchange. He resigned. Jones v. Hindin (Queen's Pawn).— Hindin won an exchange early and the game at move 53. Severne v. Burry (French Defence). —At move 51 Burry made an oversight which enabled Severne to break up his centre and win easily. i Abbott v. Kelling (Queen's Gambit !Declined). —Abbott's superior combination, in the middle game enabled him to force a win at move 45. Hunter v. Newick (English).—Newick succeeded in obtaining a pawn to the good in the end game, but it was too, risky to force a win, and the game was drawn at move 30.

■ After the eighth round in the premier reserve tourney, Aislabie. Napier, is leading with 6} points, Mcintosh, Auckland, being next with 6.

HON. P. FRASER ON TOUR

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WESTPORT, This Day. The Minister of Education and Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser), who made a tour of the Buller district on Thursday and Friday, created a great impression among the residents and was cordially greeted at all the places he visited. He inspected the school buildings at Westport, Denniston, and Burnett's Face, also the Granity, Hector, and Karamea districts, and the harbour improvement works at Kcvamea. iwc and Mrs. Fraser attended a Hogmanay ball on Thursday night. Later the Minister addressed a most enthusiastic crowd in front of the fire station to the accompaniment of ■ scenes of great festivity excelling past I years. Yesterday Mr. Fraser inspected I'jhe Westport harbour and the Buller jiHospital and heard various deputations (pn Marine Department matters.