CHESS TOURNAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 708, 6 January 1910, Page 6

CHESS TOURNAMENT.

COMMENCEMENT OF THE'FINAL; ''■'■ '■■::■:■ .■;.;.ROUND/'/V:;>';-.■.> :'- (By TeleEraDh.r-Preßs. Association.):'. , , Auckland,; January 5.. ~ .The-final round pf : 'the'chess championship was. commenced-last Evening, and it was not until the adjournment, hour that .any sure: indication" of who' should, prove to be "the, ultimate winn'er was shown. It : would be hardly, faif.to: publicly suggest .that.yeVfortho game or' chess is neV-er lost .until- it : is .won,-,and with so many untinisUed games, unexpected results may ' Jiappen,,;. Tlie • condition of the - scoring board caused chief attention to be turned towards, the; Barnes-tirierson .board, for this game', practically ; decides the championsmp, s wniie the -game Miles-Mason could also affect the result, and claimed attention; ,;In the .former game-there was plenty- of pabulum for discussion,, apart from.its-importance.in the contest, and the' players fought splendidly.' The final round will be concluded:to'-morrow morning: and.itliG. unfinished -games,- to-morrow afternoon. .- - ! •..■■■.' .'■•.•-i.•;■.■.■..■•• ■■.:..- ■

■■ ■.Gnerson,v... Hicks (French Defence).— Gnerson attempted Lasker's /attack on this:defence,'but Hicks threw out his queen's pawn;; : At-the adjournment the game^was.in.an,even-position.: .'." "•/ ; Mason. -y.'-Severne: (Zukertort).—An even -struggle ; ensued ■ to •'the.' adjourn-' ment.:'-. ■■:; -O.i ■>■■;-.■,_•..■'.■■'.. ,■-.-.■....-- .

.:■ Jamos..'v.:.Milesv(Vienna /Variation).— The ;game .was: adjourned ,with. Miles the;, exchange down';.for a' pawn. '■' -'. ■ ! : Saiusburj; v..:Barnes (Scotch Gaqibit).— This" game 'was adjourned 'with- Sainsbury.: two-;pawns 'up, : jntli-'-flattering-'ch'aices.' . Kelling, v. Davies : (Centre Game)'.—At, .the.. 14th, move: Davies'.' outplayed Kelling for -an /exchange. The .game stands, aQjp'urned.. ■ : ;''.-'. ;■''.'■:.:'■■!■}' '■ -."■.'•' : "- : - ! "■'• ,: ''-' ; ' ; Uutherfurd. v.. Freeman- (Irregular).—: No '. advantage;, was ■ gained by - .either .side.

AFTERNOON;:SITTING. ;'■ •'; ; ':Griersdn:- v.y Hiclcs (French; Defence).— During'the-afternoon sitting:the tension was very: great,, and a.. weak pawn' fell .to Gnerson,: ) who; had;:a ; passed pawn: '■ well supported■• /-confronting.. :Ms...opponent's king. and -.' rook; when ; . the.' game. was :, again adjourned.: in- a 'difficult -position' for both: ■players'.''-v^..\-•-•'-..;■;;.;■.■■••.•■■••■'.'...;.y-;'-; ; .. : .:v-..' '.■■■^■■■-■^..'•t

• ..'.Mason v.; Severhe. fought Twell.' tb?the " end • game with 'even forces :i as ; he was.'expected "to, do against, a: player. ;qf, his, own'-.type,; and: secured a drawing position;.tili;a.weak.'mbye.;ga.ve. Mason ;his'chance.;:'!He won.on .the; |ttyninth'fihbve'.'i,.,'''";•'.'''•■:•/•'.'.-•''■■■'.'■ ;:!•..:! ,!^;: V i ■■■

' James v., Miles;! (yierini !With. unused pawns and kings.impounded: thej.'end;-■' game! ■battle! ;comiiienced' pn Miles's'sidei,: James; having: a. tree .board. tor iliis" rook against, bishop. 'James played 'top 'cautiously, and lost r; time, which in this, .position'., was -.the.'.-, essence ;of ■ his .con-. tract.: ■ ;Aiter! !that, - '-.had,-, he flayed f or':■. a ; draw -he '.might'-'-have'■'"seour.eu"--.'it,; but.'he sinip'ly. frittered' : away v his;'chances .and. .resigned >pn;. the, fbrty-ninth::move'.r.r!; : ,;: ■ 'Sainsbury. y. Sainsbury. 'pushed' on' his' 9 ; . 'r.p.-'i to; .the' prbuiotioh : ;!-poiut,.-; while '!Barnes"' v/as .cleyeriy'.anghug-ior 'a-'draw, an.d.'Barues : resigned'-, on- the i. fifty-fourth:', move...- ;■"■■- , Sainsbury". ;y..Dayies : .(Centre.Game).—On - resuming ."Ksiling.. improved his- positipni .butDaviesi contemplating a; : capture. oh even!terms, overloolced. the';fact tnat! there was.: another. w;ay : ,of! .'doing ;it,;iand :^ lost, the■ exchange, levelling force's!once!more.' At ,tihe;final adjournment, Kellin'g,, had a; paskedv.pawn /which looks like; queening,: '.. ; !Euthepturd' v; ; .Preemaii ■-.'. (Irregular) 'After :'■ the ■ adj ournni'ent,i 'I'veem an worked. up'-.-■•a,-, : strong. ,attack;' might - -haye; converted:Vto'; his, < ' byVreHring_:,kt..'tb;qt;. G.~.':A.'-few ■moyes. later/Uutherfurd;:resigned..;;!;S,;!;.!.i .;,;,!;<:.■

