CHESS TOURNEY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1932, Page 13

CHESS TOURNEY

GUNDERSEN IN THE LEAD

(By Telegraph.—Piess Association.) NAPIER, 3id Januaiy. _\liie ninth-, round of the New Zealand chess championship was placed yesterday. 'Gundersen v beaf O'Halloran. Sicilian. O'Halloran, in endeavouring to avoid the loss of an exchange, permitted Gundcrsen to declare mate in five moves I Purdy beat Smith. Sicilian. Thej early, exchanges left Purdy with two extia pawns (three passed pawns), and an easy I win: | Erskine beat the Rev. M. Miller. .Zukertort. Ergkine outplayed his opponent throughout. ' i Fairburn. drew with Severne. Queen's gambit declined. Both avoided risks, and a draw was agreed upon after forty-four moves.'. Kelbng beat Rutberfurd. French defence, A -good game, in which Kelhng had a slight-pull all the wa\. Madders lost to' Gyles. Guioco Piano. Gyles had the better game throughout, and the careless^loss of a piece by his opponent on the twenty-seventh njove meiei ly hastened the inevitable result Scott beat Gnerson. At the adjournment each had rook, Knight, and four pawns, but the fact that Guei son's pawns were all isolated was sufficient foi Scott to score full points. The position of the players at the end of the ninth round is as 'ollows:—

W. U. L. TI. "Gunderscn 7 117% Gyles 7 0 2 7 Eiskine ' 7 0 2 7 Purely 7 o '2 7 . Kellmg 5 2 '2 (i - Severne 3 4 2 5 Scott 4 14 4% Maddox. .- 3 2 4 4 " . Fairburn , 3 1 5 3^ Griersoa 2 2 5 3 Ruthcrfurd 2 2 5 3 Miller ..:.-. 2 16 2'-i OJHalloran 1 1 7 p/, Smith 1 1 7 !)£