CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20758, 29 December 1930, Page 11

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.

NEW ZEALAND TOURNEY. PLAY IN SECOND ROUND. [BY TELEGRAPH.—rRESS ASSOCIATION.] ROTORUA, Saturday. Following is the result of the second round in the New Zealand chess championship tournament played at Rotorua:— Kummer v. Kelling.—The four knights game was played. Kummer obtained better pawn position, but in the middle game exchanges he allowed Kelling to win two pawns. Kelling changed off minor pieces and was easily able to force Kummer's resignation. Miller v. Gyles.—Miller adopted the queen's pawn game and seemed to have good chances for attack. After minor exchanges Gyles dominated the centre with double rooks on the king's file, and by good strategy forestalled by one move Miller's threatened attack. Gyles forced an exchange of queens and won the exchange. A few moves later Miller resigned. Pleasants v. Herbert. —The Caro Kann defence was played by Herbert. The knights were well supported at the king's fifth by each player, when Pleasants moved his attack to the queen's wing and threatened to queen a Herbert, to save the situation, had to exchange queens and rooks and loose a knight. He then resigned. Fairburn v. Severne. —The queen's pawn opening was played, the early exchanges leaving Severne with an isolated centre pawn manoeuvring for position. The position was critical; but Fairburn changed of! queens and a knight for a bishop, leaving Severne with the better position. Severne won two pawns and, after a long struggle, moved a pawn up to queen, whereupon Fairburn resigned. Greenfield v. Maddox.—Maddox played an irregular defence to the king's pawn opening and Greenfield soon had a strong attack threatening. Waiting for Maddox to castle, he gave that player time to develop, and' was surprised by the offer of a knight which threatened his queen. To take the knight meant checkmate, but he was able to counter-attack on Maddox's queen. The resulting exchanges left very critical positions, but the latter player was able to force a win. Erekine v. Grierson.—This was another queen's gambit declined opening, in which the development of both forces was sound and even. Nothing was gained by the middle game exchanges, but in the early end game Grierson allowed Erskine to win a pawn and establish connected passed pawns on the queen's side. A stern end game gave victory to Erskine. The complete results of the first round are as follows: —Erskine defeated Miller, Severne defeated Greenfield, Eyles defeated Pleasants, Fairburn defeated Herbert, Maddox drew with Kummer, Kelling defeated Grierson.