CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 860, 2 January 1930, Page 6

CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS

SEVENTH ROUND RESULTS SEVERNE’S NARROW LEAD Press Association WANGANUI, Wednesday. The following are the results in the chess championship tournament in the seventh round: — Scott v. Rutherford. —A popular book variation of the queen’s, bishop’s gambit was played. Scott was the first to attack, but did not go on with it. In the middle game Rutherford won a pawn and Scott later left a pawn to be captured for nothing. A blunder by Scott gave Rutherford a bishop and a knight for rook, hut the former played his rook so well that a draw resulted.

Beyer v. Jeffreys.—This was' a Sicilian game, Beyer adopting the Fianchetto development for his king’s bishop. The early exchange of queens gavo Beyer the stronger pawn game, but Jeffreys demonstrated the superiority of two bishops in play against knight and bishop, and gradually wore Beyer’s position down, until he was able to mate with rook and bishop. Anderson v. Pleasants.—-Very even positions came out of this queen’s pawn opening, each player attacking in turn. Pleasants was forced into an exchange, which left him with a weak pawn position. Later on Anderson was able -to pin Pleasants’s bishop, whereupon Pleasants’s position collapsed and he resigned. Fairburn v. Gunderson.—ln this opening queen’s bishop’s gambit declined. Fairburn set up a good pawn position, fcut failed to defend the leading pawn. In the middle game Gunderson outplayed Fairburn, who had his queen right out of play, and Gunderson gave checkmate at move 41. Topp v. Purdy.—An unusual king’s pawn opening was played, by which Topp lost a pawn, and it left him with a very open king. Topp exchanged queens, but Purdy made excellent use of a rook, bishop and forward passed pawn, and Topp, seeing a mate threatening. resigned. Hicks v. Kelling.—This was a most interesting Ruy Lopez game, Hicks seeming to get the better position. From the opening attack and counterattacks were the order of play, but Kelling obtained a fine pawn centre, while Hicks’s pawns were weak. Hicks threatened to lock in a bishop, and in taking a pawn to save the piece Kelling lost two pawns. Their forces were now even, and with the exchange of the second rook a draw was agreed upon. Erskine v. Severne.—A popular book variation of the queen’s bishop’s gambit was played. Severne’s pieces seemed to be very cramped in their defence, and Erskine found it very difficult to work through. With the advance of king’s side pawns supporting bishop at knight’s 5, Severne blocked Erskine’s advance. In making a hurried clock move Erskine left a chance for Severne to offer the sacrifice of his queen to get a checkmate. In considering the position Erskine exceeded the time limit and the game went to Severne. The position of the players at the end of the round was:—Severne, won 5, lost none, drawn 2, points 6; Anderson, 4. 0,3, points; Gunderson, 5, 1, 1, 51 points; Erskine, 3,2, 2, 4 points; Jeffreys 3,2, 2, 4 points; Kelling, 3. 2,2, 4 points; Purdy, 4, 3,0, 4 points; Pleasants, 4,3, 0, 4 points; Rutherford, 2,3, 2, 3 points; Scott, 2,4, 1 2i points; Beyer, 2,5, 0, 2 points; Hicks, 0,3, 4,2 points; Topp, 1 5,1, I|| points; Fairburn, 0,5, 2, 1 point.