CHESS CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 80, 30 December 1919, Page 6

CHESS CONGRESS

FURTHER RESULTS

THIRD AND FOURTH ROUNDS

The Chess Congress contiuued its eittings yesterday, and completed the third round of the championship tournament." ("James have this year been finished at a rate unprecedented in the history of the congress. Fourteen of the twenty-one games composing the first three rounds rennired 10 more than a single fitting. The results of the matches finished yesterday are given below:— .Mason v. Fuulfcnpr —Ruy Lopez. Early exchanges resulted in Mason gaining a pawn at move 10. : Further trouble \yas in slaro for Faulknor, who had to give up the exchange (rook for bishop), at move 18. Mason then put on strong pressure, and obtained his opponent's resignation at move '10. Seveme v. Dodds.—Four Knights' game. This bout doveloped very evenly on orthodox lines Careful play on both sides frustrated any attempt to open up the game. Queens were exchanged in the middle game, resulting in a blocked position, as neither player could break through without loss. A draw was agreed to at move 24. ' . Anderson v. Kelling.—The latter played Philidor's Defence, and a very even fight ensued. Kelling looked like gaining' the :xchange, but Anderson relieved with a pretty counter-attack. From _ a fcries of exchanges just prior to the midday adjournment the attack passed to Kelling, who gained two pawns soon after resumini in the afternoon. The game then drifted against Anderson, who rosiffned at move -15. I Smith v. Connell.—The Sicilian Defence was played at this board, This wa6 a game of ups and downs, each player bavins the advantage in turn, Mr. Smith having force majeuro at tho adjournment. The game became complicated in the final stages, and Smith, who was nushed for time, did not make tho most of the end-game, losing a rook instead of a minor niece at. movo 39. Connell at this fitaze put in further pretty play, and forced bis opponent's resignation at movo 47. . Hicks v. Ewen.— Sicilian Defence. Hicks Quickly established a good position In tho earlv stages he made a fine combination, giving up a pieco to regain it later through an attacking combination that proved to be a smashing attack carrvine all before it. Ewen resigned at movo 2G. The chessy way that Hicks played this game was greatly admired. Fonhy v. Barnes.—Queen's Gambit declined. Through a series of exchanges. Earnes won a pawn at movo_lß. Later on he established a passed pawn on tho queen's wing, to stop which Fouhy had to eive up a knight. This left Barnes a bishop to the good. Fouhy fought a long rearguard action, but had to lower his kinir at move GO. ' Wild v. Lindsay. King's Gambit accepted. In the spar for position Wild succeeded; in saddling Lindsay with a trebled nawn on tho queen's bishop's flip These weakened pawns ultimately fell, and Wild scored his first congress win in eonrt slvle at move 46. The positions at the end of the third round is as follow:— Games Games Games Won. Lost, to play. Mason 3 0 10 Hicks 3 0 10 Seveme 21 1 10 Dodds 2i i 10 Barnes 2 1 10 Anderson , 2 1 10 Kcl'lini? .:. 2 1 1» Faulknor 1 2 10 Fouhv 1 2 10 Connell 1 2 10 Wild 1 2 10 Smith 0 3 10 Lindsay 0 3 10 Ewen 0 3 10 The garats in round 4, some of which are incomplete, are given below— Connell v Ewen.—The latter declined' tho Queen's Gambit, which Connell developed solidly, assuming an attack which he maintained to the end. Ewen made no serious mistakes, but by one or two weak moves enabled Connell to get command of the open king and mioen's bishop files. In consequence Connell got both his rooks well placed on the eeve"th rank with an attacking nosition. Ewen resigned on tho 42nd

move- , „ ...... Anderson v. Barnes. Two Knights Defence. The latter is the exchange and a pawn to the good, and two of his four pawns are "passed" pawns. _ _ Kelling v. Lindsay.—Ponzinm. This is a verv even, hard-fought' game, and a elose finish should result. Fouhv v. Mason.—Queens Gambit declined. Mason got a cramped opening, but gradually freed his position At move 21 Mason won a. pawn wnh. the better position. In a later manoeuvre Mason coined a rook, and Fouhy resigned at. move 30. the ond being then merely a matter of time. Hicks v. Peverne-Giuoeo Piano. Hicks pushed on his queen-side pawns, but did not break through.. Queens were chanced off. and a verv interesting finish should be witnessed this morning. Smith v. Dodds.-Ruy Lopez. The forces in this incomplete game are even, but Dodds's position would be taken for " Faulknor v. Wild.-This was stubbornly contested. Faulknor ultimately winning at a late hour through tho medium of fine combination.