CHESS CONGRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 3, 5 January 1939, Page 9

CHESS CONGRESS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP KEELING AND DUNLOP IN THE LEAD INTERESTING STAGE REACHED At the end of the penultimate round of the New Zealand chess congress last night the leading players were F. K. Kelling, the Wellington veteran, and J. B. Dunlop, of Dunedin. Both have scored eight points. D. I. Jones (Auckland), J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) and H. McNabb (Nelson) are next with 7i points each. Other leading scores are E. H. Severne (Wellington) with seven points, R. O. Scott (Wanganui) with six and a-half, and E. S. Rutherfurd (Stratford) with six points. The final round will be played this afternoon at McGruer's Hall. The results of last night’s games were:— F. K. Kelling (Wellington), v. J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin).—Ruy Lopez. Dunlop gave up a pawn for the attack in the opening but did not follow the strongest line of play. The game was interesting through out and was followed by many spectators. In the end game, Kelling was a pawn up but the bishops were of opposite colours and a draw was inevitable. This was agreed to at move 51. H. McNabb (Nelson), v. C. J. Taylor (Auckland). Reti opening. Through an oversight in the middle of the game McNabb instead of giving a rook and two pawns for two minor pieces lost two pawns for no compensation. Taylor was then able to attack on the king’s side and won a piece. McNabb resigned at move 29. G. Cole (Nelson) v. E. J. Dyer (Wellington).—Queen’s pawn, Bogoljubow's defence. Dyer was careful In his opening strategy and offered a pawn which Cole accepted. As time was pressing Cole had to make two quick moves and lost a piece. He resigned at move 24 when he was forced to give up his queen. E. Rutherfurd (Stratford), v. D. I. Jones (Auckland). —Nimzovitch defence. After an uneventful opening, Jones placed a rook on the seventh rank and followed this up by sacrificing it for threatened ’mate. Rutherlui'l resigned at move 27. W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) v. R. O. Scott (Wanganui).—Queen’s pawn, King’s Indian defence. Major pieces were exchanged early and the pawns became interlocked, a draw being inevitable. This was agreed to at move 45. D. Heenan (Hastings) v. E. H. Severne (Wellington).—Queen's gambit declined, Cambridge Spring’s variation. After the normal development, Severne initiated an attack on Heenan’s castled king, sacrificing a knight for three pawns. In this process Heenan’s knight was exposed and he resigned at move 28. J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) V. D. Lynch (Hastings).—Queen’s gambit declined, Pillsbury attack. Erskine had a passed pawn in the end game and Lynch resigned when the queening of this pawn could not be averted. The following were the results of adjourned games played yesterday: — Round Eight.—Rutherfurd won from Cole. Round Nine. Taylor lost to Severne. Round Ten. —Heenan lost to Jones, Scott lost to Taylor The following is the draw for the final round this afternoon' Dyer v. Fairburn. Dunlop v. Cole. Lynch v. Kelling. Jones V. Erskine. Taylor v. Rutherfurd. Severne v. McNabb. Scott V. Heenan.

GYLES HAS A WIN

SYDNEY, Jan. 4. Xn the eighth round of the Australian chess championship tournament A. W. Gyles (New Zealand) beat Max !Green (Victoria); C. Purdy, the title'holder, was beaten by G. Koshnitsky, New South Wales champion, who thus took the lead with an unbeaten record.