DRAUGHTS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10060, 11 June 1898, Page 3

DRAUGHTS.

"Weekly Press and Referee."

Edited by J. Little, • Champion of Australasia,

Weekly Press, June 8.

PROBLEM NO. 576. *By the late David Gourlay, Glasgow. BLACK.

WHITE.

White to play and win. * A nice original stroke, rather out of the usual ruu, which we received from the late Mr Gourlay only a fortnight ago.—West Lothian Courier, April 16th. SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 572. By Mr John Leggat, Wellington. Black—3, 5, 7, 10,13,14, 20 ; White—l 6, 17, 19, 21, 22, 27, 32. Black to play and draw. 10-15 10 6 22-25 7 11 5 9 19 10 7—ll 6 2 25—22 Drawn 14—18 16 7 25—30 11 15 22 15 3—19 2.'.7a-19—23 13—22 32,23 30—25 27 .18 (a) Black would lose by 22 26 as follows : 22-26 17 13 18—22 6 10 31—24 15 24 9-14 6 2 30—26 19 23 26—31 13 9 22-26 10 15 W. wins, 21 17 14—18 2 6 26—22 5—9 9 6 26—30 24 19

SOLUTION OF PROBLEM No. 573.

By Mr James Wyllie. Black—l 2, 17, Kings 9, 21, 26; White— 5, 6, 16, 18, 23, King, 19. White to play and win. 5 1 1 6 18 14 19 15 15 13 9-2 2-9 9-27 12-19 W. wins. v;. Game No. 1696.—"Double Corner." By Mr Thomas Cowie, Liverpool, England. 9_14 4_8,7—1l 9-13 9—27 22 18 25 22 24 20 22 18 26 22 5_ g 8-12 3— 7a-20—24 27—51 24 20 28 24 32 27 27 20 22 18 11-16 16-20 11-16 13-17 31—27 20 11 24 19 20 11 18 9 18 15 8-22 1— 5 7—16 6-13 27 24 25 18 27 24 30 25b-15 6 B. wins. 12—16 20—27 16—20 2-9 29 25 31 2 T 18 15 21 14 (b) 217, 2-27 B. wins. (a) This corrects "Kear's Reprint, Drutnmond's First" var. 26, A, where 5—9 is played and a draw secured by 15 11.—Pittsburgh Chronicle Telegraph.

ITEMS. English National Tournament.

The first national tournament of the recently-formed English Draughts Association was commenced on Saturday, April 9th, at the Mitre Hotel, Liverpool. Fourteen of the pick of English players entered. The play was concluded on the evening of the following Thursday, when Willie Gardner, Leeds, won the eighth game in his tie with Jacobs, thereby winning the tie and securing the championship and first prize; Cain lost the sixth game to Jordan, and with it the tie for third place. The following is the prize list:—First, £20, Gardner; second, £10, Jacob ; third, £6, A. Jordan; fourth, £4, Cain.

The World's Championship—Jordan to Play Ferbie for £200.

We previously announced that as soon as Mr James Ferric, of Greenock, ex-Champion of the World, could make his business arrangements to suit he would challenge Jordan for the World's Championship and a stake. Accordingly a challenge has been issued by Ferric this week, which has been accepted by Jordan. The details are not yet all arranged, but so far as they go they are as follows :—The match will consist of sixty games for the championship, and a stake of £100 a side, play to commence ninety days after the articles are signed. The place of play will probably be Edinburgh, but this and the other prelimaries will be fixed shortly, and articles signed. Should no hitch occur in the preliminary arrangements, the date of the match will como in about the end of July.

Death of Two Noted Experts.

The West Lothian Courier of April 16th says :—" The removal by death, within three days of each other, this week of two noted draughts players like David Gourlay and Robert McCall, has caused painful feelings of mingled regret and surprise among lovers of the silent game. Both men belonged to the old school of draughts players; they were life long friends, were much together, and in their several ways did much to farther the interests of the game." Mr McCall had been the editor of the draughts column in the Glasgow Weekly Herald for the long period of twenty five yeara, and during that period figured as the leading authority in Great Britain. Mr McCall was compelled, through failing health, about six months ago, to give up his management of the Herald draughts column, as well as his position on the staff of the Evening Times. Mr McCall was bora in Glasgow in 1844. Mr Gourlay was a Galloway man, having been born near Whitburn in 1846, and was thus in his fifty-second year. He was the author of many fine games and problems, and for some time draughts editor of the Glasgow Record.