CHESS CONGRESS

Southland Times, Issue 22465, 28 December 1934, Page 6

CHESS CONGRESS

SECOND ROUND WELLINGTON PLAYERS LEAD STEADY PLAY SEEN (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, December 27. The New Zealand chess congress was continued to-day. The second round was completed and one game in the third round was finished before the end of the evening’s play. F. K. Kelling and A. W. Gyles, both of Wellington, are leading on the play in the first two rounds, each having won two games. H. J. Armstrong (Canterbury) played soundly in the second round to force a draw with J. B. Dunlop, the present champion. The results of the games played in the second were: Friberg beat Fairburn; Abbott beat Watt; Erskine beat Gray; Kelling beat Darwin; Dyer drew with Beyer; Dunlop drew with Armstrong; Gyles beat Hicks; Severne drew with Le Petit; Scott v. Hardy was not finished. Third round (still in progress): Abbott beat Fairburn. Notes on Games. The White players are named first in each case:— Fairburn v. Friberg: Fairbum opened with the queen’s pawn game and Friberg played the Grurfeld Defence. Even play went on into the middle game, Fairbum advancing his two wing queens and side pawns. After some exchanges these proved weak and Friberg captured them, remaining with a bishop and two passed pawns against a knight, pawns on the king’s side being equal and safe. Fairbum resigned on move 49. Watt v. Abbott: Watt opened with the Ruy Lopez and Abbott offered the usual defence. Watt gained a slight advantage early, but later allowed an exchange of queens, giving Abbott the initiative. Abbott attacked strongly, but the defence was sound, though Abbott was a pawn up after several exchanges. Abbott gained another pawn, eventually winning the game at the 81st move. Erskine v. Gray, Queen’s Gambit declined: Erskine played the queen’s Indian defence and early had Gray in difficulties, but steady play by Gray enabled him to work up a strong attack, winning three pawns for one. After some exchanges a complicated end game ensued with bishops of the same colour and Erskine was able to force Gray’s resignation at the 79th move.

Kelling v. Darwin, Sicilian Defence: Darwin captured a centre pawn at move eight, but immediately suffered a fierce attack from his opponent’s rapidly developed forces. Kelling regained a pawn at move 18 with superior position, entering the end game with a queen and two passed pawns to Darwin’s rook and bishop. Darwin resigned a hopeless "ante at move 31. Dyer v. Beyer, Queen’s Gambit declined: The game throughout showed little advantage to either player. Play was very even, both in the developmental stages and also in the later exchanges. At the end of the sitting each player was left with two bishops and six pawns with no hope of a break through” and a draw was agreed to at move 31. It was a fittting end to a soundly played game. , . j Dunlop v. Armstrong: Dunlop adopted the Ruy Lopez attack which Armstrong parried successfully. After a series of exchanges a draw -was agreed to at move 33. „ , « Hicks v. Gyles, Sicilian Defence: An even game, but in the course of play Hicks developed a pawn weakness, eventually allowing Gyles to win a pawn. Hicks resigned at move 62 when a mate was threatened. , Le Petit v. Severne, queens pawn opening: Severne played the Cambridge spring defence and worked up a fairly strong attack in the middle game, but Le Petit defended successfully. Ine position became locked and a draw was agreed upon at move 39. CENTENARY CONGRESS SECOND ROUND RESULTS. (Rec. 7.10 a.m.) Melbourne, Dec 27. In the second round of the Centenary chess championship Condon defeated Watson; Martin Green defeated Goldstein; Greenfield defeated Coultas; Lamparter defeated Hynd: Koshnitzky defeated Crowl; Fillian defeated Thierjung; Hastings defeated Purdy.