CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 December 1924, Page 9

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

The second round of the chess championship was played on Saturday morning and evening and provided some very fine games; There was a Jarge attendance of spectators and much interest was taken in the games between Moir and Purdy, G. F. Dodds and Stenhouse and between Kelling and Cole. The following gives short accounts of the various games:—

• SECTION A Purely v. Moil - : This was a queen pawn’s game, in which Moir obtained a very sound defensive position with chances of attack. As a result of middle game exchanges, Moir obtained much the better pawn position on the queen’s side, though Purdy retained a strongly supported pawn at king’s fifth, and a somewhat weak pawn at queen’s fourth. lit playing lo safeguard" this weak pawn Purdy overlooked a check by Moir’s queen which enabled that player to capture the pawn for nothing/ Moil's passed queen side pawns now promised him victory. A most difficult end game followed with but slight chances of Purdy bringing about a draw. He missed the best line of play and Monforced a win after four hours’ strenuous play. G. F. Dodds v. Stenhouse: Stenhouse played flic Indian defence to the queen’s pawn game offered by Dodds and ob> tained quite a good position. Dodds, in endeavouring to break up his opponent’s attack gave Stenhouse a passed pawn at queen’s fifth. Further exchanges left Stenhouse’s king position somewhat weak. Dodds hereupon worked up quite a strong attack and advancing his' unbroken king side pawns against Stenhouso s weakened king forced Stenhouse to resign. ■

3‘airbiu’n v. Anderson: In this queen pawn game Fail-burn obtained a singular pawn position, but it was an inverted wedge formation with the flank pawns well advanced. Anderson castled on the queen’s side and by well-managed exchanges opened the king-side files for his rooks and queen. Anderson’s attack was so formidable that Fairborn was * soon forced to resign. E- A. Hicks v. Bullock: Bullock adopted the French defence, Ilicks following Farrasch’s line of play in the attack. A very even and keenlv contested game resulted. In the middle game exchanges Bullock was left . with doubled pawns on the king’s file and in changing his line of attack a few moves later, Bullock left one of these pawns to be taken for nothing.. Hicks nlayed the end game faultlessly and forced Bullock to capitaulate. SECTION B E. E. Hicks v.* Gyles : This was a Buy Lopez game in which Hicks earlv exchanged" bishop for knight. Gvles forced open the kings bishop’s file for his rook and with queen and bishop made a- for-j midable attack upon Hicks’s castled j kiqg-_ Ilicks was somewhat cramncd in ; position and was unable to make suitable defences and Gyles was sobn able to | double his rooks and bring about Hicks’s complete downfall. 1

Kelling v. Cole: Colo played the Sicilian defence to Kelling’s opening and in the early middlo game had obtained a, fine attacking position. Kelling by judicious exchanges broke the force of Cole’s attack and left Cole with a doubled pawn on the king knight’s file. Colo advanced his king side pawns with great effect, but failed to make the advan so necessary to shut out Kelling’s queen. Kelling seized the opportunitygiven and with a sudden-, and powerful attack forced checkmate upon Cole in five moves.

F. M. Dodds v. Vaughan: Dodds played the Ponziani game and after a very steady development v on both sides Vaughan took over the attack, and a few moves later won a piece. Dodds played a great- uphill fight, but Vaughan was able later on to change off queens and, with his superior force, to push oii to victory. - { Pihl v. Severiie: Pild adopted the Zukertort game and soon built ud a strong attack, establishing his knight strongly at queen’s sixth. j Severne played a sound defence, but-Pilil did not make the best of his strong position. The middle game manoeuvres enabled Seveine to gain more freedom of movement, and at the -end of the second session, with forces equal "but with much fight still left in the game, the players agreed upon a draw. Mr F. M. Dodds was, by common consent, acceptdd by the congress as a competitor in the tournament. He thus fills the gap caused by the withdrawal of Dunlop. His games,will be followed with much interest. The fourth round commences to-night at 7 o’clock. '! '