CHESS CONGRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 12

CHESS CONGRESS

NINTH ROUND ENDS KELLING IN THE LEAD WADE WINS PREMIER RESERVE. The eighth rounds of the New Zealand championship and the premier reserve at the New Zealand Chess Congress were played on New Year’s Eve and the ninth rounds of the two competitioift last night. At the end of the ninth round of the championship, F. K. Kelling, the veteran Wellington player, is leading with 61 points. R. O. Scott (Wanganui), has 5i points with one uncompleted game so that a win in that game would place him on level terms with Kelling. Other leading scores in the championship are: H. McNabb (Nelson) and J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin), 6 points; J. A. Erskine (Invercargill), 5i points; McNabb was leading at the end of the eighth round but lost his ninth round game. The final round of the premier reserve was played last night, all the

games being finished with the exception of that between R. G. Wade (Wellington) and N. G. Cromarty (Wanganui), which was adjourned at the 43rd. move. R. G. Wade, who is the youngest competitor at the congress, is the winner of the premier reserve with 74 points. N. M. Cromarty has six points and if he wins or draws in his match with Wade will be runner-up. However. if Wade is victorious, Cromarty will share the honour of second place with R. Christensen (Palmerston), who has six points with all his games finished. Other scores it the premier reserve are: B. Beach (Wanganui), 5 points and one game to play; N. R. Meads (Nelson), 5 points; H. P. Whitlock (Wanganui), 34 points with one game to play; W. A. Dobson (Christchurch), and S. Smith (Wanganui), 3 points; W. R. Aislabie (Napier), 24 points; E. H. Speck (Stratford), 14 points. Results were as follow: New Zealand Championship Eighth Round W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) drew with C. J.’Taylor (Auckland). R. O. Scott (Wanganui) won from D. Lynch (Hasttings). D. I. Jones (Auckland) won from E. H. Severne (Wellington). J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin) won from D. Heenan (Hastings). E. Rutherfurd (Stratford v. G. Cole (Nelson), adjourned. J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) won from F. K. Kelling (Wellington). H. McNabb (Nelson) won from E. J. Dyer (Wellington). Ninth Round. Kelling v. Fairburn.—Ruy Lopez. At move 37 Kelling won a second pawn which enabled him to take the game 10 moves later. Lynch v. Heenan.—Queen’s pawn, King's Indian defence. Lynch won a piece for two pawns at move 22, forcing his opponent's resignation at move 30. Dunlop v. McNabb.—Sicilian defence. As McNab was leading at the end of the eighth round and Dunlop was only, a point behind him, considerable interest was taken in this game which was an attractive exposition. McNabb initiated a strong attack in the middle game but in his manoeuvres he overlooked that a piece could be taken with a check and, as he had previously given up the exchange to continue the attack, the position became untenable and he resigned at move 35. Cole v. Erskine.—Queen’s pawn, King's Indian defence. Erskine had the better of the opening and won a pawn. Cole made a mistake which cost him a pece at move 39 and immediately resigned. Jones v. Scott.—Queen’s gambit accepted. The game was adjourned after a hard struggle, the position being equal with both players having a bishop, knight and three pawns. Dyer v. Rutherfurd.—Queen’s pawn Semmering variation. This was a fairly’ even game throughout with a to brea'.t through and a draw was depawn ending. Neither side was able dared. Taylor v. Severne.—Queen's pawn. When the adjournment was taken. Severne was a pawn up but there is a good deal of play left in the ending. Adjourned Games. Fifth Round. —Cole drew with Scott. Sixth Round.—Cole won from Heenan; McNabb drew with Kelling; Scott won from Dyer. Seventh Round.—Kelling won from Rutherfurd. Premier Reserve Eighth Round N. R. Cromarty (Wanganui) won from W. A. Dobson (Christchurch). C. H. Speck (Stratford) won from W. R. Aislabie (Napier). R. Christensen (Palmerston North) drew with N. R. Meads (Nelson). H. P. Whitlock (Wanganui) drew with S. Smith (Wanganui). B. Beach (Wanganui) lost to R. G. Wade

Ninth Round. Wade v. Cromarty, adjourned. Smith and Beach drew. Meads lost to Whitlock. Aislabie defaulted to Christensen. Dobson won from Speck. The draw for to-day, when the tenth and eleventh rounds of the New Zealand championship will be pleved. is as follow: Tenth Round Fairburn v. Severne. Scott v. Taylor. Heenan v. Jones. McNabb v. Lynch. Rutherfurd v. Dunlop. Erskine v. Dyer. Kelling v. Cole. Eleventh Roi 1" Cole v. Fairburn. Dyer v. Kelling. Dunlop v. Erskine. Lynch v. Rutherfurd. Jones v. McNabb. Taylor v. Heenan. Severne v. Scott. AUSTRALIAN TOURNEY A DRAW FOR GYLES Received Dec. 31, 6.30 p.m SYDNEY, Dec. 31. In the sixth round ol the Australian chess championship A. W. Gyles (N.Z.) drew with Salm, Queensland.