Alexander Alekhine defeated Gyula Breyer to assure himself of first place in the Scheveningen International Masters' Tournament with one round left to be played. The young Master thus adds this success, arguably his most impressive to date, to his victory last year at Stockholm and his first place finish at the All-Russian Amateur Tournament of 1909. Alekhine's win over Breyer raised his score to 11 1/2 points from twelve games, with a ninth-round draw against F.D. Yates so far the only minor blot on an otherwise perfect record. David Janowski, Alekhine's closest pursuer, kept pace with the leader by topping Abraham Speijer, but the French veteran, who trails Alekhine by 1 1/2 points, has no hope of overtaking him with only a single game remaining. Thus, the much-awaited last-round encounter between Janowski and Alekhine has become something of an anti-climax, all the more so as Janowski has already secured clear second place in the tourney. Let us nevertheless hope that the two Masters will approach their meeting in a fighting mood.
The competition for third place remains heated. Dr. A.G. Olland, after defeating Willem Schelfhout, now holds that position with 8 points. With his victory Dr. Olland leap-frogged both Breyer and Yates, each still with 7 1/2, the latter after losing a difficult game to J.W. te Kolsté. Edward Lasker, another prize contender, increased his total to 7 points, sacrificing his Queen to bring off a beautiful snap checkmate against Fritz Englind in a game we have given pride of place below. The day's final contest, between Rudolf Loman and Klaas Geus, resulted to a draw. Jacques Mieses gained a free point through the bye arising from the withdrawal of Arnold van Foreest.
The final round's pairings are as follows: Janowski-Alekhine, Breyer-Olland, Englund-Yates, Geus-Ed. Lasker, te Kolsté-Speijer, and Schelfhout-Mieses. Loman will have the bye, and so has completed his playing schedule.
Current scores: Alekhine 11 1/2; Janowski 10; Olland 8; Yates, Breyer 7 1/2; Ed. Lasker 7; te Kolsté 6 1/2; Englund, Geus 5 1/2; Mieses 5; Loman, Speijer 4; Schelfhout 2; van Foreest 0.
Knowing the predilection of many of our readers for quick and sparkling victories, we begin with the Queen sacrifice by Edward Lasker vs. Englund. Seldom have we seen the chessboard crime of laggard development so neatly and attractively punished. Young or inexperienced players would do well to examine closely the checkmating pattern.
Alekhine, playing White in a Queen's Gambit Declined, scored a rather easy victory over Breyer, who felt compelled to cede a piece at the 22nd move in order to ward off a looming attack.
Janowski, as second player in a Queen's Pawn Game, outplayed Speijer, who seems to have overlooked the clever 23...gxh3!
Yates appeared for a time to have a shade the better of things against te Kolsté's French Defense, but the English Master gradually let the game slip away. 47.Kg1 Bh2+ cost him the exchange, and in the subsequent play White never succeeded in advancing his passed Queen-side pawns.
Dr. Olland surprised Schelfhout with the blow 20.Bxg7! to score a quick victory in a Four Knights' Game.
Finally, Loman and Geus played a quiet Vienna Game, exchanging many pieces and agreeing to a draw at the 27th move.
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