CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNA3SEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 67

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNA3SEM.

Fifth Rotjxd. The contest for the chess champion-hip cf New Zealand was advanced a furtnei: eta-e on Dec. 31., when . the fifth roun, was started in the morning and finished J at night. Mr J. B. Borton was appointed umpire for the days play, wnile Mr S. S. Myers officiated in the evening. The draw was as follows-.— Table. White.. Black. 1 Fox v. Kellmg. 2 Mason v. Grierson. 3' Edwards v. Davies. 4 Dodds v - Barnes. Forsyth, a. bye. Fox v Kelling.— A Centre Counter game. Fox instituted a premising pawn attack on the queen's wing opposite his opponents king Keliing meanwhile made a counter 1 attack on the opposite side of the board, and j offered a knight for a, pawn to achieve s ; pretty mate. Fox, however, declined the 1 bait. At a critical stage in the middle game Fox halted in his attack, thus allowing Kelling- time to sacrifice a rock for a knight. and by" a succession of checks to establish a. neat finish at the 39th move. Mason v. Grierson (Zukertort's Opening^. — Play proceeded evenly for many moves. Ultimately exchanges broke up Grierson's centra,' pawn formation, and a difficult endgame of rooks and pawns eventuated. Grierson founci himself unable to support a pawn at KB4, and th© loss of it proved fatal to him. He resigned on the 60th move. Edwards v. Davies (Zukertort's Openine).— After the first ten moves the positions were identical, both sides being well developed. The game proceeded evenly up to the 19th move, when Edwards- sacrificed a bishop for two pawns, apd a little later exchanged a rook for a bit-hop to maintain the attack. Davies. playing very cautiously. came out of the hot fire with a rook to the good, which enabled him to win on the C(Kh niove. Dodds v. Barnes. — A Giuoco Piano Opening {IColler's Attack), to which Barnes replied with an original defence, paying B-B3 on the 9th move, and gaining two pawns. Shortly afterwards, by a bad move, he !o3t the two pawns, and 011 t-he 13th move Dodd-s won a rook for a knight. At this stage Barnes consumed a lot of time considering his move, and consequently had to play hurriedly for the remainder of the game JJodds continued to be aggressive, and by sacrificing two rooks effected a mate on tbe 27th move. Adjourned Game. At the conclusion of the fifth round on Thursday night the game Mason v. Kelling, adjourned from the fiist round, was resumed and finished. The players had previously queened pawns simultaneously. Mason thus -having queen and bisiiop against his opponent's queen and pawn on rook's seventh-. Kelling was able to seal a move which did not leave a. check open to his opponent. After surveying the position Mason suggested a draw on the seventy-first move, which Kelling accepted. This game occupied f our sittings^ and completed play a& between the Wellington qua,rt«t, the rule being that competitors from the earns centre meet in the opening rounds. Sixth Rou.vd. The sixth round of the contest was commenced on New Year's Day at 9.30 a.m.. the Rev. A. T. Chodowdci and Mr F. J. Mouat officiating as umpires. The drawwas as follows : — Table. White.. Black 1. Dodds v. Mason. 2. Keliing v. Forsyth. 3. Barnes ▼. Grierson. 4. Fox v. Edwards. Davies, a bye. Dodds v. Mason (Hungarian Defence). — Dodds. departing early from book lines, initiated a King's side attack which Mason successfully parried. After an exchange of forces Mason won a pawn. The game resolved itself into an ending m which Mason ifaad a rook and six pawns, as against his opponent's Took and four pawns. Dcdds resigned on the 46th move. Kelling v. Forsyth iQueen's Gambit Declined). — The game proceeded on orthodox lines for a few moves. Forsyth -early gained «n advantage, and retained it to a stage when !be had won the game Being pressed for itime, he had to move hurriedly, thus^ sub- , jecting himself to a succession of checks from Kelling. who gained a kuight in the process and an irresistible position. Forsyth resigned on the 3-lth iu3\e Barnes v Grierson (Sicilian Defer.eel — Barnes on the fourth mo\e, lusisad of the usual continuation cf retaking the pawn, turned the game into au original gambit by playing P-QB3. which Grierson declined A very open game followed until the 15th move ivhen Griersou 'o-t a pawn and later on a 700k. His position then beirg hopeless Grierson resigned on the 26th uwe. Fox v. Edwards (Sicilian Defence! —Fox got a very fine attack on, and pressed U forwar4 viscously xip t© the l£th tiaoye, at

