CHESS TOURNEY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 January 1931, Page 8

CHESS TOURNEY

dominion championship EIGHTH AND NINTH ROUNDS (By Telegraph—Press Association) ROTORUA, 2nd January. The following is the description of the games in the eighth and ninth rounds of the chess tournament : EIGHTH ROUND Pleasants v. Fairburn. —Fairburn played the double Franehetlo defence to the' king’s pawn opening. A very even middle game resulted. In ttin end game Pleasants gave up a knight to gain an o xtra. passed pawn. This lie was able to ,-mooi! and Fairburn resigned. Aliller v. Greenfield.—A Caro Kami defence, in which Aliller appeared to get (he advantage of position. He left an attacked rook without support, and later made a weak move. Greenfield took advantage of it and soon pressed on to victory.

Gvles v. Helling.—A queen’s pawn "ame. Gyles obtained a fine position, and won a pawn interposed to cover a threatened mate, and a sparkling duel took place in Rolling's repulse of Gylcs’s attack, lmt with the exchanges Kelling was le’ft with a weaker pawn position, and was outplayed in the end game. Erskine. v. Hummer.—A queen’s pawn game. Erskine soon pushed forward an attack on the king’s wing, won. a bishop for a pawn, and prevented Hummer from castling. Erskine held Hummer's pieces, defending a weak position; and with a free queen harried Hummer’s king. Finding his forces further weakened, Hummer resigned Herbert v. Aladdox.—Maddox played an irregular defence in which queens snd minor pieces were exchanged early. He made good use of his bishops. Herbert moved a knight, to be taken, forgetting that the supporting pawn was pinned, and was soon outplayed by Maddox. • .. , , Grierson v. Severne. —A well-played Rny Lopez, with sound development in the later Severne won a paW n, but with queens and rooks off, a hard struggle took place. Grierson was able to change off pieces, so that the players were left with bishops of opposite colours, -md forced a drawing position. NINTH ROUND 'Greenfield v. Erskine.—A Sicilian defence. in which queens were early changed off. Erskine castled on the queen, side and advanced king side pawns. Greenfield also castled on the queen side to a position exposed to ulLack by a bishop. Erskine threatened to win a knight, but was able to win knight, pawn, and bishop, whereupon Greenfield resigned. Fairburn v. Aliller.—Queen’s pawn game. In the opening exchanges Fairbum won two pawns and obtained command of the open bishop’s file. Attacking through this with queen and rooks, he dominated the position, forcing the exchange of rooks and winning a third pawn. Miller checked with the queen on the eighth rank wasting queen strength to pin a bishop. Fairburn won. Kelling v. Herbert.—Herbert played an ivreaular 'defence which soon gave Kelling a dominating position. Tiling up the attack, Kelling caused Herbert to draw upon every reserve, breaking through on the queen side. Kelling suddenly struck at the centre, checking with queen, winning a bishop, and threatening !o win queen for a rook. Herbert resigned. Tim Grierson v. Pleasants, Hummer v Gvles. and Aladdox v Severne games were unfinished.