CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15504, 10 January 1914, Page 5

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE CLOSING STAGES.

' AN INTERESTING POSITION.

The thirteenth round of the chess championship -was played yesterday. Following are the details:-—

Myers v. Gyles (Ruy Lopez): Gyles adopted the Fianchetto defence. Myers's game soon became cramped. Gyles won a pawn on the 19th move, and three moves later Myers had to give up " tho exchange" in order to free bis game. Further exchanges followed, and Myers resigned a hopeless game on the 29th move.

Davies v. Hicks (double Ruy Lopez): Hicks defended in original fashion, but somewhat unsoundly, allowing Davies to annex a couple of pawns and get up a strong attack. Hicks defended well, but the position was against him, and he resigned on the 39th move.

Miles v. Barnes (Queen's Pawn game); The game was even till, the 17th move,' when Barnes, through an oversight, allowed Miles to win the exchange. Thereafter Miles gradually improved his position, and won on the 34th move.

Wingfield v. James (King's Bishop's Opening): James defended well, and was soon two pawns to the good. After this Wingfield apparently had a promising attack, but James, found the way out, and the attack came to nothing, leaving Wingfield with a broken position. He resigned on the 47th move.

Stewart v. Mason (Centre Countergambit) .- Stewart played the opening awkwardly, but presently got his pieces into working order. He initiated an attack on the king's quarters, but did not follow it up. He needlessly let a pawn go at the 22nd move, and never got a chance to recoup the loss. Another weak move cost him a bishop. After this Mason broke up his position and he resigned. Severne v. Moore (Four Knights' Game): Development proceeded on orthodox lines, pieces being freely exchanged. Moore, entered the middle game with a pawn to the good, but did not use his position to the best advantage, and Severne won two pawns. A long ending ensued, Severne, with rook and pawn against rook, endeavouring to queen the pawn. Moore, by correct play, prevented this, a draw ensuing on the 72nd move. Grierson v. Kelling (Philidor's Defence) : Kelling won a pawn on the 12th move, but Grierson got a lively attack in compensation, but, hurrying at the end of the second hour, he lost a knight for a pawn. Undismayed, he played on in the hope of equalising matters, and was successful in winning back his piece, on the 45th move, by a piece of ingenious'strategy. This left queen and two pawns each, and Grierson offered the draw, but Kelling, relying on his pawns being united, declined it. After many checks and counterchecks, Kelling took a pawn on the 66th move, overlooking that he exposed himself to mate on the move. This oversight spoilt an otherwise interesting and lively game. The following table shows the position at the end of the round:— »

Wins. Draws. Losses. Score. Dairies ...- 8 3 2 9 Mason ... 8 2 2 9 Gyles ... 7 4 2 9 Miles ... 7 3 2 8$ Barnes ... .7 2 3 8 Selling ... 7 1 4 74 Dodds ... 7 0 5 7 Stewart .„ 6 2 4 7 Severne ... 8 4 5 5 Grierson ... 4 2 6 K Wingfield ... 4 0 g 4 Myers ... 8 2 7 4 Jamps ... 3 2 8 4 Hicks ... 2 0 10 2 Moore ... l 2 9 2 Gyles and James have yet to receive a by#.