■which stage Edwards commenced a counter attack. Fox here offered his opponent a rook for nothing, but the proffered bait was declined. Edwards terminated a short and very lively game by announcing mate in three on the 26th move. Seventh Round. On Thursday afternoon Messrs Barnes and Fox, by arrangement, played off the game assigned to tho seventh «"*»«• Barnes opened with the Evans Gambit. Fox lost a knight on the fourteenth mo\e, and later a bishop on the nineteenth. Despite these reverses Fox struggled on to tho twenty -eighth nwe, when he had to resign owing to an impending checkmate. Seventh Round. The competitors for the New Zealand Chess Championship met eacn other in the seventh round on Saturday morning. -Mi" J. A. Murphy was appointed umpire, aiu tho draw resulted as follows: — Table White. -Black 1 Ma=on v. EcWaids. 2 Uav.ei v • For=y.ri 3 Gnerson v. Kelln.g. j 4 Barnes v. Fox. i Dodds, a bye Ma=.cn v. Edwards iZukeitcifs Opening —The gair-s progressed evenly up to the twenty-fourth move, when ila-on had an : opportunity of winning a ppwn, bin through an unfortunate oversight he placed a knigr.o where it was captured for notnirg lid ward ° held tenaciously on to the advantage thuo obtained, and Mason resigned on the httyiourth move. _ Dav.es v. Forsydi (Queen 3 Gambit Declined).— Play proceeded on book lines up to the twelfth " move, at which stage Forsyth made a premature- attack. The attack broke down. Fcrsvth being compelled on the twenty-eighth move to surrender look for bianop Hp also lost two pawns, but recovered the-e iater. Meanwhile Davies s attack grew irrecistible. and Forsyth resigned on the thiity-eixth move. Grierson v Kellnig (Caro-Kann Defence). Gricrson developed h.=. terces better than his opponent up fco the tenth move. On the eleventh move he ma<!e an unnecessary attack with a bishop alres dj well posted The gam?, however, prcgre^scd famy evenly up to" the eighteenth move, at which juncture Uiierson moved a knight prematurely. The i exchanges following this act resulted in Xelli ing* favour. By advancing his kmg'b ski? I pawns he »imprisoned Grierson's bi«nop on king's rook's square. Kelling kept up the pressuie he forced Grierson's resignation on the forty-third move. Barnes v. Fox (Evans's Gambit; —As le- ! ported in our issue of Saturday, this gains was played oS on Thursday afternoon, and •resulted in a win fox Barnes. KELLING WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The einrh^li vouiiu in tno coi'tc-=fc /or tho chos-, championship of Spw Zca.Aiid was coiiiiin-'ic-'d in tdvi Otago Chr-s Club':, j I . ioiu- ut 0.30 a. iii. on the 4th. Mr J. j ! A. Murphy officiuted as umpire, and tho [ *Jra* was as follows: — ! Table. White. Back 1 Killing v. Deads. 2 Gnersoii v. Eavies. 3 Barnes v. Edwards. 4 Forsyth v. Fox. Mason, a b>e Kelling v. -Dodds 'Queen's Gamb.i D« cliucdj —Alter a Jong game of 72 move- j K.elimg had rook, bishop, and three- pa wr-, . as a<*ain«t his opponent's rcok, kmghi, ana one pawn. Ke.lnig. by careful play, wore his opponent dawn, ana Dodds resigned on I the cighiy-ninth move. ! Grierscn v. D«vie= t.Kuy Lopez Opening).— Gr-.erson playea P Q 4 en his htth move I before catling. Davss did not aoopi j the satct defence, which lad to a bad development and forced him k> retire his king's knight to i*s own square. Ihe exchange of queens on the eighteenth n»'.e j eoruewhat relieved Davies's position but by i an oversight he lo=t the exchange of rcok for Mshop on the twenty-sixth mc,«. Afterward" Da\:es attacked vigorously, but did j not take advantage of a winnirg \ a nation, allowing Gnerson to emerge with a rook against bishop — Davies's extra, pawn being oi no- value, as it was doubled The rock getting amongst his vn protected pawns torced Davies to resign on the forty-fourth move, avd so sustain h»s first loss in tho tournament. Barnes v. Edwards (Sicilian Deience). — Barnes developed all his pawns before v-ei.-turing on any particular line of attack. On the twenty-firs* move Jidwards was tempted to sacrifice a bishop, but the sacrifice proved to be un'ound. On the twenU-ninth move. Edwaids having tj stave off a mate, made a weak move, enabling Barnes to wm a, kn.ght, followed by the win of a rook. Edwards resigned o:» the thirty-fourth move. Forsjth v. "Fox (King's G.unbit Declined ) —Forsyth gamed a pawn on Ins seventh move and a bishop on the tenth. Thereafter Fox hrd much difficulty m «avnig his queen, which was hunted about by his opponent who a lew moves later won a knight. For«yth. with the advantage of two pieces and two pawns to the good, had no difficulty in effecting a win on the thirtyfifth move. Ninth Rot-xd. A. start was then made with tbe ninth and final round of the tourroame-m. Mr J H. F. Hamel was appointed "umpire, and the draw was as follow-: — Table. White Black. 