CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11445, 30 December 1904, Page 5

CHESS TOURNAMENT.

(Per United Press Association.)

OAMARU, December 29.

At the Chess Championship Tournament, the fourth round was concluded this morning.- Results: — Edwards v, Pleasants —(King's Bishop's Gambit). The attack worked up by Pleasants proved invincible, though Edwards attempted p. coup, by which he won a queen for a rook and a knight, overlooking the transposition, which cost him' a bishop as well. Nothing buli" inferior pawns rentaining- against bup'erior force, he resigned Ota.- the 35th' move. Davies v. J. Mason — The four knights advantage in force gained •by Davies before the adjournment enabled him to secure another pawn ' w-ith improving chances in his position and < Mason's defeat seems inevitable. r The' game will not bs finished before the fifth Tound starts. Miles v. Hamel— (Centre counter gambit, with exchange up). An interesting game followed the adjournment.' Miles* secured a pawn and queening another; on the fifty-second move Hamel surrendered. Forsyth v. Gifford;—(French defence). , The game continued evenly to the final stages, when Forsyth gained a pawn from what looked like an unavoidable draw, -which Gifford's well-placed king 1 may still bring about, three pawns to 'two. being all that are -left. B. Mason v. Kelling — (PetrofiPs defence). Well-placed pawns enabled Kelling to cause his opponent some trouble to utilise his superior force, and 'the sacrifice, of a knight, for two pawns was decided on. This enabled Mason to queen a . pawn, and Kelling's resignation followed on the' 63rd move. W. E. Mason v. Barnes — (Ruy Lopez Fianchctt's). Masterly play on both sides led to most interesting pawn play, ending with only a rook each in support. The dexterous play was maintained with equality in the gradually diminishing forces to the fifty-sixth move, when a draw, wasi inevitable, both players' retiring amid applause. , ■ - The -fifth round commences this .jafternoon, the draw being; — W. E. Mason- r. B. Mason, Davies v.. Barnes, J. Mason. V., Kelling, Edwards v\ . Gifford, Cleland v. Miles, Forsyth. y. Pleasants, Hamel r. Adair, the first named in' each case .having the move. .-'"«•■

- OAMARU, December 29. . Five games have now been played in the Chess Congress, with the following results — Davies won 4£, Cleland 4, Miles 4, Forsyth 4, Barnes 3}, Gifford 3£, B. Mason 3, W. E. Mason 2, Pleasants 2, Hamel Is, J. Mason 1, Adair i, Edwards j, Kclling 0.