CHESS CONTEST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1014, 2 January 1911, Page 2

CHESS CONTEST.

— —♦ NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP. W. E,. MASON AND DAYIES IN" FRONT. (By TelesrapU-Press Association.) Timaru, December 31. The 'annual tournament of. the New. Zealand Chess Association was resumed to-day, when the eighth round was completed. Details:— -■ Mason v. Fox (French Defence).—lfa. son's freer development gave him a weak attack early. Fox, overlooking a bishop cheek, made a weak move, which enabled , Mason to- win the 'exchange, and retain . his pawn advantage. This he held to the thirty-ninth move, when Ee announc« ed mate.' W. E. llason v. Beck (Centre Counter). . . —Mason offered the Scotch.' Gambit, which Beck, 'declining, opposed by "an ii*- ■' regular development, of centre counter gambit. Beck's unseasoned experience ■ ; gave Mason which securedhim the game on the twentieth niove. ."' "" Davits v. D'imlop (Four Knights .'Do- ; fence).—The' Auckland and Dunsdln . ; champions fought out an interesting and". j even gahie,' with increasing oomplica* 1 tions, trom which tlio Aucklander einerg- ; cd ; two. pawns-up with threads on: his ! exposed black king. . Dunlop's thirty- ' third .move'was n. deliberate'error'tliat ; cost ;.him a piece. At the, adjournment • .the, game was greatly in Davie's's favour. l' Dunlop resigned without further, play. Grierson v. Mara (Queen's Gambit do j clined).—-A perfectly even game advanced • - I to the middle stage, at which it was ad- | journed. On resuming no alteration of ) forces, occurred, till Grierson forfeited ) the. knight. As a result of the blunder, ) being pushed for time, he resigned sooa! > after. i Hicks v. Gyles (Falkbeer .Counter).— ) This, ganibit. always leads to interesting . ) intricacies in which Hicks revels,;'yet . i Gyles obtained an apparent advantage in... ', , j position at a point where high tension 1 5 ruled.'' Hicks played characteristioaUy H J and . secured a -knight for two ...pawns.i With the solidity, of' combination- which . V . Gyles engineered, he assailed Hicks on the 5 twenty-seventh move, a' rook ,for A. pawn—clever and sound—but Gyles de- - [ clined the gift... Hicks was a : bishop to' j the good'at the adjournment. "Gyles ai. ; mitted defeat without resuming. ! Barnes, a bye. ? Adjourned Game, • ! J. Jlason v. Mara (French. Defence).-* 1 The adjourned game between these plajrj .ers was resumed -in' an ■ even 1 position. 5 Mara, playing with the utmost accuracy,; i forced the attack and won a piece. Mul- ; 0. tiplying liig threats,.he gave his oppo- • 0 nent no' chance thereafter, and won one 3 of the best games of the. tourney on the 0 thirty-eighth-mpve. '. : 9' The following is the score at 'the.con-•' Kj--1 elusion ,of • the eighth 'round (with no jj back games to finish):— . Wins losses --\ , W.. E.. Mason G'l j .; Danes'" ...: 6 2 , Dunlop 5 .: 2■ ■ *. v .T. Mason .-....- 5 3 '. ' . Marav 4} - .. 2J c . Gyles . ........ ,4- 3 5 Hicks 3| i\ ? ; Barnes '4.- - 1 Fox 3 4 v . ? r Grierson 0 ' 7 J. .Beck 0 '. 7 0 i Caries, Hicks and J. ..Mason havei;nof 5 had byes. : v/v'i 2 ' ' ■ '?■