CHESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1939, Page 7

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CONGRESS. KELLING IN THE LEAD. (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, is leading, with 6| points. He has completed all his games. Scott, who has one unfinished game, has SJ, 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 six points, and so has Dunlop. Erskine has 5| points and Jones five, with one game unfinished. Results of the eighth round played on Saturday are: —

W. J. Fairburn (Wellington) drew with C. J. 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 (WeL lington); E. Rutherford (Stratford) v. G. Cole (Nelson), unfinished. Round nine resulted as follows: —

Kelling v. Fairburn: At move 37 Kelling won a second pawn which gave him the game ten moves later. Lynch v. Heenan: Lynch won a piece for two pawns at move 22, forcing Heenan’s resignation at move 30.

Cole v. Erskine: Cole made a mistake, which cost him a piece and he immediately resigned.

Dunlop v. McNabb: McNabb in the middle game initiated 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. Rutherfurd: This was a fairly even game throughout, with a pawn ending, neither side being able to break throgh and a draw was agreed to. Jones v. Scott: After a hard struggle the game was adjourned with equal positions, each player having bishop and knight and three pawns.

Taylor v. Severne: At the adjournment 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; McNabb drew with Kelling; Scott beat Dyer. Seventh round: Kelling beat Rutherfurd.

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) and N. M. Cromarty (Wanganui), which was adjourned at the 43rd move. This can make no difference to the aggregate, as Wade has seven and a half points to his credit. If Cromarty wins or draws an adjourned game he will be runner-up with seven or six and a half points. Otherwise R. Christensen (Palmerston North) will share the honour of second 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, 3J points, with one game to play; W. A. Dobson (Christchurch) and S. Smith (.Wanganui) .three points.