CHESS TOURNAMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 December 1934, Page 11

CHESS TOURNAMENTS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP. ■- [per press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, December 27. The New Zealand chess congress was continued to-day. The second round was completed and one game in the third round was finished before the end of the evening’s play. F. K. Kelling and A. W. Gyles, both of Wellington, are leading on the play in the first two rounds, each having won two games. H. J. Armstrong (Canterbury) played soundly in the second round to force a draw with J. B 'Dunlop, the present champion. The results of the games played in the second round were: Friberg beat Fairburn. Abbott beat Watt, Erskine beat Gray, Kelling beat Darwin, Dyer drew with Beyer, Dunlop drew with Armstrong, Gyles beat Hicks, Severne drew with Le Petit. The game Scott v. Hardy was not finished. In the third round (still in progress) Abbott beat Fairburn. The following are notes on the games played (white players named first) : — Fairburn v. Friberg.—Fairborn opened with the Queens pawn gdjirte, and Friberg played the Grurfeld defence. Even play went on into the middle of the game, Fairburn advancing his two wing Queen’s side pawns, after some exchanges. These proved weak, and Friberg captured them remaining with a bishop and two passed pawns against a knight, pawns on the king’s side being equal and safe. Fairburn resigned on move 49. Watt v. Abbott—Watt opened with a Ruy Lopez, and Abbott offered the usual defence. Watt gained a slight advantage early, but later allowed an exchange of. queens giving Abbott the initiative. Abbott attacked strongly, but the defence was sound, though Abbott was a pawn up. After several exchanges, Abbott gained another pawn, eventually winning the game at the Slst move. Erskine v. Gray.—Queen’s gambit declined. Erskine played the queen’s Indian defence, and early had Grey in difficulties, but steady play by Gray enabled him to work up a strong attack winning three pawns for one, after some exchanges. The complicated end of the game ensued with the bishops of the same colour, and Erskine was able to force Gray’s resignation at the 70th move. Kelling v. Darwin. —Sicilian defence. Darwin captured a centre pawn at move eight, but immediately suffered a fierce attack from his opponent’s rapidly developed forces. Kelling regained a pawn at move 18 with superior position, entering the end of the game with a queen and two passed pawns to Darwin’s rook and bishop. Darwin resigned a hopeless game at move 31.

Dyer v. Beyer.—Queen’s gambit declined. The game throughout showed little advantage to either player. Playwas very even both in the developmental stages and also in the later exchanges. At the end of the sitting each player was left with two bishops and six pawns with no hope of a “break through” and a draw was agreed to at move 31. It was a fitting end to a soundly played game.

Dunlop v. Armstrong.—Dunlop adopted the Ruy Lopez attack, which Armstrong parried successfully. After a series of exchanges a draw was agreed to at move 33. Hicks v. Gyles: Sicilian defence, an even game, but in the course of play, Hicks developed pawn weakness, eventually allowing Gyles to win a pawn. Hicks resigned at move 30, when mate was threatened. Le Petit v. Severne: —Queen’s pawn opening. Severne played the Cambridge spring defence, and worked up a fairly strong attack in the middle of the game, but Le Petit defended successfully. The position became locked and a draw was agreed upon at move 39.

THIRD ROUND RESULTS CHRISTCHURCH, December 28. In the Chess tuorney, third round, results were: Hardy beat Gray. Severne and Dunlop drew on the 41st move. Armstrong and Dwyei diew. Kelling beat Erskine. Beyer beat Le Petit. Gyles beat Watt. CENTENARY CONTEST. MELBOURNE, December 27. ~ In the second round of the chess championship, Condon defeated Watson; Martin Green defeated Goldstein, Greenfield defeated Coultas, Lamparter defeated Hynd, Koshnitzky _ defeated Crowl, Fillian defeated Thierjung, and Hastings defeated Purdy.