CHESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18597, 7 January 1935, Page 2

CHESS

N.Z. TOURNAMENT

ERSKINE THE CHAMPION

INTERESTING PLAY

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this. day. A drawn game in the last round of the New Zealand chess championship between J. A. Erskine (Southland) and A. W. Gvles (Wellington) made Erskine the Dominion champion for 1935. At the beginning of play on Saturday the totirnament was in an interesting position, it being then impossible to cast the winner with any certainty. A came had to be completed between Severne and Erskine. Severne s resignation from this game, which lasted tor 7hrs. 35min., and extended over three sittings, left Erskine with nine points and one further game to play against id vies, who had scored eight, points. Next in order were K. Beyer (■Wellington) with hi points, and .J. B. Dunlop (Otago) with points, both these plajers having no further games to play m the afternoon. In addition to the Erskine-Gvles game, Eeverne and F. K. Ivelling (Wellington played their gt me in the seventh final round. Results were: Sixth final round. —Erskine heal

Severne. Seventh Thud round.—kellmg beat Severne. , „ , . . Eighth final sound. —Erskine drew with tlvies. . One game has still to be played in the last round between Severne and L. .1. Darwin, the Canterbury champion, hut this has no hearing on the. result. The positions of the leading players, which will remain unaltered by the single game still to be played, are as follows Erskine, BJ points; Beyer, 8, points; Gyles, points; Dunlop, 0 points; Le Petit, 6i points; Abbott, 5* points. NOTES ON THE! GAMES In the following notes on the games, white names are mentioned first in each case : —Sixth Final Round — Severne v. Erskine.—Sicilian defence on the line fa voted by Rubenstein and Tnrtakover. Severne weakened his game bv injudicious exchanges when the major forces had been reduced to hvo rooks and a bishop against Erskine’s two rooks and a knight, and each player had four pawns. The bishop was completely shut out of-play for the rest o I the game. In the end game Eirskine was able to make full use of his king in battling foiward with pawns, and forced a win at move 76 with a rook and queened it pawn against a rook and a knight. —Seventh Final ’Round —- Selling v. Severne.—Buy Lopez opening. After rescuing a threatened pawn. Ivelling got his pawns well posted in the major oblique formation. In endeavoring to break up this position Severne unfortunately allowed a knight to be' captured, doubtless owing to fatigue from the long and arduous day’s play. This enabled Ivelling to force the ending and win at move 53.

Erskine v. Gyles.—This game between two former New Zealand champions was the decisive game of the tournament. At the beginning of play Gyles had eight points and Erskine nine points, it being necessary for Erskine to win or draw to make certain of the championship. Erskine played the Queen’s pawn opening, to which Gyles opposed the knight to king 3 defence. From the tenth move both players attempted to force a better position. Erskine advanced his two knights well into the firing line. Gyles having to adopt simple defensive tactics. ’By the twentieth move Erskine had established a promising position on attack, while Gyles was attempting to counter oil the queen’s wing by advancing the queen’s rook pawn. Erskine ignored the threat and advanced bis queen well forward. At this stage Gyies’s more powerful pieces were rather Clumped on defence, bul Erskine had a free game and scope for good tactical play. His main object appeared to be to mass his mobile pieces against Gyles’ queen’s bishop pawn, which at that time was the weak spot in Gyles’ game. Gyles’ defence, however, was sound, though cramped. At this point Gvles made his first attempt to drive back Erskine’s more forward knight by advancing his king’s bishop pawn, threatening the knight. A most interesting and complicated game was ■being evolved worthy of the occasion. Erskine retired his threatened knight to a safe square, and, maintaining a free game, attacked vigorously. The retirement of Erskine’s knight relieved the pressure ou Gyles’ queen’s bishop pawn and strengthened his counter-attack. Up to this stage the issue was quite uncertain and noth men were playing very fine chess. Late iu tire middle game, however, Gyles attempted to force an opening and in doing so lost a pawn. Erskine, being thus a pawn to the good, decided not to risk playing for a win and accepted Gyles’ offer of a draw.

ENGLISH TOURNAMENT (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, .Tan. G. The Hastings chess tournament ended in a triple tie, Sir George Thomas, Dr. Euwe and Flohr each GJ points, with Capablanca fourth, 8J points.