NEW ZEALAND CHESS CHAMPION. SHIP TOURNEY. OAMAEU, January 3.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 61

NEW ZEALAND CHESS CHAMPION. SHIP TOURNEY. OAMAEU, January 3.

The following is the result of the tentfc round : — Gifford -v. Kelling (Centre Counter Gambit), Kelling's position was slightly cramped in tin opening, but he emerged from mid-game witL two pawns up. A blunder at the twentieth move cost Gifford his rook, resulting in hii resignation at the twenty-filth move. Pleasants v. Barnes (Ruy x^opez). — Barnes adopted Reeves's Defence, -.vhieh Pleasant? combated successfully in a ' game of deep in- - terest. Pleasa.nts, though playing brilliantly missed the win on the twenty-first move, but obtained it on the twenty-eighth, and added another competitor for the brilliancy prise. Edwards v. J. Mason (French Defence) is unfinished. Mason has a pawn up, with a : strong advantage position.Adair v. Forsyth, Hamel v. B. Mason, Cle-^ ' land v. Davies, and Miles v. W. E. Mason are also unfinished. The tenth round was taken this evening- — ' Gifford v. Kelling (Centre Counter Gambit). The opening resulted in a slightly cramped game for Kelling, from which he emerged two pawns up. A blunder on the twentieth move cost Gifford a rook, and he resigned on the twenty-fifth move. Pleasants v. Barnes (Rny Lopez).— Barnes adopted Reeves's Defence. A game full of interest resulted. Ba-rnes was kept on the defensive. Missing crushing variation at move 21, Pleasants adopted another, which secured Barnes's resignation on the twenty-eighth move. The game was entered for the brilliancy prize. Miles v. W. E .Mason (Ruy Lopez). — Wien the game got out of the books Mason went in for exchanges, which doubled six of Miles's pawns. With this advantage in position Mason secured a victory on the forty-fourth move. Cl*land v. Davies (Queen's Gambit declined). Weak play by Davies enabled Cleland to win two pawns, with a good game. Cleland being pushed for time in an intricate position, made a move which enabled Davies to sacrifice an exchange for a, winning attack, which terminated in Cleland's resignation on the thirtyseventh move. Hamel v. B. Mason (Petroff's Defence). — The book was followed for a, dozen moves, leaving Hamel with a strong cpntrp attack, to combatwhich Mason exchanged off the major pieces -' except bishop and knight. A weak move cost Hamel a pawn. With only two pawns each left Mason secured opposition, and Hamel resigned. Edwards v. J. Mason (French Deftrr? - Masor won a pawn on the twelfth move. I.:--Edwards decided on a risky attack, losi--more pawns, and finally tfie game. Adair v. Forsyth (Giuoco Piano), — Forsyth got all the worst of the opening with a badi game to defend, t Adair. pushed for time, ' played weakly, enabling Forsyth to recover, and gaining an advantage in force and position. Adair resigned on the fifty-sixth move. The following is the score at the conclusion of the tenth round: — Davies, 7 wins; Miles, 6i; B. Mason. 61; W. E. Mason, 6; Pleasants, 6; Cleland, 6: Barnes, s* : Forsyth s£; J. Mason, SJ; Gifford, 4: Kelling, 4; Edwards, 2J ; Hamel. 1J ; Adair, *. B. Mason, Barnes, J. Mason, and Hamel have unfinished sjames, Forsyth having two to finish. The eleventh round was proceeded witl* as follows: — B. Mason v. Edwards (Sicilian Defence).-— Edwards lost a pawn on the eighteenth move, another later, and with two bishops against two rooks, Mason pushed the attack, mating ' on the fortieth move. J. Mason v. Pleasants (Zukertort). — Pleasants has a pawn down, with no attack in. compensation. The position promises little for either side. Kelling y. Adair (French Defence). From a- good position gained in tEe opening. Adair's attempt to force on-an attack cost him a piece for a pawn, which he cannot easily recover. Barnes v. Gifford (English Opening). — Gifford defended -well, winning a pawn with check on the 23rd move. The position is interesting. Cleland v. W. E. Mason (Queen's Gambit). — A close hazardous game has advanced to the. thirty-fourth move, with Cleland a pawn down. Hamel v. Davies (Scotch Gambit). — Sparring tactics have advanced the game to the twentyfifth move, with an even position. Miles y. Forsyth Counter Gambit).