CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 20371, 31 December 1929, Page 9

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

YESTERDAY’S PLAY SEVERHE LEADING [Pek United Press Association.) WANGANUI, December 30. The following are the results of the fifth round of the dominiou championship chess tourney:— Hicks v. Jeffreys.—A very cramped game resulted from the Cara Kami game adopted by Jeffreys. Both players built up a strong centre, and neither dared attempt to force the position". Exchanges Jett' the pawn positions identical, and a draw was agreed upon at the forty-fifth move. ■Purdy v. Rutherford.—This was a bright Queen's Pawn ga'me, in which the early exchanges gave Rutherford an isolated pawn, and Purdy command of an open rile witJi doubled rooks, one at bishop seven. Purdy brought up a dangerous attack, Rutherioru played well, and Purdy failed to Imd a winning move immediately. Rutnenord, bringing his king up to tUo light, left ffis pawns weak, and Purdy was able to force exchanges and win two pawns. Rutherford thereupon resigned.

Scott v. _ Gundersen.—Gundersea played the Sicilian jjeicuee, and ccott built up a line attack which laded away with each telling move made by Gundersen. The attack then passed to Gundersen, but he hud difficulty in forcing his position. Eventually he" was about to win the exchange which Scott had to submit to in order to save the situation. Gundersen was now in a position to dominate the play, and Scott resigned. Beyer v. Severne.—Beyer offered the King’s Gambit, which Severne declined. He moved bishop to bishop four to prevent Beyer castleing on the king's side, and built up a "strong position in the centre, Beyer could not prevent Severne capturing the queen’s pawn and opening the file to queen and rooks, by which forces Severne was able to checkmate his opponent in three moves.

Topp v. Kolling.—Topp played the Rny Lopez, adopting the exchange variation. He obtained the better position, and forced Rolling to castle on the queen's side. Topp soon got into difficulties through Kelling’s skilful advance of pawns. With pawn at rook seven, supported by queen and rook, Rolling appeared to have victory in sight, but by an oversight he allowed his queen to be won at tho expense of Topp’s bishop, and he resigned after losing the advanced passed pawn. Fairburn v. i?leasants.—A development of the Znkertort Opening was played. Fairburn, playing • weakly, gave Pleasants a chance of winning two pawns. Later Fairburn captured a pawn, and with the exchange 01 pieces was left with two bishops against bishop and knight and one pawn down. Pleasants conducted tho end game in lino style, and scored a well-deserved win. Anderson v. Erskinc.—ln this Queen’s Pawn game there was a very steady development of position on both sides. In tho opening Anderson obtained doubled pawns, but otherwise quite a good game. Soon after this Anderson took up the offensive, and kept Erskiua so busily defending that the latter had no chance of a counterattack. After further exchanges the position was considered critically by both players, who decided that there was nothing in it but a draw. Tho following is the position of the players after tho fifth round ;

—Sixth Round. — Purdy v. KrsKine, —itrskine adopted the biciliau Deicucc, the opening moves of wliicii provided, rapid exchanges. iu weaken m'skine's pa.vn position i’urdy gave Ills opponent the chance of changing oil the queens at the eighth move. i'Jio device' gave Purdy tree rooks, and he immediately set up an attack on rtrskine's pawns, it looked as though Purdy hud the better cnances, oat Ersitme played a perfect defence, nt one stage Urskine onered a draw, but Purdy pmyed on to win or lose. ine advance of his passed pawn from the hue of his supporting rook gave Erskine the advantage, and the game ended in the latter's favour o» the (59th move. Gunderson v. Hicks. —Gunderson played hire Three Knights game and captured Hicks’s centre pawn. Hicks did not capture the knight immediately, but took the bishop’s pawn with a check. Hicks then set out to attack his opponent’s exposed king, but lie had not a sufficiently developed force, and Gundersen soon took up the attack. The pawn ending was stubbornly contested, but Hicks made an unfortunate move which gave Gundersen the game. Rutherford v. Topp.—ln this game early critical positions came from the Huy Lopez played by Rutherford. Topp got into an awkward position, but gained temporary relief with the loss of a pawn. Topp then attacked with rook arid queen, but Rutherford provided a safe defence. Topp, in bringing into play the second rook, gave Rutherford the opening he desired, and Topp’s king was checkmated in five moves. Plehsants v. Beyer.—Beyer again adopted the French Defence, but obtained the inferior position from the opening, and Pleasants was able to establish his knight at QG with a check. The open files on the queen side gave Beyer a chance to attack, but the plan failed, and he came out of the exchanges a rook down for two passed pawns. Pleasants was able to force a win on the 40th move. Kelling v. Scott.—This was another variation of the French Defence, in which Kelling obtained much the better development. Scott castled on the queen side, and Kelling pushed forward his pawns, supported by the two rooks and queen. He seemed to have an overwhelming attack, but it faded away with the exchanges that resulted, though Kelling was left with two pawns up. Scott played his two knights well and mairta ; ned_ the fight for several moves, but Kelli"g saved the centre pawn and pushed it on to the queen, and won the game.

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Severne ... 4 u i 4J Anderson ... 3 u 2 4 Gunderson ... *j 1 1 Ji Erskine ... - J 2 ;j Pleasants ... o »> 0 3 Purdy ... o 2 u Kelliug ... 2 2 1 •2i Jeffreys '2 2 1 Geycr ... 2 o u 2 Scott ... 2 4 u 2 Hicks ... U 2 it xtuuierl’ord ... ... 1 o i i’, Popp ... i o 1 li Eairburn ...- u 4 1 2