CHESS CONGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13370, 27 December 1906, Page 5

CHESS CONGRESS.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION".]

Christciicrcii, Wednesday. ' The annual Congress in connection with the New Zealand Chess Association was opened this morning. This was the special international congress promoted in connection with the Exhibition, the congress having been thrown open to the world, instead of being confined to resident New Zealanders. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. G. Payling) said that the gathering was a unique one in the history of chess in New Zealand, in that there were present champions from other parts of the world prepared to test their skill against New Zealand players. He welcomed the visitors on behalf of the city. Mr. J. Spiller, on behalf of the Canterbury Chess Club, also welcomed the visitors. He said that some of those present were known throughout the world as chess players, and it was most gratifying that the entries should have been so large. The competitors included the champion of Australia, the champion of 'South Wales, and a representative from the Argentine. The entry was a record one, so far as New Zealand and Australia were concerned. Mr. C. M. Gray, M.H.R., and the Rev. A. T. Chadowski also spoke. Mr. C. R. Sainsbury, the representative of the Argentine, returned thanks on behalf of the oversea visitors. He said that he was a New Zealander, born and bred, and was proud of the fact. After the formal opening the competitors met and fixed the hours of play as follows: —Morning, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ; afternoon, 2.15 p.m. to 5.45 p.m.; evening, 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.; moves, to be sealed 15 minutes before the adjournment. Play was commenced with the first round at half-past two p.m., as follows:— J. C. Griersou (Auckland) v. F. Edwards (Otago), Claude R. Sainsbury (Argentine) v. A. Gifford (Westpoit), Blake-Mason (Lower Hutt) v. T. Sexton (Waiouru), F. K. Belling (Wellington) v. O. C. Pleasants (Rangitikei), J. Mason (Wellington) v. H. L. James (Wellington), S. Crackenthorpe (New South Wales) v. D. Forsyth (Otago).. W. S. Vinery (Perth, West Australia) v. F. Rummer (Masterton), B. Parker (Wellington) v. J. R. Cummings (Canterbury), R. J. Barnes (Wellington) v. M. S. Stewart (Canterbury), O. W. A. Davies (Wellington) v. Arch"deacon Gould (Oamaru), Rev. H. B. Wingfield (Auckland) bye. The Canterbury Chess Club have been working very hard to arrange for the Australian champion (Mr. W. C. Viner) to compete in the Congress, and it is satisfactory to find their efforts were successful, and further, that Mr. Crackenthorpe, the champion of New South Wales, between whom and Mr. Viner a match is pending for the championship of Australia,, and which was deferred to enable Mr. Viner to compete in the New Zealand Congress, is also a competitor, and with Mr. Claude Saiusbury, from Buenos Ayres (South America), and the New Zealand champion, 11. J. Barnes (Wellington), J. Edwards (Otago), D. Forsyth (Otago), and J. C. Grierson (Auckland), the present Congress should provide the best play yet seen in New Zealand or Australia.

Crackenthorpe v. Forsyth (Scotch game), conducted on old-fashioned lines: The game was even till the 16th move, when Forsyth, by an unfortunate oversight, lost a knight for nothing, therefore bringing a game which promised to bo most interesting, to an early finish, Mr. Crackenthorpe thus scoring the first win in the Congress Viner v. Kummer (Scotch gambit): This game was even till the llih move, when black could have improved his game by exchanging bishop for knight, which would have prevented the strong attack which quickly followed, and forced resignation on the 51st, the Australian scoring the second win.

13. Mason v. Sexton (Petroff defence): A most- interesting position at the 11th move, when Sexton made a weak move, of which Mason took prompt advantage, winning a piece. Although Sexton struggled gamely against defeat, his resignation came on the 26th move.

J. Mason v. James (Two Knights defence) : Mason played a cautious game, but move seven was somewhat weak and enabled James to obtain the attack. Interesting play ensued up to the tea adjournment, the material and position being about equal. On resuming play James was pressed for a time and some hurried moves cost Him the game on the 56th move. Grierson v. Edwards (Sicilian defence): An even game up to the 18th move, when an exchange of pieces enabled Grierson to win a pawn, and shortly after another, followed by a rook, which cost Edwards •the exchange, but a little later he worked up one of his tricky attacks, regained the pawns, and following with a check, won a rook for a bishop, and by a pretty trap won Grierson's queen. The* latter struggled on to the 41st move. Sainsbury and Gilford (Queen's gambit): A very even game throughout. Sainsbury, on his sealed move, missed a chance of winning the exchange and a pawn. A hard struggle ended in a draw by perpetual check. Parker v. Cummings (French defence): The opening, when fully developed, gave Cumming*s an advantage on the queen's side. On the 25th move Parker gave up a piece for the attack on the castled king, which proved so sound that it cost Cummings his queen, and the game. Kelliug v. Pleasants (French defence): A lot of play took place with all four knights. At move 32 Pleasants gave up. a rook {or a bishop, and two passed pawns. He should then have won comfortably, but a slip in the end of the game allowed Kelling to emerge with a pawn to the good, and by accurate end play he obtained his opponent's resignation in a stubborn game of 55 moves. Uarnes v. Stewart (French defence): This was the longest game of the session, and produced a stubborn fight, play being even up to the evening adjournment. On resuming, Stewart won a piece for two pawns, but by the champion's skilful playing of his pawns on the end game Stewart had to sacrifice a piece to prevent a pawn queening, leaving Barnes" with clear pawns to the good, and Stewart resigned on the 82ttd „ wove aftej- a fcaid gw.% *