CHESS CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 8

CHESS CONGRESS

FURTHER RESULTS

FOURTH AND FIFTH ROUNDS

T«ho Chess Congress continued its sittings yesterday, when tiro four unfinished matches of tlio fourth round were completed, and all the games in tlio fifth round wore disposed of. Following aro brief descriptions of tlia play:Round Four. Kelling v. Lindsay.— I The former played the Ponziani opening, and a long, ihard fight resulted. At move 32, Lindsay captured a pawn, whic\ however, cost him the exchange, as it involved the loss of rook" for knight. The .game then drifted in Kelling's direction, and ho scored at move 41. Lindsay is a great fighter, and none of his games so far lias contained fewer than '10 moves. Ilicks v. Severne—Giuoco Piano. Another hard-fought game on orthodox lines, the play being even all the way. Several exchanges left each player with two rooks and 6even pawns. Neither player could "break through," and at move 43 a draw was agreed to, a result which was forecasted by a good number of spectators. F. 11, Smith v. Dodds.—Ruy Lopez. This was an even struggle for a .long time, luitj'Smith's sealed move was not his best, and immediately on resuming Dodds won first a pawn and then • a bishop. Rapid exchanges followed, and Smith resigned at movo 44,' as lie then had only two blocked pawns against a knight and five pawns. I' Anderson v. Barnes.—Two Knights defence. At the fourteenth move, Barnes had developed an attack at tlio. expense of the loss of a pawn, and by sacrificing a bishop on the twentynrst movo was enabled to win a rook on the twenty--1 sixth. Anderson, however, defended stubbornly, and kept his colours flying till tlio fifty-secoiid movo, \ylfen he resigned. Round Five. This round completes the fixtures between the visiting players, and . from round six onwards each visitor will bo pitted against a Wellingtonian. This will, of course, givo added interest to tiie 'remaining rounds. Tlio run of tho play was as follows:— llindsay v. Barnes-TiMs Three Knights' game was played rapidly, each dock only'showing 20 minutes for tlio first eighteen moves. At move 27, Barnes gained a centre pawn, and shortly afterwards a slip by Lindsay enabled Barnes to win a further pawn also tho exchange, Lindsay resigning at movo 33. • Kelling v. Wild.—Ruy Lopez. By attacking two pieces simultaneously,-Kell-ing won a ccntro pawn. Later on Wild won it back, but at the expense of position, liis king being exposed to attack, whilst Ws two rooks wero out of play. This enabled Kelling to sacrifice a knight and mate with his rook at movo 32. Dodds v. Hicks.—Centre counter game. 1 Hicks at move 12 castled on the queen's side, allowing Dodds to fork two rooks with knight, winning a pawn and tho exchange. (Rook for knight:) Later on. Hicks could ihave equalised by giving up queen for pawn in order to fork king and queen with tlie next move and two rooks with the following movo. He did not see this fine shot, and tho opportunity never recurred. His game gradually got worse, and lie resigned at movo 23.'this being his first loss. Fauiknor v. Fouliy.—Centre counter game. This was a steadily played game, in wliich Fouhy in the final stage had six pawns to Faulknor's five. He missed an opportunity of breaking through at move 38 and this enabled Fauiknor to establish « draw, which: was agreed to at move 50. „ . , ;■, Ewen v. F. H. Smith-Scotch Gambit. Ewen got busy quickly, winning a knight at move 11 and a pawn at movo 10. This pronounced advantago enabled the Auckland champion to force the game, Smith resigning - a hopeless struggle at move 22. Severne v. Connill.—This was tlio first French defence of tlio tourney, tho play being of a very even.nature throughout the afternoon. session. Expanses mioo on resuming in the evening enabled Severne to gain a centre pawn at move 3i. He retained this advantago after all the pieces wero changed off, and ultimately queened liis passed pawn, Connell re'signing at move 6S: Anderson v. Mason—Giuoco Pir.no. A ! very even gamo in ilio early f-tngps. At the second sitting Mason succeeded in I working ud a lively attack, to parry which Anderson had to give up his mieen for rook and bishop. Mason t,wn forced the play, and obtained Ins opponent's resignation at movo 40. Position of Players. The .following is the 'position at tho end of the fifth round:— • (James Games Games won. lost, to play. Mason 5 — 8 Dodds 41 i ® ♦Severn® '. '4 1 j> Barnes 4 1 8 Kelling * J t J Hicks. 31 H 8 Faulknor 2| 2} 8 , Connell 2 3 8 Anderson 2 3 8 Fouhy H 31. 8 Riven 1 I Wild 1 £ ® Lindsay ® 5 « Smith 0 / 3 8 • N -*Mr, Severne's actual score is three wins and two draws. Among the visitors present yesterday were Mr. and Mrs. Clemas, of Masterton. both enthusiastic'chess players. Mr. Clpmas ie secretary of the Masterton Chess Club. 3[r. Whitaker (secretary of the Pnhnorston North Qb<?ss Club) was also present. .