CHESS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1015, 3 January 1911, Page 7

CHESS

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNEY. W. E. MASON HOLDS HIS LEAD. (By Telcsraph.—l'ress Association.! Timaru, January 2. Play in the- tournament for the New Year chtss championship was continued to-day, when the ninth round was completed, and the tenth entered upon. Details:— Ninth Round. Ciylcs v. J. Mason (Caro Kalni Defence). —Ciyles soon got to an attack promising chances, but Mason's seventeenth move' was'a strong one, turning the attack in his favour. Gyles tcok risksin castling, though any other move was hot free from danger.- With two pawns up at the adjournment, Gyles had improved his defences. On resuming. Gyles played a series of weak moves, allowing Mason to recover his lost forces with a strong attack, and he scored a win oh the thirty-second move. Pox v. W. E. Mason (Queen's Pawn Opening).—Both players developed carefully, and at the twenty-third .move the forces were even, Mason's position being slightly preferable. Here Mason let two pawns go for attack. Mason pushed oil the attack successfully, and won a good game, in which no palpable weaknesses were displayed. Beck v. Grierson (Scotch Game).—Beck secured' the better development with a pawn up, but was tempted to capture an unprotected pawn, which cost him a rook. Then Grierson scon forced it: win, announcing mate in three on the twenty-sixth move. ' \ Mara. v. Barnes (Ruy Lopez).—Barnes played Bird's Defence, and obtained a free development, without upsetting tile balance of forces. Mara , played carefully, and secured a pawn, which promised nothing better than a draw at the adjournment. On resuming with rook, bishop, and four pawns against rook, bishop," and three pawns, Mara pushed on > to queen, and rooks were exchanged, and Mara's pawns advanced to queening point, when Barnes resigned, after a well-played game. ~ Dun-lop y. Hicks (Irregular).—A brisk encounter in the initial stage lauded Dunlop in a winning position, after trapping Hicks's queen on the sixteenth move. Hera Hicks uncovered an attack on the queen, from which Dunlop olight to have, freed himself with a rook up. Instead, he exchanged the queen for a rook, thinking tho win attacked the knight as well, but he overlooked mate in two, aiid resigned on tho nineteenth move. Davies had a bye. ' Tenth Round. v J. Mason v. Dunlop . (Zukertort) Mason, adopting the.favourite opening,' got no advantage. Dunlop got freer development, and won a pawn with his queen's rook's pawn, unobstructed. In this position tho game was adjourned. Grierson v. Fox (Kuy Lopez;.—Grierson, playing with something like his old form, got a strong attack in a close position, but failed to sustain the effort,, and. allowed his opponent to gain a pawn with the attack as the adjournment hour arrived. Barnes v. Beck (Scotch Gambit).— Barnes's clock ran for sixty-five minutes before he appeared. Then Beck generously allowed his to run for fifteen minutes Mforo making the first move. Barnes soon got the attack, and threatennig mate on tho nineteenth movo Beck resigned. Mara v. Davics (Euy Lopes)—Davies developed soundly,' and gave up the bishop for two nawns and an attack that placed Mara in" difficulties,. to estricato himself from which he had to forfeit queen for knight. At this stage the brilliancy prize was within Davies's. reach, but he neglected his queen's safety,- and slio fell with d, rook for rook, bishop, and knight. Davies still had tho exchange and pawn up, and he won on the thirty-seventh move. W. E. Mason v. Gyles (Vienna)—Gyles's treatment of the defence gavo Mason free development. Sacrificing rook for pawn, Mason gavo Gyles a, clear winning position,, which he failed to profit/by, and on the twenty-eighth movo Masoniannounced mate in three moves. Championship P.oinls. =. Tho following are tho championship points at the conclusion /of the nintli round:— ' Won. Lost. W. E. Mason 7 1. Davies '.. .-. G 2 .. J. Mason B 3 Mara 5V 2J' Dunlop 5- ,i 3 Hicks 4$ . . 41, ' Gyles i ' 4 Barnes 3 5 ■ Fox 3 '5 Grierson ..' 1 7. • Beck , 0 . 6