CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11923, 22 December 1900, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD.

A DRAWN MATCH.

After a wonderfully-protracted contest, the great draughts match fdr the world's championship and a stake of £100 between Mr Richard Jordan (of Edinburgh) and Mr Charles P.' Barker (of Boston) ended in a draw. The 40 games were played at the express Speed of two games per day, ending with the score of 2 wins each and SB draws. As already stntetl in this column, Jordan scored the first win, but Barker was not long in equalising the scores. Jordan then won the twenty-second game, and maintained his lead until the thirtyfourth game, when Barker again came on level terms by scoring a win, this time with the White side of a "Denny." The championship title is'thus retained by Jordan, but it is not likely that Barker or his friends will remain long without issuing another challenge. To Jordan the result must be equally unsatisfactory, and we are sure he will welcome another contest with the American champion, who has proved himself so worthy a foeman. The match itself has been unusually protracted, only two games per day having been played. This involves a physical endurance as well aa a mental strain, and is likely to tell in favour of the player having the best staySOME DETAILS. The play on the last Thursday of the match woo uneventful, and ended in two drawn games. On the Friday the "Denny" was balloted, and the game played at the morning sitting was drawn. Jordan had the Black pieces nt the evening sitting, and got into difficulties, his opponent eventually winning the game. It will bo remembered that when Jordan had the Black pieces in the first section of the match he just secured a draw by getting into the position known as "Bowen's Twins." The score was now two wins each, and with only six games to play a drawn reBiilt seemed certain. On the Saturday two other draws were played, followed by two more on Monday. On the Tuesday, for the concluding games, 10 15 was balloted. This opening, known as the "Kelso," is greatly favoured by the players in Boston and New England generally, and Ilcffner, one of Barker's trainers, has made it his special study. It therefore caused no surprise when Jordan was found struggling with a very difficult position in the first game, but he managed to make a draw. All now hinged upori one game, and that was played at the evening sitting,' but it was evenly contested, and the great match ended in a tie of 2 wins each and 38 drawn games. Twice during the match Jordan had the lead. On the fifth day ho scored the first win of the match with the White side in the "Double Corner" opening. He sacrificed a man to secure a king, and Barker foiled to grasp the correct way to meet it. Had ho done so, it might have gone badly with the champion, as, according to published play, he had ventured on a losing move. Barker captured the next win on the following day. It was from the "Dundee" opening, and is described as follows in one of the American papers: — The evening game woke the boy 3 up. The play proceeded, 12 IG, 24 20, 8 12, 28 24 9 14 22 18, 3 8, 18 9, 5 14, which is the regulation Trunk" of the opening, Jordan having the Blacks. At this juncture Barker varied from accustomed lines by 23 19 instead of 24 39, prescribed by the books. It is not entirely new, however, the move having been given out with published analyses, but it is not at all well known. The game proceeded, IB 23, 27 9, 6 13, when Barker sprung the trap that he had carefully laid for his opponent, Tho move be made ■was 26 23, the significance of which ia only apparent with men on Ihe hoard, and even then one must have the analysis to fully p.pnrt'ciat" its possibilities. Jordan replied 10.15, which some of the local experts say will draw, but doubt the chances of a man finding the right play over the board. Jordan continued for only 19 moves more, his game going rapidly from bad to worse, until at 34 moves, although he had seven men left and as many ns his opponent, he fared a veritable slaughter that would clean off lu3 side of the board, and he resigned. Jordan again scored at the evening sitting on the twelfth ("iay with the P-'.ack pieces, in the "Single Corner" game, and Barker equalised with the White side in the "Denny" opening on the seventeenth day. It will be seen that three, out of the four wins were made by the player having the White side. The following position from the fifth game (Edinburgh) is oauoins n liHle controversy in America, Jordan ?.nd Crookston Mating that White can win by 20 IG, while Barker and Hcflner consider it a draw. Other experts

are in doubt. Black on 1, 3, 9, 13, kinc; 23; Whito on 10, 12, 20, 21, 30, king G; AVhite (Jordan) to play. Jordan played 21 17, and only drew.

JORDAN'S FIRST WIN.

Regarding tho "Double- Corner" that Jordan won, the Boston Herald has the following: — "Friday afternoon's contest was a gem as a spectacle for the onlookers who could follow tho play intelligently, and tho gathering at this match is made up exclusively of people who are familiar with the science of the gamo. Tho line of play chosen may bo found in Lees's Guide, in the t' sub-variation to the fifth variation, where the author claims that 21 19 is better than either ffl 25 or 18 15. Barker chose 18 15, condemned by the author, hut nowadays regarded as White's best continuation. The plr.v then went similar to a gamo in the Jordan-Stewart match till the nineteenth move, when Barker moved 3 7. This was where he slipped. In the published game Jordan played 2 7, and drew, but later analysis has shown it to be a loss. The move 3 7 is no better, 8 12 or 18 23 being far preferable. Jordan, who is an adept at this openins?, saw his advantage, and promptly sar.rificcKl a man for a pr.th to the king row. Barker attempted to relieve his game by making a thrce-for-two shot, Jordrni responding with a two-fov-two exchange, that reduced the position to four men each. All this delighted tho onlookers as a spectacle of strategic checker play, though none"could fail to see that Barker was facing defeat. He is nothing if not stubborn, and made a tough buttle to relieve the Scotchman's grip, but finally had to give up a man for nothing to avoid immediate disaster, and a few moves later resigned."

DRAUGHTS ITISJ'fS.

Mr J. Minetti, one of the most consistent of all club players, is the winner of the Collingv.ood Handicap Tourney.

The following description of how draughts is played at the front is by Corporal S. Cox: — "For a board we got our waterproof sheet and marked the squares with pencil, and for men wo used the lids of the small tins that are supplied to us for making soup. We blackened tho lids by putting them into tho fire, and thus had black men, and of course the clean lids did very well for White men." Verily, necessity is the mother of invontion.

In the October number of the Draughts World, Mr R. Atwell, the champion of the London Wanderers' Club, ia described as selfconfident, preoccupied when alone, vivacious when in company, and possessed both of the qunlity of adaptability and of the capacity of making friends. He has a reputation as an amateur conjurer; "ho ia fond of music, of dancing, of cycling, of swimming, and of rowing, and he has definite opinions on questions social, political, physical, moral, and theological."

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

D. A. 8., Dunedin.—Have had no information lately, but will make inquiries and publish result. Probably they are going to rush matters forward after the holidays. F. A. 8., Temuka.—Thanks for favours.