CHESS CHAMPIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 156, 30 December 1938, Page 4

CHESS CHAMPIONS

VETERAN LEADING

FjIVE ROUNDS COMPLETED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WANGANUI, December 29-

The fifth round of the New Zealand chess championship concluded tonight, all the games being finished with the exception of one between G. Cole (Nelson) and R. O. Scott (Wanganui). The leading player is the veteran, F. K. Kelling (Wellington), with four'>ins and one loss. J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin) and H. McNabb (Nelson) are next with three and a half points. If Scott wins his adjourned game he can also tie with three and a half. Kelling met his first defeat tonight at the hands of the youthful player, D. Heenan (Hastings), who had his opponent in difficulties" comparatively early in the game. ; The fifth round results are:— / E. Rutherfurd (Stratford) v. W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) N~Queen's pawn opening. Rutherfurd won early in the session when he was a rook to the good, Fairburn resigning at move 27, J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) v. H. McNabb (Nelson).—Erskine. was in trouble early and resigned at move 24, when his youthful opponent threatened mate in three. D. Lynch (Hastings) V. D. I. Jones (Auckland). — Nimzovitch defence. Lynch lost a piece at move 20 and soon after Jones threatened mate in three, Lynch resigning on the 24th move. J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin) v. C. J. Taylor (Auckland).—Evan's gambit. This game was one of the most sensational contests of the congress. Beginning on conventional lines white initiated what promised to be a strong attack. Taylor defended skilfully and castling on the queen's side became aggressive and was two pawns and an exchange to the good. He gave Dunlop an opening, however, and the latter pushed forward a counter-attack: Taylor overlooked a check and Dunlop scored a snap mate at move 30. E. J. Dyer (Wellington) v. ,E. H. Severne (Wellington).—Queen's pawn opening. A blocked position resulted from play which was perhaps too careful on both sidefc and as neither could make any headway a draw was agreed to at move 30. • G. Cole (Nelson) v. R. O. Scott (Wanganui).—Zuckertort opening. This game was adjourned at move 40 with an apparent advantage for white. F. K. Kelling (Wellington) v. D. Heenan (Hastings) .—Sicilian opening. This was a hard fight of youth against a veteran, victory going to Heenan at move 79. Though Kelling was a piece and several pawns down in the end of the game he fought on stubbornly till Heenan was ori the verge of queening a pawn. He then gave up. Adjourned games. Adjourned games resulted:— Third Round.—Jones and Dyer agreed to a draw without ■. further P Fourth Round.—Kelling beat Scott; Taylor drew with Dyer; Severne drew with Cole; McNabb drew with RutherThe position at the end of the fittn round is:— Kelling, four wins, one loss, total points 4; Dunlop, three wins, one draw, we loss, 3£; McNabb, three wins, one draw, one loss, 3£; Rutherfurd, one win, four draws, 3; Dyer, one win, three draws, one loss, 2i; Heenan, two wins, one draw, two losses, 2£; Jones, two wins, one draw, two losses, 2i;;,Scott,;,two wins, one draw, one loss, one adjourned, 2J; Erskine, one win, two' draws, two losses, 2; Fairburn, two wins, three losses, 2; Severne, four draws, one loss '2; Taylor, one win, two draws, two losses, 2; Cole, one win, one draw, two losses, one adjourned, li; Lynch, one draw, four losses, hPREMIER RESERVE. > The fifth round of the premier reserve tourney resulted:—N. Cromarty (Wanganui) beat H. P. Whitlock (Wanganui); B. Beach (Wanganui) drew with R. Christensen (Palmerston North); R. G. Wade (Wellington) beat C. H. Speck (Stratford); S. Smith (Wanganui), drew with W- A. Dobson