CHESS CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1633, 27 December 1912, Page 8

CHESS CONGRESS.

—.—6— — AT NELSON. RESULTS' 01' THE FIRST BAY. (By Telegraph—l'jcsa Association.) Nelson, December 27. The twenty-sixth .New Zealand Chess Championship Congress was opened hero l'o-iliiy. The following competitors arc toUiny part:—Urierson (Auckland), Salisbury ((.iisbonie), Hicks (A'apier), Maunself (Cartorlon), .Mason ami J nines (Wellington C. C.), Barnes ami Kclling (Wel- ! lingtou Working -Men's Club), Severne I (Canterbury), Uyles (Wnstporij, Doikls ; (A'clsoii), ami Cole (Wakefield). 't he lir.st round commenced in tlie aflerlioon, the results of the finished games being as follow:— Jlaunscll v. Gyles.—Muunsell opened with Iho tiny Lopez, Gyles replying with the classical delenee. It was an even game up till tlio tentli move, when White won the King's l'avn, and Blrick, by a countcr attack, brought about a very critical position. White, on his fifteenth move,. threatened to win the exchange, and, on the sixteenth move, followed up his intention, overlooking the fact that Black's fifteenth move had brought about a mating position which was eifccted by Black. Barnes v. James.—The latter adopted the Caro Kami game, and careful play on both, sides produced a vory even gamo up till, the 23rd move, when x Black, through overlooking t'lto position of a 'Bishop, gave away a Knight. Quecus were exchanged on' the thirty-second move, giving Whito a dangerous passed pawn. James, however, made n very strong fight with his pawns, ono of which ho threatened to Queen on his forty-third move. This move also opened an attack on White's Bishop on the back line, but Jiuncs had overlooked that the attacked Bishop took the opposing Bishop .with a check. James resigned n hard-fought game. Killing v. Mason. —Mason replied to Selling's opening by the Petroff defence, anil a very close game ensued till_move fourteen, when Black advanced a Knight on. the King's- side, bringing about a very critical position, which extended J>ol'll p! a vers as regards time.' The resulting exchange left White's King and Black, with doubled Rooks on tlio Iving s liooks file, forced' further exchanges, and left White's I'awns open to attack. Again pressed for time, the hurried moves did not help White's game. Black, by aperies of checks with Queen and Book, ultimately forced White to loso Queen for Rook, Kelling resigning on the 49th move. Hicks v. Sainsbury.—A variation of the Guioco Piano, game was adopted, and an early series of exchanges left both sides with doubled I'awns, the open Knight's Ale being occupied by White's Queen. "White won the exchange, hut, as a result, Black got a.good attacking position. Hicks accepted an offer to exchange, Queens on the thirty-third move. The end of _the game proved .most interesting, and, in a likely-looking position for Black, a drawwas decided upon, as,, in the resulting exchange, Black, gave up two I'awns for a Bishop. . The game, Severne v. Gnerson, is unfinished, buf Severne, just at closing time, gave away a Knight for a Pawn, and Dodds and Cole, at the adjournment, were still at the end of their game.