— Forsyth has trapped a, pawn, which it will be difficult," to retain. The game is even. The Management Committee of the Chess Congress, at a meeting, on Monday night, appointed Mr Frank Hollins, of Taranaki, as adjudicator for the brilliancy nrize. Mr Hollins is a recent arrival from England, where he attained a reputation as a first-class exponent of the game, and nla-yed in several international tourneys England v. America. The tourney will finish at 5 o'clock on Thursday evening, and nt 7.30 the -crimes will be presented and a concert will be held. January 4. The unfinished games in the ninth round were played off thus morning. One unfinished pame. Barnes v. Forsyth, yet remains undecided. Forsyth v. B. Mason (French Defence). — Forsyth had a slight advantage in pawn position and by careful manoeuvring won a crpditable game. J. Mason v. Hamel (Centre Counter Gambit). — The game was well played on both sides, Mason winning a pawn, which' Hamel resovered. Hamel sacrificed a kngiht for two passed pawns, and succeeded in drawing the game. Eleventh Round. Miles v. Forsylh (Centre Counter Gambit). — Forsyth had trapped a pawn, which he found it difficult to retain Pushing the attack, he left himself open to a dangerous counter attack, resulting in the loss of a rook. Fiuding his position hopeless, he resigned on the thirty-third move. Cleland v. W. E. Mason (Queen's Gambit). — A close, hazardous game advanced to the thirtieth move, when Cleland was a pawn down. Cleland's defensive moves proved inadequate, and with further loss threatened he resigned on the forty-fifth move. Hamel v. Davies (Scotch Gambit). — Spairing tactics advanced the game to the twenty-fifth move, with an even position. Davies pushed the attack, obtaining a pawn up and three passed pawns, which proved invincible, and" he mated on the sixty-third move. Kelling v. Adair (French Defence)— A good position was gained in the opening. Adadi'a attempt, to force the attack cost him a piece for a pawn. Keeling failed to make the most of the attack, and had to adopt a perpetual check to prevent A-lair queening a pawn. TJu oame was dtawn, - 6 .

J. Mason ▼• Fleasants (Zukertort). — Pleasants has a pawn down, with no attack .in contemplation. The position promised little to either side until Mason succeeded in gaining anothex pawn. Pleasants then sacrd:ficed a knight for two, and forced exchanges, "but Mason succeeded in promoting the only yawn left, and won. Barnes v. Grifford (English Opening). — Gifford "defended well, winning a pawn "with check on the twenty-=third move. The position •was interesting, both avoiding incessent hazards. Gifford retained his advantage, and ■finally increased .the odds by a bishop, and yrou on the eighty-second move. B. Mason v. Edwards (Sicilian Defence). — Edwards lost a pawn on the eighteenth move and another later, and with two bishops against two rooks Mason pushed the attack, xnarting on", the fortieth move. Twelfth Hound. Edwards v. .Kelling (Centre Counter Gaml>it).—Kelling gave up a pawn for an . attack yielded a rook for a knight. Exciting nplay followed, moves -being made at a gallop, {Edwards'surrendered a bishop in the hope of ;; perpetual check, but Kelling found an outet, and as he was a. rook up Edwards reiigned at the thirty-sixth move. I Gifford v. BTar^ei (Centre Counter Gambit). V-The game developed equally to the twentyfonrth move, where,.. H«inel gained a pawn .■which Gifford soon recovered, with a strong irttack. This led to the gain of- a' piece, and Hamel resigned, at the thirty-fifth move. Barnes v. Cleland (Ruy LopVz).— A'^-hard-Jought give-and-take game, . wath - Cleland ■lightly cramped, proceeded^ to t the twentieth mqve, where Cleland lost a- -valuable" •pawn,. 7eaying 7 his 'opponent, with' a passedrpawn. At koove 32vJBarnes gave away a queen through "Ai .oversight, and resigned.', B. Mason v. Pleasants (Ruy Lopez).— The .- book was followed for' a while, . and an even same proceeded to the twentyninth move. {Pleasants, having six moves to put in ' in' three nainutesp-'made a. hurried move -which cost him a ' knight, with a , collapsed - position, fmd he resigned on the thirty-third' move. W. E. Mason v. Forsyth (Ruy Lopez). — The game was well fought and^even to an advanced stage. Forsyth's position then "became cramped, and with half his- forces compuljiorily : inert Mason's mobile force triumphed )on the fifty-seventh move. _ • - — Miles v, Davies (Ruy Lopez). — One of the toughest games of the tourney reached the iorty-fifth move without any advantage being obtained on either side. Davies at last secured a passed pawn, which enabled hinf to jrih on the sixtieth move. '' , -..->'. Adair y. J. Mason (Four Knights). — A perfectly even game Was followed, up without advantage to the fiftieth 'move, when Mason eeeured two', pawns.- Adair thus began to falter., and missing, a chance to draw resigned on the sixty-fourth move. - The thirteenth .and last round" commences to-morrow mprning. - - ' The following is the score at the conclusion of ite twelfth round; — Davies, 9 wins; B. fcfason, 8J; W. E. Mason,' 8; J. Mason; -8; Miles. 