CHESS TOURNAMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 December 1934, Page 3

CHESS TOURNAMENTS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. The New Zealand Chess Congress opened in Christchurch to-day. The Deputy-Mayor, Rev. J. K. Archer, welcomed the visitors. There are 18 entries. The results of the first round are: Friberg drew with Abbott; Kelling beat Gray; Severne drew with Beyer; Watt beat Hicks; Gyles boat Fairbairn; Dunlop beat Dyer; Armstrong drew with Le Petit. Games between Erskine and Scott, and between Hardy and Darwin were adjourned. Notes cn the games (white names first):-— Friberg v. Abbott. Friberg opened with Queen’s pawn (Colle system), galf way through the game Friberg developed a strong attack against Abbott’s castled position. Abbott beat off the attack gaining control of Queen’s file. After winning a pawn, Abbott was forced to exchange. Friberg offering a strong defence, the game was drawn. Kelling v. Gray: The game opened with the French defence. Gray lost a pawn at move 19, in an effort to protect, his castled King. Heavy exchanges later left Kelling with a knight and six pawns to a bishop and five Dawns, and pressing home this slight advantage, he overcame a good defence, taking the game at move 52. Severne v. Beyer: A French defence game developed normally, both players castleing on the King's side. Play was correct and careful, and there were very few exchanges. A draw was agreed to after Beyer’s thirtieth move. Watt v. Hicks: Philidor’s defence. Watt early won a pawn which gave him superior development on the Queen’s side. At move 29 Hicks made a premature attack with the Queen, throwing that piece temporarily out of play. Watt forced exchanges, eventually winning a Q\>een for a rook. Hicks resigned from a hopeless position at move 33. Aimstrong v. Le Petit: Queen’s gambit declined. The game proceeded normally, but Armstrong failed to develop his Queen’s bishop, who later hampered his position. In the middle of the game, a series of exchanges left fairly even forces. Later, Le Petit surrendered a rook to promote two passed pawns, one of which he queened, but as Armstrong had an excellent defence no mate could be forced, and a draw was agreed upon.

Dyer v. Dunlop:—Queen’s pawn game developed on unusual lines. Early exchanges gave Dunlop an indifferent position, as he had doubled and isolated pawns. At move 34, however, he freed his game by sacrificing an exchange, which gave him a very strong pawn centre, which carried all before it. Dyer resigned the hopeless struggle at move 53. Hardy v. Darwin: A Dutch defence. Hardy lost a pawn at the fortieth move. The game was adjourned at the 55th- move. Erskine v. Scott: —English opening. Adjourned at. the 58th move, Erskine having a. knight and three pawns to Scott’s bishop and two pawns. There was a considerable amount of play still in the game. Gyles v. Fairbairn: —Queen’s gambit declined (orthodox). Rairburn got short of time, Gyle? complicating

the game, but Fairbairn defended well and Gyles’ position was compromised Eventually Gyles worked up an attack and won a pawn. Gyles maintained a pawn, which enabled him to win at the SOth move. TO-DAY’S RESULTS. CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. Tho chess championship contest was continued to-day. Two games were completed in the second round. F. K. Kelling (Wellington) beat T. J. Darwin (Canterbury). E. J. Dyer (Wellington) and K. Beyer (Wellington.) drew. CENTENARY CONTEST MELBOURNE, December 26. The Centenary Chess Congress opened with 88 entries and four events. Results of first round in the Australian championships were: Watson defeated Martin Green; Purdy defeated Condon; Hastings defeated Fillian; Koshnitsky defeated Thierjung; Crowl defeated Hynd, Limparter defeated Coults, Goldstein defeated Grenfield