; ; : -;;v4.';'^iNAE : ;6oU-NP;; ■; ' :Barhes'."y. , ; Grierson -Lopez).'—When ■the 'game , emergeoV from the;books ■Barnes's •onslaught-'on' , Griersbn's position 'secured him a.pawni for 'a trifling :loss; of combination. .Grierson! played , -,'steadily^;■';'and. welli' iwhilo. 'Barnes was 1 >always resource-, ful;! .'Grie'rsbn's pjositibn-w'as- 'the ;;more Solid- and'.defensive,;.while. 'Barnes;iwas. more.- aggressive'. .-'.TheVbitter's lack;of: co-•: .'operation , l as.,'the, .'.game:'progressed' cost him the exchange,; "which- he jcpuid' Mve. saved ';by! ; a;.iurther,sacrifice 'of,.solidityl! The';; position!■' here: was intricate,';;; .and Griersoh :; recoyereel'; his' pawn,, Ueavihg' Barnes',.with'.Van-..isolated!; one.- ;!.Barnes : pushed' , on his ■'king' side"' palwois : by way- of co!Unter".attacki-;but the flank' mpyement: was^iioo'aggressive, aiid Griersonoaptured another'on'.-thevtwenty-fifthj'moye/.with. Q [% 2'kts,. B; : ;aiid"four'.p^wns.-■; Barnes sealed' his 'move'against -Grierson's' Q," -two ■rooks, two' bishops, and;five.'jawns.' •. : :'• Miles! v."! Mason 1 , (Queen's, Gambit ; clined).r-A well-playedi'; gaine ; , was': /ad-, vancedwith a. good'development; on-both sides. ! !Mdles decided --to give.his opponent tho-fewwt' chances ; /upi his defences,;.; and .:'attacked' ; eariy.^ . This manoeuyre; cost;! him ■. a' , pawn; which •; he afterwards recovered,'.and 'the' game';wa3 adjourned,, : ivitli,' root;,- bishon.vand -six "pawns.'..-■against., rook',;; knight,-; and ■■, bis; v.'i.Rutheritird' v (Euy v Lopez).-. ■Daries-'got -to'• the'..auackv ..early,, .but Butherfurd'defended;weU,'iand>-the!'game reaohed/aniiiiterestiiig' end-position, with eyen'foTces;!' at'the adjournment;.: -This gaina-was.continued by;arrangement, and won; by Davjes; ;' ;"•'.. ;: '''. ."'■■■:.iiL';-.: ;, -' ,: J''.' ! . ;■ 'James -y. I : Freeman •*- aines' pushed ; on;; the attack,; and-. se- : James;pushed'^for.fa-pawn with; 1 knighrs pawn "on sixth supported, 1 and threatening; 'an attack,on ; ;the ■ king pn^rooks , square/,; ; Sainsbury; y'.- Eelling (Scotch , ; Gambit)—! On the eleventh 11 move! , Sainsbu'ry ; allowed.: Kelling. to ifork; knight .and., bishop with a threatened .pin , of. thequeen'.with:; rook.: ;B'ixP would have,; relieved'.the;_situation without' loss,/but 1 : ,he : chose- to K and lost .the ;bishop.; ' After . ; this ■ his position!-; became i untenable,;-, and JjKelhng, scored' :■' "■'. ■";..' :^ ; v; ; -.;-,;.vv v .: ■!;■.'; even!" game; has breached the! .'.'tennmal; stage, ■ jrith'.!only-.-pawps ~tp;';fight.; with; ' at;;the! adjournment.;. ? !:-:- : }:i. yf ?■•£ V :'';' : T-

' THE SCOEES.' At the conclusion of the tenth, round the scores stood as follow:— Won. Lost. To play. Grierson ..-. 7 '2 • 1 Mason -.. 7 2 1 ' Barnes "6 1 . 0 Miles 5 ' 1 1 Davies i. ii 31 2 Kutherfurd 4J 5) 1 James 4J 51 0 Sainsbury* 41 5} 0 Freeman ..: -..•• 4 6 0 Severne ■3J • 61 0 Hicks :.. aj ■ 5J 1 Selling 2 7 1