CHESS CONGRESS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13613, 3 January 1913, Page 5

CHESS CONGRESS.

SIXTH DAY'S PLAY,

j ,At the close of, play on Wednesday the ■eighth round was in progress. The | following games in that. refund remain-: ; ing unfinished: James v. Grferson; Severne v. Dodds; Barnes v Sainsbury; I Hicks v. Gjles. After a prolonged struggle... Grierson beat .James; *Severne v. Dodds remaina unfinished still; Barnes defeated Sainsbury ; and after, a batt.e 'ra l'dutrauc<y7 Hicks resigned to Gyles—this being his first defeat in the tournament. ; Tile ninth round started a little late, as Barnes, who is suffering from a temporary ailment, wished his opponent (Grieraon) to postpone the commencement «f their game until 7.30 p.m. On the matter being referred to the umpire, that gentleman found that the game shoud proceed, and accordingly, Barnes took his place. The other games in the ninth round! are: Maamsell v. James; Sainsbury v. Dedds; Gyles v- Mason; Colo v. Kelling; and Severne v. Hicks. lief erring to the_ game Mason v. Maunseil, the committee has now giyen its decision. It appears that Maunsell had borrowed Mason's score sheet to chock his own, and while he was doing this, Mason asked the following question: "I've mad© my 45th move haven't I?" Maunselh, being busy comparing the score sheet, thought tho question asked was: ''I'm making my 45th move aren't I?" and answered, "Yes." .Mason accordingly thought ho had lots of time, which he would havo had if he had made the 45 moves in the required time, and accordingly, did not hurry, being under the impression that lie had made the required number of moves within tho allotted time.. It was afterwards discovered that only 44 moves had been made. Maunsell did not wish to take advantage of the position, and Mason, having made the mistake, was quite wiJing to forfeit tho' game, but the rules would not permit of any such arrangement, and the position was therefore reierrad to the coibmittee, whoso, decision was as follows: "While we -nave every sympathy with Mr. Mason in the unfortunate position iii which.he is placed, we cannot como to any other decision than to record the game against him." It is a pity the game should have terminated in this way, as after ,six hours' play the pieces were equal, wid a most interesting finish might have been ©xpected. The only thing that can bo ©aid is a thing that lias been said before, and is. worth saying again, that ia,,"never take anything for.granted." Gyles has added two points to his score, as after beating Hicks, he won against the champion, Mason, which makes his score 6% pointe. Sainshury -v. Dodds resulted in a draw. Barnes and Sainsfaury, after a most interesting game, agreed to a draw at white's 42nd move. M«aunsell beat Jame,s after a well fought battle running into 56 moves. Hicks v. Severne is unfinished. . At tho last moment Cole resigned to Keiling at the 52nd move. Tttie eighth rouna w<j,» cuneluded witb yestei-day morning's session. The following are the details of play:— Keiling y Maun'sell. —JveLing opened .vH'h the Huy Lopez, Maunsell, at move fc;ir, advancing the king's bishop's paWii. KeHirig took full advantage of this \u:ak move, and brought off a mato on his eigntri move —chefcs m orief. Mason v. Cole.—-In this ;;:ime the Queen's pawn opening was pli.ved, and Mason wo.) n. pawn onrly, bi'.t Colo was able to pit;-y.i,&' i'.L:j«>k" from castling. Not loutr iifv.T, by an exchange of rooks Mason won ti second yawn, getting in a strong attack. Cole sacrificed a knight hoping to,get v, mating position. Tho com bin atiou was not sound, and he' wiu»" foicod t-o exchange, queens, rosijijiin'g- on- ■■ his. 30th move. ' Barnes v. Wainsbury-.—'-The opening was the. Queen's G-arii bit declined. Tho game developed steadily, every pitc--' being ( br6«'ght into play. An exchaitsio of pie&>s in tho middle game left SairLsbiiry's queen's pawn weiak. This pawn was the centre of play for some time, aiui it at lafct foil' to' Barnes' attack. With a pa\yn yip, Barnes skilfully conducUyJ the end gamo, and won on tho 51st move. James v. Gricirson.