CHESS TOURNEY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1013, 31 December 1910, Page 7

CHESS TOURNEY.

NEARING CONCLUSION. W. E. MASON AND DUNLOP LEAD. . (By Telcsraph—Press Association.) Tlmaru, December 30. The New Zealand Chess Championship tourney was continued to-day, when the sixth round was practically concluded, and the seventh round was entered upon. Details: Sixth Round. J. Mason v. Mara (French Defence).— Mara played tho M'Cutcheon Defence, against which Mason failed to make any headway. Tho game was adjourned, when in a perfectly even position, on tho twenty-fifth movo. .' . '. Grierson v. Dunlop (Ruy Lopez).—A well beaten track was followed for a dozen moves, but when tho' books wore departed from, GriersSn put in some '.unusually weak play, permitting; Dunlop, who played well, to win 1 a piece and pawn, and game a few moves later. .Barnes v. . Gyles (Danish Gambit). — Accepting tho Gambit, Gyles alternated book" moves, his first _ error being iu accepting Gambit sacrifices, which always portend danger. Barnes wasted no time in securing compensation for ..the fallen pawns,_ aud;-playing his farourito game - with his old dash, he forced a,will--on tho twenty-fourth move. ■■■'.. Davies v. Fox (Giuoco. Piano).—Tho Auckland champion developed on safaj ■ lines before- commencing an onslaught, 'which gained . him two 'knights' for;, a pawn, and,, soon after, his opponent's resignation. Beck v. Hicks (Scotch Gambit).— Hicks, -who is not ,a book student of openings, took an original line of defence, and- gained a pawn on the fifth move, aud a bishop on tho seventh. With a strong attack at this point tho game was won, but Beck struggled on to the twenty-fourth' move before admitting defeat. ' W. E/ Mason, a bye. Seventh Round.

, Beck v. J. Mason (Scotch Gambit).— Fifty years ago the game . between Kolisch and Anderson demonstrated the unsoundness of this gambit, l which Beck patriotically adheres.to still. Ho got a good fighting position in the early do.v<Hopmcnt, but blundered, .and lost . a piece. .. No chance was given for recovery, and his collapse,followed.. Mara v. W. K Mason • (Sicilian Defence).—ln his treatment of this game, Mara showed ; wondorfully-iraproved form. Throughout a carefully-played game on both , sides, Mason got no advantage, and tho eaid-gamo was Teaehed with two- v rooks and two pawns each, Mason's being well advanced. Rook and pawn were swopped, and after an interesting finish a draw was agreed upon, for which Mara was applauded. Dunlop v. Barnes (Buy Lopez) .—Dunlop has. evidently made a closo study of this, opening, to. which he adds good position, and judgment, and this combination landed him at mid-game, with attack on his sido inducing: Barnes to give up queen for rook, after Dunlop had'avoided a clever trap set by Barnes, who resigned on &c .forty-first movo. . Gyles and Davies (Contre Counter Gambit).—Gyles played .in quite his best form, while Davies showed symptoms oflaxity. - Possibly under-rating his youthful opponent, ho went in for one of his sacrificial attacks, which Gyles took advantago of, : and secured a Eiece. ' Then forcing the. exchango,. of 'aries's- remaining. pfecej'Tho ibtiuiied the Aucklander's resignation 'when was inerital)lc*iuc>iii rif" v. Hicks Gdmbit ''declined). —Playing with f v ar greater precision, than hitherto shown at this tourney,, fox worked up a strong attack, for .which" lie wisely let tho bishop go, with' : : tho certainty of ..regaining' it. at will.. Tho immobility , of,. Hicks's forccs 'strengthened- the attack as the game advanced, and- mate was announced on the twenty-ninth-move. Griersoa, a bye. ' ' The adjourned game between Barnes and J. Mason was resumed in an even position, and drawn after two hours' play. The only outstanding game now is that of J. Mason v. Mara. , ■ " Tho following is the position ,of the players'.at tho end or the•. seventh round:— ■.'* .- ■?-. • Won. Lost. ToPlay. W. E. Mason ........ 5 1 0 Dunlop 4 5 1 "0 Davies C 2'. 0 Gyles 4 2 0. J. Mason . 4 . X 1 Barnes 3 4 0 Fox 3 3 0 Mara 2} 2} : 1 Hicks • 2J 41 0 1 Beolc* 0 6 0 Griersori 0 ' 6 0