GUNDERSEN NOW LEADING IN CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18960, 6 January 1930, Page 6

GUNDERSEN NOW LEADING IN CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Per Press Association. WANGANUI, January 5. Following: are details of Saturday’s play:— Round Twelve. Erskine v. Hicks.—Erskine played the Queen’s Bishop's Gambit. Careful development of pieces gave no advantage to either player. Exchange of queens and minor pieces simplified the play, but left the game very even. Erskine then brought his pieces to bear upon the centre, Hicks meeting every threat correctly. Unfortunately, Hicks failed to defend a piece that Erskine threatened, and when it fell Hicks resigned. Topp v. Beyer.—Beyer again adopted the French Defence and Topp, failing to advance his queen’s pawn, got the weaker position. Topp sought relief by exchanging minor pieces, but Beyer manoeuvred to improve the strength of his attack. Topp saw the danger, but moved back the supporting bishop instead of bringing up further support, and Beyer checkmated the king in three Gundersen v. Jeffreys.—Jeffreys adopted the French Defence, making five pawn moves in succession. Gundersen was soon able to win a pawn and build up a sound forward pawn position. Gundersen was always the more aggressive and when he had a passed pawn at the sixth square, Jeffreys resigned.

Kelling v. Pleasants. —This was a bright Ponziani game, which led to an early attack by Kelling. Pleasants met Kelling’s threats in quite good style until the latter broke through with pawns on the queen’s side and established a pawn at knight seven. Pleasants sacrificed a rook in making a counter attack, but Kelling managed to move his king to safety and Pleasants resigned. Purdy v. Anderson.—Anderson adopted the Fianchetto Defence to Purdy’s pawn to king four. Purdy built up a solid position, while Anderson’s pieces seemed to

lack development. At the correct time Purdy gave up the exchange to open the knight’s file and launched a strong attack. At a critical situation Anderson captured a pawn, thus opening up the rook's file. This enabled Purdy to force a win on the thirty-eighth move. Scott v. Fairburn. —Scott played the Giuoco game, and Fairburn allowed Ms opponent to adopt the Max Lange attack which, however, broke down with the exchange of minor pieces and of queens. Fairburn later won a pawn, but Scott then drew by perpetual check. Rutherfurd v. Severne.—A Queen’s Bishop’s Gambit, with quite unusual development. Severne allowed Rutherfurd to establish a strong wedge of pawns on the queen’s side, which somewhat cramped Severne's position. A great battle took place in the middle game. Leading to the end game Severne forced the exchange of queen and rooks and very sound, careful play followed. A drawn game sefemed inevitable, but Rutherfurd inadvertently placed his king and rook in a position to be pinned and lost the exchange. A little later Severne broke through the pawn position and won. POSITION OF PLAYERS.

(After end of Round Twelve.) Won Lost Dr. Pts. Gundersen .... 10 1 1 10J Severne ...... 8 1 3 S i Purdy 0 3 0 3 Anderson 6 2 4 8 Krskine 7 3 2 8 lvelling- ...... 5 2 5 7J Pleasants .... 5 7 0 6 Scott .......... 4 6 2 6 Beyer ........ 4 7 1 4J Hicks 1 6 0 4 Jeffreys 3 7 3 4 Rutherfurd •• 2 6 4 4 Fairburn ; . ...1 7 4 3 Topp 1 9 2 2