CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19824, 29 December 1938, Page 8

CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS

DOMINION TOURNAMENT PLAY OF FOURTH ROUND PREMIER RESERVE PEACES (Par Press Association.) WANGANUI, this day. The fourth round of play in the New Zealand chess championship was placed yesterday, some excellent contests resulting. The fifth round is being played to-day, and the sixth and seventh rounds are to be decided on Friday and the eighth round on Saturday night. All the adjourned games, except that, between D. L. Jones, of Auckland and E. .1. Dyer, of Wellington, were disposed of yesterday. Progress results of play are:— Championship Fourth Round J. D. Heenan (blastings) v. J. A. Erskine (Invercargill): QP King’s Indian defence. In the early stages Heenan. was in trouble, having made a weak pawn move. Erskine took full advantage of the position and harried him with knights, forcing his opponent’s king into a bad position. Heenan resigned at the seventeenth move. W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) v. D. Lynch (Hastings): Queen’s gambit declined. Fairburn attacked strongly and, sacrificing his bishop for three pawns and an exchange, obtained a winning position, Lynch resigning at move 30. D. I. Jones (Auckland) v. J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin): Queen's Gambit declined. A strong attack was initiated by Dunlop, Jones failing to see n saving move and he resigned at move 25 when it was impossible to save queen. C. J. Taylor (Auckland) v. E. J. Over (Wellington). Sicilian defence. In the initial stages Taylor cramped Dyer's position, but in the middle of the game Dyer recovered lost ground and Taylor was a pawn down at the adjournment. E. 11. Severne (Wellington) v. G. Cole (Nelson): Sicilian defence. This game adjourned, Severne having a slight advantage with a pawn to the good. T-f. MeNab (Nelson) v. E. Ruthcrfurd (Stratford). At the adjournment the positions were even, but a great deal of play was left in the game. R. O. Scott (Wanganui) v. F. K. Kell ins (Wellington): Queen’s gambit declined. At the adjournment the forces were even, each player having a rook and four pawns. The following adjurned games were completed:— First Round Erskine v. Taylor: Erskine had an extra pawn. but. as .the bishops of each side were of the same colour, a win looked impossible and a draw was agreed to after a long, hard-fought game. Kelling v. Jones: Kelling won at move 67 after a .strenuous struggle. McNabb v. Scott: McNabb lost on account of being adverse to giving up an exchange. Second Round Severne v. Erskine: A draw was agreed to at move 41 without further play. Lynch v. Dyer: Dyer had the advantage of three pawns and won. A strong rearguard fight toy Lynch was impotent against 'the winner's strong position. Third Round Scott beat Erskine after an hour’s hard struggle. Ruthcrfurd drew with Heenan, the former being unable to break through although he had an extra pawn. Kelling beat Severne after queening a pawn, the resignation coming at move 68. Premier Reserve Tourney At the end of the fourth round the leading positions in the premier reserve tourney were:— Player Wins Draws R. G. Wade (Wellington) 4 R. Christensen (Palmerston North) .. 3 1 M. Cromarty (Wanganui) 22 B. Beach (Wanganui) . . 22