CHESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10299, 7 January 1927, Page 2

CHESS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP

TOURNAMENT NEARS CONCLUSION.

AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. Interest in the New Zealand chess championship tourney is still maintained, hut Erskine or Davies must' win the title, Following are the results: — —Sixth Round. — , Dunlop v. Gyles.—Dunlop did not regain liis gambit pawn. Each player had a race to queen a pawn. In a very interesting end game the nnal stage saw Gyles give up a rook tor a pawn, leaving a knight and two pawns against Dunlop’s rook and bishop. Dunlop’s king, however, was out of play, and he could not do more than draw. . Severne v. Kelling.—Kelling had a bishop in satisfaction for two pawns, but Severne established an ingenious combination with his two rooks and compelled Kelling to draw by perpetual check, at move 50. Bullock v. Erskine—This was a hard light, in which Bullock has gained a pawn, but when the game reached an interesting stage it was adjourned. , Fairburn v. Miller. —Both players had three pawns each in the end position with neither player able to do anything. Fairburn in this game by skilful play, evaded the win in order to draw, so that Miller would not beat him for the bottom position. , Fairburn always takes his reverses with a smile, however. Davies v. Moir.—This game was drawn in 22 moves. Roberts v. Pleasants. —Some ingenious play occurred wliere Roberts gave up his queen for a rook temporarily and regained it a little later with a winning pawn position, which he carried out unerringly in the last round. , , Gyles v. Davies (Queen s Gambit declined). —Gyles attacked Davies on the king side and gave up a knight to continue pressure. The position is adjourned, Gyles having coinpensat:on in extra pawns for the minus piece. _ , Miller v. Severne (Ruy Lopez).— Miller attacked oil the queen s side. Then Severne counter-attacked on the queen side and Miller was immediately oil the defence, and in a melee lost .the exchange and resigned on 06th move. Dunlop v. Roberts (Sicilian Defence).— Played on the orthodox lines until wholesale exchanges took place, and the position is adjourned in a verv even state. Fairburn v. Bullock (Queen’s Pawn). —Very even play. In opening Fairburn lost a pawn and the exchange in the, middle of the game, and Bullock had no trouble in winning with this advantage. Kelling v. Pleasants (Pon/.iani). — Kelling has the attack at the expense of a pawn. The game is unfinished. Moir r. Erskine (Sicilian Defence). —A hard-fought game in which Moir was the first to go away from the “book.” Moir played cautiously Imposition. The game is unfinished and is fairly even.

The position of the players is as follow: Erskine 7 wins, 1 loss, 3 to plav; Davies- 8)- I\, 1; Dunlop 6), 3i,'l; Moil- 61, 3s. 1; Roberts 6-), 3£, 1; Severne 51, 41, 1; Kelling 4,6, 1; Pleasants 31, 6J, 1; Bullock 51 1- Miller 1-J, 9J, 0; Fairburn IE 91, O.—P.A.