7£;~Clelarid, 7;' Pleasants/ 7; Forsyth, «l,V,GifEord. 6; Barnes,- 6J; -felling, s|; Edwards, 2|; Hamel, 2; Adair, 1. . r \,- jL W. O. DAWES-THE CHAMPION. " : (FrOU OTjR OWN CoBBESrONDENT.} dAMAKUj , January 5. The Chess Congress; concluded .to-day, ""the •'Championship" .being won. by A. W. O. Davies, «f Wellington. y ' Proceedings commenced to-day with' tEe adjourned game Barnes^ v. Forsyth. This game had been adjourned at the eightieth move, with, Forsyth one 'pawn up. At move eighty-seven Forsyth missed a certain draw by Pto "K8 queens, instead, of Pto QG," with a, possibility, of a win. Forsyth resigned on the aiinety-seventh move. • > Fihai/ Ro.Tra». Gifford v. J. Mason (PetrofTs Defence).— Eaving castled on opposite sides, Gifford initiated a strong attack. Mason defended well, winning a piece for a pawn and forking two rooks. Witt, certain disaster Gifford resigned on the thirtieth- move. W. E. Mason v; Edwards (Sicilian Defence). 1 Mason lost a pawn in opening, but got the .attack. Edwards sacrificed .the exchange for r counter attack, placing snags in Mason's fcath. The positions, however, became gradually reversed, and Edwards's , resignation resulted, on the sixty-fourth move. Davies v. Forsyth (Greco Courf&r).— The game proceeded evenly to the eighteenth move, ■when Forsyth's weak move enabled Da-vice to •mito. the exchange. Forsyth. played a- very defensive J game.-but. Davies. gradually forced the game to a winning position,, and secured the championship of tile colony by- Forsyth's resignation on the fifty-sixth movel Selling v. Miles (Scotch Gambit).—Kelling■wi,n a queen for a rook and a, knight on the twenty-ninth move, but afterwards' lost the exchange. A desperate ending ensued, from which Miles might have drawr or won, but he missed the opportunity, and- resigned on move 48 -mate in four ".being unavoidable. S. Mason v. Clelaud'Cßuy Lopez).—Careful£iay advanced the game to ,the twenty-eighth xuoye without advantage;.; when \Cleland lost sr jsawn, and another , later, / With these- two pawns. passed, .Cleland. was unable to stop one> .queening, and resigned " on- the' fifty-seventh, jnoye. \ \, ; ' , - >. _ - Adair v. -Barnes (Giuo'co Piano). — The game -proceeded evenly to the middle of the "game, When Barnes won a, pawn, but failed, to make the most of , the position, 'and an exchange ofpieces gave Adair a perpetual check on the *o,rty-sixth move. The game was drawn, i Mr A. W. O. Davies, the winner of the championship and £20, is a- .Welshman, who began jfco play chess in his early years. On his arrival In London as a young man he had the advantage of practice with, strong players. He arrived an New Zealand over- two years ago, and joined Jthe Wellington Chess Club, and took part in fhi last congress there, though without success. SHis success this year will come as a surprise fto his club mates, not because they do not Recognise his abilities, but because he is supposed lo be inconsistent. At the congress just Jclcsed his play has been marked by-a strength $hot was rather above the average of tourney jplay. He has made a- few mistakes, but' has iphown that his conception of the game and Jbis ability to manipulate its intricacies are of si high order. Davies is also a member of the iWelfington Working Men's Club, and would ihave represented it at the congress, but was ■foeaten in the club tourney by Barnes and Kelling. Mr Davies is chess editor of the New Zealand Mail. ' j ; Mr Blake Mason, the runner-up, is brother if" last year's runner-up, Mr John Mason. He as «. .native of Ha-wke's Bay, and is only 21 years of age;. He is a clerk in the employ of Qfossrs Borthwick and Sons, Timaru. Though dbe has played chess for some five years, this fis Mr B. Mason's first bid for championship lionours, and his very fine record reflects credit on ihe Timaxu Chess Club, whose representative he was. Messrs W. E. Mason and John Mason ftie equal for -third place, and divide third itaa fourth prizes. Mr W. E. Mason, Tast year's champion, is a la-w clerk, about 29 years of age, in the employ •»f Messrs Skerrett and Wylie, solicitors, Wellington-. H« first took part in a championship *°-"? nn _ 6y6 y eight years ago at Christchurch, on which occasion he managed to win half his games. In 1900, at Wellington, Mr Mason .essay, at ohaxoßionsliic Jiojicuia,

