CHESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23692, 27 December 1938, Page 10

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND RESULTS 'Per United Press Association) WANGANUI, Dec. 26. The forty-eighth New Zealand Chess Championship was commenced to-day, there being 14 entries from all parts of New Zealand with the exception of Christchurch. Ten players are contesting the premier reserve tourney. The championship was robbed of some of its interest by the absence of S. Hindin (Christchurch), who won the championship last year. H. R. Abbott, also of Christchurch, who was champion the previous year, and A. W. Gyles, of Wellington, who won the championship on two occasions, and is this year representing New Zealand at the Australian congress, which was opened in Sydney to-day. The morning was devoted to formal business, members deciding to play one round each evening and additional rounds on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. The first round of the championship resulted as follows, the player of white bein-> mentioned first in each instance: — E. Rutherfurd v. E. H. Severne (Wellington).—QP Budapest Defence. The pieces were freely exchanged in the early stages, Rutherfurd being left with a slight advantage, but Severne, with careful play, levelled up the position, a draw being decided upon at move 30.

E. J. Dyer (Wellington) v. J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin).—QP Colle System. Dunlop won a pawn early in the game and isolated white's queen's pawn. Dunlop then initiated a violent attack, announcing mate in three at the twenty-fourth move. This contract he carried out. J. W. Heenan (Hastings) v. W. J. Fairburn (Wellington).—Q. Gambit. Fairburn lost on account of having exceeded the time limit.

The games unfinished were: — H. McNabb (Nelson) v. R. O. Scott (Wanganui), Sicilian Defence. McNabb is a pawn up. J. A. Erskine (Invercarglll) v. C. J. Taylor (Auckland. —Reti opening. Erskine has a slight advantage. F. K. Kelling (Wellington) v. D. I. Jones (Auckland).—An Alekhine defence. The game so far is even. G. Cole (Nelson) v. D. Lynch (Hastings).—Q. Gambit Declined. Cole has two pawns for the exchange. PREMIER RESERVE The Premier Reserve resulted: — C. H. Speck (Stratford) lost to N. M. Cromarty (Wanganui). R. Christensen (Palmerston North) beat K. A. Dobson (Christchurch). R. G. Wade (Wellington) beat S Smith (Wanganui). B. Beach (Wanganui) drew with N. R. Meads (Nelson). H. P. Witlock (Wanganui) v. W. R. Aislabie (Napier). Unfinished.