CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1939, Page 9

CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

WON BY J. B. DUNLOP. NELSON PLAYER RUNNER-UP. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, January 5. The New Zealand chess championship was brought to a conclusion today when the final round was played, the winner being J. B. Dunlop, Dunedin, who has won the championship on four previous occasions, including three championships on end. His score was nine points out of a possible 13. He won seven games, drew four and lost two. The runner-up was H. McNabb, I Nelson, who scored eight and a half points and there was a tie for third place, F. K. Kelling, Wellington, J. A. Erskine, Invercargill, and D. I. Jones, Auckland, each scoring eight points. R. O. Scott, Wanganui, and E. H. Severne, Wellington, with seven points each, also got into the prize list. Other scores are: C. J. Taylor, Auckland, Of; E. J. Dyer, Wellington, 6; E.

Rutherfurd, Stratford, 6; D. Lynch, Hastings, 5; G. Cole, Nelson, 4: W. F. Fairburn, Wellington, 4; D. Heenan. Hastings, 4. Leading games in round 13 resulted as follows: — Dunlop v Cole: Sicilian defence. This deciding game created considerable interest and spectators were never absent from the table throughout the session. Dunlop had rather the worst of the opening, but on move 20 sacrificed the exchange for an attack. From this point he retained the initiative and won the black queen on the fortieth move, thus forcing Cole’s resignation. Lynch v Kelling: Queen’s gambit declined, Slav defence. This was another game that created considerable interest because of the veteran Wellington player, Kelling, being in a leading position. However, he had a cramped game from the beginning and his efforts to free the position were uni availing, the young Hastings player. Lynch, putting Kelling into a hopeless position with a series of forcing moves. Kelling resigned at move 46. Scott v Heenan: Queen’s declined, Pillsbury attack. Play was orthodox and with positions even a draw was agreed to on move 30. , Severne v McNabb: Sicilian defence. This was a stubborn contest which ended in McNabb finishing with a rook and two pawns against a rook. Severne resigned at move 72. Jones v Erskine: Queen's pawn, King's Indian defence: neither player gained an advantage in the game, which ended in a peaceful draw.