and on that occasion won the coveted distinction of chess champion of New Zealand. For a number of years he has filled with conspicious success the office of secretary to the Wellington Chess Club, and has been the winner of several club prizes. Mr John Mason is a member of the Wellington Chess Club, and only 24 years of age. Two years- ago, at the Dunedin congress, he tied for second place in the contest for the colony's championship with Messrs Forsyth. Balk, and Kellmg. Mr J. Mason is qualifying for the legal profession. He was somewhat out of practice at the beginning of this tourney, and lost three games before he fairly got into form. CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL. The following shows the winners of all the eharupion&hip tournaments held in New Zealand, and the centres represented by them: — 1879. — H. Hookham, Christchurch 1888.— A. M. Ollivier, Christchurcfe. 1889. — H. Hoo"kham, Christchuroh. 1890.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1891. — F. V. Siedeberg, Dunedin. 1892. — J?. V Siedeberg, Dunedino 1893.— J. Edwards, Wellington. 1894.— W. Mackay, Wellington. 1895. — W. Meldrum, Rangitikei. 1896.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. 1897.— R. J. Barnes, Wellington. , 1898.— R, A. Cleland, Dunedin. ,- 1900. — W. Mason, Wellington (held at Easter, instead of commencing as before on : -. Boxing Day, 1899) 1901.— D. Forsyth, 'Dunedin (held at Easter), j V, 1902.— R. J. Bnrnes, Wellington (commenced on Boxing Day, 1901)._ 1903. — J. C Grierson, Auckland. * 1904.— W: E." Mason,. Wellington. * 1905.— -A. W. -0., Davies, Wellington. * The -Rev. A. T. Chodowski, of Dunedin, a vice-president of the Otago Chess Club, was present at the commencement of the tourney, and was also 'here yesterday, but he had to leave to-day by the first express for home. Talkrgg over the congress with me. he remarked that the feature of the present tourney contrasted with previous ones is the triumph of y the younger players. This 'has not been at any loso to the standard of play, which has really been above the average of previous congresses. The younger players have challenged the older hands with* very considerable success.' The champion himself has sjtill to leach his prime, while B. Mason is only 21 years of age, John Maoon is 28, and W. -E. Mason is about 27, and Miles, next on the list, also has youth on his side. In view of tile general scientific progress of the game at the tourney the exoel--lence of the young players is almost remwrk\able'. Continuing, Mr Chodowaki said that chess" play could only be maintained at a high level, and progress made through the medium of clubs' and congresses. Domestic play was of little value. Excellence altogether depended upon the rivalry of wits, the depth of research, and ,the aptitude of teacher and pupils. A chess -club might therefore be said to be a secondary school, and a congress a university. Chess was of suoh ,high value intellectually .that he • thought, it ' should be taught in the jpriina-ry schools.,' and he -suggested* that .the * '.senior ~pupila of these schools might be introduced to' the elem«nta-6f'th© game' by members oi clubs meeting fifth, and sixth standard Hoys on stated evenings,, and. giving , them instruction fii the^elenient3 of the game. He felt sure .that interest in the game being thus awakened j,t" would be of great value to the youth of the ;coil6ny. It, was his intention to have xooAe 'these suggestions at the closing - social this evening, but he was unable to wait." .The congress was brought to a close this evening with a short social gathering m St. Luke's Hall, the chair being taken by Dr Garland (president of the Oamaru Chess Club), who remarked on the excellent play and the good fellowship that had ruled throughout the f tourney. He then, presented the prizes to the winners, -Mr Garland presenting th© legendaary " bliio ' riVbon "_ of ohess^ to Mr Davies. His Worship the Mayor of "Oamaru (Mr J. M. Brown) expressed regret -at being away - when the tourney was open, and hoped the players had enjoyed their stay here. The Chairman mentioned that the games entered for his Honor Mr Justice Denniston's brilliancy prize would be referred to Mr F. Hollins, of Tara : naki, for his selection. Mr Connall (secretary of the New Zealand Chess Association) referred to the excellent management of the local arrangements by the local committee, mention-, ing especially Dr Garland (the president), Mr^ H. Mowbray (the secretary), and Archdeacon Gould (than whom he had not met a more unselfish follower of the game). He also thanked ihe public of Oamaru for their generosity in contributing prizes equal to the largest yet oftered~m the colony. Mr Edwards (vice-pre-sident of ihe association) also expressed the thanks of the players for their entertainment. Archdeacon Gould, on behalf of the local committee, thanked the contributors to the prize fund, and this brought the congress for 1904 to % close. v