CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 547, 27 December 1928, Page 16

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

DOMINION TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND PLAYED Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The games of the first round of the New Zealand chess • championship, which commenced to-day, resulted as follow: E. E. Hicks v. .Fail-burn.—Hicks played the Reti game in defending until lie was able to build up a strong position. Exchanges resulted in Fairburn weakening his position. Hicks thereafter conducted the end game in fine style, winning the first game finished in the tournament. Scott v. Miller.—This was a queen pawn game, evenly developed until Miller in the exchanges left Scott with a very strong attack on the king’s side. Over-cautious play by Scott caused him to miss a fine line of play, which promised to bring about Miller’s downfall. The latter, however, built up a very fine defence, b.ut Scott’s doubled rooks on the bishop’s file again gave hirti a strong game. Miller was forced to. exchange queens, but Scott failed to make the best of his attack, and allowed Miller to win the exchange. Miller was able to force a win on the 73rd move. McCrea v. Gyles.—Bird’s opening was played in this game, with a very even development of pieces. Gyles eventually outmanoeuvred McCrea in the end game, forcing a win on the 46th move*. Kelling v. Severne.—The Ruy Lopez opening was adopted, and very even positions resulted. Kelling pushed forward his queen side pawns, forcing Severne to retreat his knight. The middle game exchanges left the game very open, but Kelling, in attempting to force his pawns through on the king’s wing, gave Severne a chance to wm a pawn. A draw was agreed upon at the 55tli move.