CHESS TOURNEY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22784, 7 January 1944, Page 3

CHESS TOURNEY

Brilliant Effort By Young Player

(N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 4. A feature of the concluding rounds of the chess championship was the uphill struggle of R. G. Wade, a brilliant young chess player, who will play off with R. H. Severne. Wade tied with Dr. Allehand at the last tournament at Timaru, being defeated in the play-off. Three drawn games in the early stages of the present tournament, and a surprise loss to L. J. Darwin in the sixth round left Wade two points behind T. Lepviikmann and Severne, but he finished strongly with three victories, including one against Lepviikmann. Even at the commencement of the last round Wade’s chances did not appear bright, as he had to day J. D. Steele, who at that stage rad had four wins and two draws, whereas Severne had to meet J. L. Hardy, who had not won any games and had had only two draws. Had both Wade and Seveme won their games, Severne would have won the tournament. It was necessary for Wade to win his contest and for Severne to be held to a draw to enable Wade to finish on terms with the leader. Lepviikmann could also have tied with Severne and Wade had he won his last round game, but it resulted in a draw with A. W. Gyles, who finished fourth in the tournament. Lepviikmann at his last appearance in the tournament made a fine showing, and had excellent prospects of winning the title, until his lapse against severne turned an apparent win into a loss. Steele, who finished fifth, was the youngest player in the championship. He is 19.

B. Wood (Wellington), who finished third in the major open tournament, is only 17.