—James opojnecl with the Vienna game, Grierson playing a variation which led to the excliaug© of queens on the fJth m<ive. As ■the game progressed, the pieces on each, side ware well massed for support. Jjur.es made a threatening move with, bishop's pawn, but Griersoii exchanged) pieces. On the 30th move Grierson's rook at king's sixth- became troublesome. He failed to win a knight left for him, but modestly took a pawn. In. tho end gapie Grier&on was able to make good his passed pawns, and James resigned. Hicks v. Gyles.—Hicks opened with the King's Bishop's Gambit, which. Gyles did not accept. On tiie 7th move Gjies made a strong attacking movo, knight to knight's sth, Hicks making ag'ood reply. The latter oiioitd. p, bishop to enable him to get his pawn •to" knight's 7th.' The -sacrifice pro red unsound, and, although lie played very ■ skilfully, he could Juot do better than came' .out. of tha.ordeaL with rook against. Gyles' bishop and knight.' Gyles wais able to win two pawns, and then .(Sacrificed'. hi« .knight for Hicks' remaining"pawns.; Being; left' with rook against biShbp, end four pavvns, Hicks resigned after a memorable game. 1 Severne v. Dodds.—Dodds replied to Seve;rne.,B..open ing with the Centre* scouriWr Gauihit. Severne castled early on qij'nen's : iue, and Dodds. quickly actvanooJl r-.v.vns i;ud knight to this flank. Sevonve'fn^io- a'counter attack, which yjUk-^-.ci i>.Hi-'.!s c«.) nK-e-r bis l\v.o <>f nlay. Ijater in. the {,i.r.vio •ceu--r:K- tlin-...-.-. -;!:-.j 'to win the exchaiig», .-v:^i L-ik.cj- .^••■.ificetl the rook for tvvo piiWiss, ;.-.••; a , fierce'attack. Seveino was eiiabl::\. to conduct his king-to safety and althouii,.! i)odds kept up some pressure, the former was able to buiid up an attack, which at-the time of adjcurnuierit look ed promising. '.-'..- Details of the ninth-.'wund■"■are: — Gyles v. Mason.—Mason adopted the Morphy defence to Gyles' Ruy Lopez. Mason, with command of queen's file, exclianged minor pieces, leaving two isolated pawns opposed on the^queen's side. Mason won. a pawn, and"doubled Gyles' king's pawns,., but Gyles, with good knight-play, won the exchange? and recaptured two pawns. - He kept his pieces■ well supported, and, Mason, after keeping his opponent at ba.y, mads a move which gave Gyles a greater advantage still, Gyles winning, a weJ.fought game. • ■ •. ' Grierson y. Barnes.-r-BarneQ replied with the Sicilian defence, and early exchanged pieces, leaving Grier&on vfith c pawn advantage. With a later exchange of,pieoe.3 Barnes won back hi<^pamx, rftaining a "knight; against Griersou's bishop. The end game, rook four pawns apiece, •■'was evenly contested, and ended.in a draw. Ma'uneSli v. ■ ■Jaaiekj.-^-Jain-es opposed Maun&eli's opening with the . Petrofi' defence. James gave up his king's pawn, ©lid piled up. au-. attack, but could not break down^launseli's de-fenco. A general exchange of pieces left Maim sell still witha pawn to'the gobd,T)ut with ■bishop against-.'knight. His'r S;uperk):' position enabled him to ftfrco a \vin. Saints-bury v Dodda:?—-Samsbury oj)W?----ed with his favourite* yariatiojti',of tin:Guioco Piano, and a good attack. i)odd,s. quipl?ly.f&cii!uj>;a ooiiJii?irattack, apd' pressed it, very; strc-ngly. In tho middle ganio'^dddfejCapt^urccl ft. ; (mw4i, but-lost the • . capturing -knight. V From this: point a. great ■fight took placei. but as neither could forco thcposition they agreed; ii bon a. da-aw.,. 'Severne y. Hicks.—Hicks again played the Centre-counter-Gambit." Hey took command of tho o^&n queeix^s file nith rook, changing;ott queene^ anci

«mag up bishop fortnight. Sevemo played very cautiously, but. Hicks on two occasions managed to m a pawn. Tho and gan«\ «'hwh is still unfinished, is fttandiiiu m fiiv our vi Hicks. Cole v Kolliim.—These pKvers adoptled ' the ZukortoiL gun*-. Cole quicKly tout to cap.turo a pawn. Without castling, Colo brought a great attack to tear on Rolling's king « wing. Koihng had difficulty in repelling this,,but by «tudnal development wore,his opponent Sibo defence, and a series of exchanges , loft Eelling with a piece to tho good. 0010 -could not prevent defeat, and resigned on the 32ml move. %Ie position of the players at the end of the 'Jth round is as fo.lows :—

Hicka Grierson Barnes KeHling ICason SetrcrHO Oolo J>odds Sairisbury Jrwncs Won. 6 5 5 5 5 4 3 3 2 <■> 0 Dnuvn. 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 .1 y 0 2 Lost. Fts.. 2 6| 1 6 1 6 • 2 ' 5-1 2 5* 4 4| 2 ,4 5 3| 4 3§ 5 ■ 3 7 2 7 1