CHESS CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 15

CHESS CONGRESS

KELLING LEADING

NINE OF THIRTEEN ROUNDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, January 2. With nine out of thirteen rounds completed in the New Zealand chess championship, F. K. Kelling, the Wellington veteran, ,s leading with 6| points. He has completed all his games. Scott, who has one unfinished game, has 5 i points-, and can tie with Kelling in the event of winning this game. McNabb, who was leading at the finish of the eighth round, lost his,next game and has 6 points, and so has Dunlop. Erskine has 5i points, and Jones 5, with one game unfinished. Results of the eighth round played on Saturday are:— - W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) drew with C. 3. Taylor (Auckland): D. I. Jones (Auckland) beat E. H. Severne (Wellington); R. O. Scott (Wanganui) beat D. Lynch (Hastings); J. B. Dunlop (Dunedin) beat D. Heenan (Hastings); H. McNabb (Nelson) beat R. J. Dyer (Wellington); J. A. Erskine (Invercargill) beat F. K. Kelling (Wellington); E. Rutherford (Stratford)' v. G. Cole (Nelson), unfinished. Ninth Round. ' Round nine resulted as follows: — Kelling v. Fairburn.—Ruy Lopez. At move 37, Kelling won a second pawn, which gave him the game ten moves later. Lynch v. Heenan.—Queen's pawn, King's Indian defence. Lynch won a piece for two pawns at move 22, forcing Heenan's resignation at move 30. Cole v. Erskine.—Queen's pawn; King's Indian defence. Erskine got the better opening, winning a pawn. Cole, made a mistake, which cost him a piece and he immediately\ resigned. Dunlop v. McNabb.—Sicilian defence. As McNabb was leading at the end of the eighth round and Dunlop was only one point behind him, considerable interest, was taken in this game, which was ah attractive exposition. McNabb in the middle game i: itiated a strong attack but in the manoeuvres he overlooked that a piece could be taken with check, and as he ■had previously given up an exchange to continue the attack the position became untenable and he resigned at move 35. Dyer v. Rutherford.—-Queen's pawn, Semmering variation.. This was a fairly eveu game throughout, with a pawn ending, neither side being able to break through and a draw was agreed on. ~..-,.'. . = ■ Jones v. 'Scott.--—Queen's gambit accepted. After a hard struggle the game was adjourned with equal positions, each player having bishop and knight and three pawns. Taylor v. Severne. —Queen's pawn. At the adojournment Severne was a pawn up, but a good deal of play was left in the ending. Adjourned games resulted:— Fifth round. —Cole drew with Scott. Sixth round.—Cole beat Heenan; McNab drew with Kelling; Scott beat bDyer. j Seventh round. —Kelling beat Rutherfurd. - j Premier Reserve. The final/round of the premier reserve was entered upon tonight and all the games were finished with the exception of that.between R. G. Wade (Wellington) arid N. M. Cromarty (Wanganui). which was adjourned at the forty-third move. This can make j no difference to the aggregate, as Wade has Seven and a half points to his credit. If Cromarty wins or draws ] an adjourned game heiwill be runnerup with seven or six and a half points. Otherwise R. Christensen (Palmerston North) will share the honour of sec-; ond place, with Cromarty. Other leading scores are:—B. Beach (Wanganui), five points and a game to play; N. R. Meads, five points; H. P. Whitlock, three and a half points, with one game to play; W. A. Dobson (Christchurch) and S. Smith (Wanganui), : three points. ■ ■ ■