CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18755, 8 January 1923, Page 7

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

DETAINED BY MR DUNLOP. A KEEN CONTEST. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. January 6. On the resumption of play on the adjourned panics Pihl and Soverno continued for a few moves, and having readied a blocked position which each feared to break a greed to n. draw. M'C'rca and Hicks, after a. consultation, agreed to draw their game, tho positions being fairly equal ami play hazardous. The gnnio between Gyles and Dunlop was continued, and Duidop was üblo to force an exchange of his rook for Gyles’s while bishop. This gave him an opportunity of mating in two moves, 'lluis ended in favour of last year's champion a very strenuous and clover game. Dunlop and Gyles tied in (he congress, and, after dividing the first and second cash prizes, commenced the match for the championship. Pihl was third. Dunlop beat Gyles in the play-off to decide the Championship of the Dominion for 1923. The following is a brief account of the game;—Gyles played tho Vienna game, capturing the king's pawn (o open the bishops’ file. Dunlop later exchanged a bishop for a knight, winning a pawn. Gyles maintained a pawn at king fifth, supported by a strong diagonal of pawns, and established his black bishop at queen’s sixth to prevent Dunlop from castling. Tho bishop, threatened by a knight, was retreated to knights’ fourth, and Dunlop castled on the queen's side facing Gyles’s open knights’ file. Dunlop secured his pawn position in front of the king, and pushed on liis king knight's pawn, supported by king's rook. 'This rook was posted at knight's third, and was supported by the queen's rook at knight’s square. Gyles met the advance of (be pawn with his pawns, supported by his king. This gave Dunlop a great onportnniy, which bo did not fail, to make use of. At one stage Duidop cleverly offered as a sacrifice a knight- which Gyles had skilfully lacked up at queen bishop's fourth. Gyles dared not take it with his queen, for Dunlop would have mated his king in two moves. Thus the knight was freed and added to the attack. Gyles saw u chance of exchange rooks to improve his position, hut an unexpected check by Dunlop saved his rook, and Gyles in consequence was the exchange down. Dunlop, from now on, never made a mistake. He won another pawn, exchanged querns and rooks, and threatened to push his pawns on to queen, when Gyles resigned. The position of players at the close of (he championship tourney was:—

LIST OF CHAMPIONS. Mr Dunlop is the first Now Zealand chess champion who has gained the honour three times in succession. The following is a list of the holders of the title: 1879—H. Hookham, Christchurch. 1889-89—A, M. Ollivier, Christchurch. 1889- —H. Hookhnm, Christchurch. 1890- —K. ,1. Barnes, Wellington. 1891- F. V. Siedebcrg, Dunedin. 1892- —F. V. Siedeberg, Dunedin. 1893- —,T. Edwards, Wellington. 1894- —W. M'Kuy, Wellington. 1895- —W. Msldnun, Rangitikci. 1896- —K. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1897- R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1898- —R. A. Clcland, Dunedin. 1900- W. E. Mason. Wellington. 1901- D. Forsyth, Dunedin. 1902- —J. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1903- —W. C. Mason, Wellington. 1904- —A. /W. O. Davies, Wellington. 1905- —R. J. Baines, Wellington. 1800-07 —W. S. Viner, Perth, W.A. 1908- A. W. O. Davies, Wellington. 1909 —F. K. Kelling, Wellington. 1909- —J. Mason, Wellington. 1910- —W. C. Mason, Wellington. 1911- —W. C. Mason, Wellington. 1912- —J. C. Grierson, Auckland. 1913- —W. C. Mason, Wellington 1914- —F. K. Kelling, Wellington. 1910-17-18-19 —No congress. 1919- —W. C. Mason, Wellington. 1920- —J. B. Dunlop, Oamaru. 1921- —J. B. Dunlop, Oamaru. 1922- —J. B Dunlop, Gasman.

Nil me. Won. Br<uvn. Lost. Points. Dunlop .. . — 2 10 Dries' .. . . .. 9 2 2 10 Pilil .. .. , 2 4 8 Snvernd .. . . .. G 3 4 n Hicks .. .. 7 2 7* Anderson . .. 7 1 s n Miller ,. .. .. 7 1 B 7J Kclling ., , . .. 6 2 .5 7 M'Cren .. . 4 5 6 Buchan .. . 3 G 5J Coombs ., . 3 6 54 Roberts ,, . . .. 4 3 6 , 54 Stevens .. . 1 1) 3J