1 Edwards v. Kelling. 2 For=yth v. Mason. 3 Davies v Dodds 4 Fox v. Gneison. Barnes a Lye. Edwards v Kelling (Queen's Pawn Openintr) —Edwaids instuuteJ a veiy pretty combination, offeing the exchange for a deep and beautifu'ly-loeked male in four. KeUniir however, extricated hirme^ Edwardthen sacrificed a bifhop to maintain hi = attack, but the end game wa« reached with Kelling a nimcr piece to the good Kelling finally forked another piece and Edwards resigned at move 44 This wm gave Kellm» the championship Foisyth v Ma-on —Mason replied to his opponent"", opening mo-.e with the French Defence— the first 'French Defence played in th» tournament ForPj th. m trying for an eaih kin-s tide attack, got bi» pawns into a' somewhat weak position. Mason won two pawns in the early pait o: the game, and having much the batter of the position, mere'*- cd his advantage by subsequently winnin" a bishop Forsyth tried to force a mate on the king's side, but Mason avoided the thieat and For\\th being unabl? to stop a pawn frcm quee-mg l cs.gr. ed on the twenty-ninth irove Da'-io v Dod-ls (King's Knight"' Gambit ) — Dau' J en the ninth move, nftcied, a knight tor a pawn, thereby o1o 1 taunn« R fairTv ftrorg attack Tha saenflce however, was*:.ot altcgether fiawies-. Dodds, by carei ful play, wriggled cut of the attack, and forced Davies" to make some more =acnfices The suVidiitial advantage thus gairj-ed c: - able;! Doi'd? to win ou the tweut\-thiid move Fox v. Oiierson iGnioco Pianissimo)^— On th© twentv-uiatli m-ox^ v.hea Grieisoa ivas

a pawn to the good, Fox sacrificed rook for ■ knight to advance his rook's pawn on his opponent's bishop to imprison it Grierson, by also sacrificing rook for knight, followed by bishop taking pawn and attacking his opponent's queen, emerged with two pawns up, one of which Fox recovered with loss of position. A little later Fox, in tiying -to support a weak pawn, had his rook pinned, causing his resignation on the fortyeighth move. The scene* and position? of the competitors at the close of the tournament were as follow : — Wins. Diaws Losses*. F. X Ksllirsg 6 2 0 R J. Barnes 3 1 2 A. W. O. Davios .... 4 2 2 J. Mason * 1 3 J. Edwaids 4 0 4 J. C. Grier=oii 3 1 * G-. F. Dodds 1 » 0 5 D. Forsyth 2 1 5 Rev B. G. Fox ... 1 0 7 Kelhng. cf the Wellington Working Men-, Che--. Club, wins the championship a rd £20 and li.^rne*. of tho same- club, secure, s'ecend place and £10. Da\i r s, last rear's champion, fill* thiid p:«ce i.r.d re<viw=; £5, and Ma-on, .vho is. fcinih, 30U3 £3 THE CHAMPION. Mr F. K. Kelling. the winnsr of The championship and first prize* of £20, is a, New Zr-dlamlcr, of German parentage, and has been attached to the head office of the Government in-ur; nc Department- sino leaving NeL~on Colkg? in the early <?:ghnee. He is a member of each of the tnree Wellington clubs, but on thi, occi-=:on represents the vV-ellingtor Working M:ti'« Chess Club. For many year 3he was honorary secretary and trea.-ur E r of the New Zealand Che«s Atoociatioti, and subsequently its official reporter, in which capacity he performed invaluable -erviee. As a play-ei, ha has won =e\eral priaM in club tourn«>-, .it Wellington, his wo most valued trophic bcino- one presented by Mr Stuart \lanteath «hen M.H R. for Te Aio, and t<Staple Cup. At the Dnnedin Congiess in 1902 Mr Kelling divided eeeoivl prize vith thrty? othei-s, and he- won the brill aw y I m-izfi at (hmaru t-vo veai-s later. Ihe thamoion was accorded an ovation at tho Oia"o Chc.^ Club la,i night when h« wm was niinounsod. In returning thanks, ! Kelling re/narked that he was proud to i be the firat civil servant to win the coveted I title of ebc~3 champion cf New Zealand. THE RUNNER-UP. Mr R. »T. Barnt.s, tho runner-up, is a record champion. ha\ing won the blue ribband of New Zealaud's chew no less than fhe* time=, besides coming within the proverbial ace of it on four other occasions. At present ho is champion of both xae I Wellinpfon senior clubs— a unique position. Uwino- to so\ere indisposition, ho was quit© uttahf-. to do himself ivetico at the last coridw-s during the past wmtcr howevef h~ regained his k>*t form, and won. th« Pethorick Shield outright in fine style. yiv Bain-s posses^-, a host of prizes and tyophie= won at various tournament during the past 20 jears.