CHESS PLAYERS COMPETE IN N.Z. TOURNEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18349, 29 December 1927, Page 9

CHESS PLAYERS COMPETE IN N.Z. TOURNEY.

PRESENT CHAMPION IS SHOWING FORM.

The fourth round of’ the New Zealand chess championship was commenced this morning, and will be completed during the afternoon. The half-way stage of the tournament will be reached this evening, when the fifth round will be begun. The present Dominion champion, A. TV. \O. Davies, Is leading, equal with F. K- Kelling, an «x-chaxn-pion. Both are ; playing excellent cheßS, and will prove verjr hard propositions to overcome. El H. -Severne has lost a little grqund, by a drawn game, but the leeway is but half a point, and the Nelson representative is showing good chess form. The Rev N. Friberg, who started the tournament well with two good victories, met Davies yesterday, and found the champion too doughty an opponent to master, and the Leeston representative had to lower his dag after a well-fought game. As Kelling and Summers were tree last night they commenced their fourth round game. Killing. carried too many high calibre guns‘for the local player, and won the game before: the evening session closed. Following ’is the draw of the fourtn round,, the 'player manipulating the white men being mentioned first:— ' Summers.v. Kelling, Neville v. M Dermid, 'Joyce V. Friberg, Fisher v. Severne, '.Daues- v. -Fairburn. Brief details of the play follow: Summers v. Felling.—A Centre Counter game on the usual lines vns adopted. Kell in g scon established the superior position, and Summers, in endeavouring to ' make a counter attack lost a pawn, and later the exchange or a superior for a minor piece. Summers’s position then Jay at the mercy of Kelling’s onslaught, and as he lost a rook in the melee. Summers resigned. Joyce v. Rev N. Friberg.—This game was played on Tuesday, and was won by Friberg, the comments on the play having already appeared. Fisher v. Severne.—A Giuoco Piano opening, as its name implies, a quiet form of opening, leading, usually, to a battle of the pawns. Play was fairly even up to the adjournment, but Severne had now a pawn, and appeared to have the more likely prospects. Davies v.^Fadrburn. —The Vienna opening was pteared by Davifts. This has ever been a. popular form of game among players who seek for fine combinations, with the big guns of the chess forces. Thrust and parry were of fine order, and at the close-down for lunch the disposition of the forces was a rook, bishop and six pawns each. Fairburn’s pawns were joined, and Davies’s were in three separate lots, but well defended. As compensation for this. Davies had a strong passed pawn, aup.ported. by another pawn, rook and king. This position, looked powerful, and may cause Falrburn hiuch trouble during the afternoon session. Neville v. M’Dermid.—A Ruy Dopes opening, in which the Iqcal player is a pawn to the good, but with a hard, fight in front before any actual superoirity can be demonstrated. M’Dermid has an.,©pen. king's rook’s file through which ifr.Ta&y operate on the opposing king. /The .position Is exceedingly interesyfftg. 4md the final result quite uncertain so far. Following is the score sheet:— Wins. Dosses. Davies ............ 3 ' 0 Kelling 3 0 • Rev N. Friberg .... 2 1 ' Neville ............ 2 l ■ Severne . A....... J § & M’Dermid 1 . * lfc Falrburn 1 2 Summers , .i 1 ‘ 2 Fisher ; 0 2 Joyce ’ Z. . %-i’r 0 4 Following .Is the draw for the fifth round, to be commenced at 7 o’clock this evening:—Neville v. Fisher, M’Dermid v. Summers, Joyce v. Kelling, Davies v. Severne, Rev N. Friberg v. Falrburn.