CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12647, 6 January 1904, Page 3

CHESS TOURNAMENT.

[PBS93 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The following games were played at the Chess Tournament to-day:—. Bound Twelve. W. E. Mason (Wellington) v. Pleasants (Rangitikei). Buy Lopez. The former was in the best position throughout, and Pleasants, losing two rooks for a bishop, resigned at move 33. - - Sandford (Wellington) v. Forsyth (Dunedin). Giucco Piano. An exceedingly interesting game, in which the former gave up queen and pawn for two rooks. A draw was shortly afterwards agreed upon. Davies (Wellington) v. Woodford (Canterbury). King’s Gambit declined. Davies developed a strong attack, Woodford succumbing on the twenty-first move.

Miles (Auckland) v. Connell (Wellington. French Defence. Connell was outplayed, and resigned from a hopeless struggle. Grierson (Auckland) v. Brown (Wellington). A Buy Lopez, soundly played by both. Brown came out of a difficult variation with admittedly the better position, but spoilt all by a single weak move. Grierson, on his thirty-fourth move, announced mate in two.

John Mason (Timaru) v. Adair Oamaru). Two Knights Defence. An even same until move 41. Adair then withdrew his queen from guarding his position, with a view to an attack. This, however, failed, Mason seizing an opportunity to give mate in two.

Barnes (Wellington) v. Friberg (Palmerston). French Defence. Fribergwas under severe pressure at move 21, and jettisoned a knight. Barnes continued a fine attack, Friberg finally resigning. Mackay v. Edwards. Euy Lopez. Mackay forced an exchange of rooks, but a weak move later on allowed Edwards to end a stubborn game with a draw. Round Thirteen. Edwards v. W. E. Mason. French Defence. This game occupied considerable attention. A move has been sealed by Mason, who has rook, knight, and three pawns to his opponent’s rook, bishop, and two pawns. Pleasants v. Sandford. Queen’s Gambit accepted. The latter won a pawn at move 16, and a second at move 34. Pleasants resigned at move 50, when queening was inevitable. Davies v. Forsyth. King’s Gambit declined. In order to force an exchange of queens, Forsyth gave up rook for knight, and won easily in 51 moves.

Connell v. Woodford. —Giucco Piano. Woodford scored his first win at move

Brown v. Miles. Brown resigned a hopeless game at move 50. Games between John Mason and Grierson, Barnes and Adair, and Mackay and Friberg are not completed. Moves have been sealed. They are all very even-looking. Leading Scores. W. E. Mason, wins, losses, 1 unfinished. John Mason, 10i wins, li losses, 1 unfinished. Sandford, wins, 4J losses. Barnes, 8 wins, 4 losses, 1 unfinished,: Forsyth and Davies, each 8 wins and 5 losses. The Masons, who are equal, will fight out the finish.