Scottish Championship Tournament.

Otago Witness, Issue 2088, 1 March 1894, Page 38

Scottish Championship Tournament.

2 Stewart ... 3 M'Kelvie ... 1 P j?errie ... 4 Searhjljt ... 0 i^fter playing four games, fearieht reslgnod in favour of 'errie, who then met Stewart for the final. Searight and M'Kelvie divided the thiyd and fourth prices. The latest to hand, without details, is that Stewart succeeded in wresting first prize and the championship from Ferrie — a decidedly popular victory. Searight is to be ooroplimented (says the Liverpool Mercury) on the result of his protracted struggle with Bryden, who is without doubt the most dogged player in Scotland ; at the 16th game they stood one win each and 14 draws ; the ballot for the opening of the 17th gave the Kelso game, with 23 18 defence, and Bryden failed to properly manipulate the Black pieces, and lost after a two-hours' struggle. Searight's resignation in favour of Ferrjo was .doubtless ve.ry

generous, but all such " arrangements" are to be regretted, even when unavoidable, as they undoubtedly detract from the ultimate merit involved in the final victory. Young Stewart — the hero, though not the victor, of last year — again came charmingly to the front. Fraser, Brown, and M'Kelvie are bad to beat one after the other, but the juvenile from Kelty proved himself equal to the task and landed in the final, hoping for Searight but expecting Ferric. whom he met in the final struggle.

For the following endings we are indebted to the Glasgow Weekly Herald :— M'Kelvie-Burns. — Black men on 2, 3, 15, 19, 23, 24; White men on 9, 11, 13, 23, 31, 32. Black (Burns) to play-

Bryden-Searight. — Black men on 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 16 ; White men on 14, 17. 29, 30, 32, kl. White (Bryden) to play—

Bryden-Searight.— Black men on 2, 6, 8, 12, 20, k 32 ; .White men on 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 31. White (Bryden) to move— 2218 20 27 1713 26 23 1410 32 27 2117 3126 1814 1811 3124 27 31 14 9 23 18 Draw. Ferric- Jackson.— Black men on 1, 11, 12, 15, 24, k 18; White men on 13, 17, 30, 32, ks on 2, 3. Black (Jackson) to play— 18 23 3 8 110 714 2718 13 9 27 31 2 7 2318 1713 24 27 9 6 3127 -14 23 1814 Then 30 26, 14 17, drawn. Burns-M'Kelvie.— One of the most curious endings that occur in draughts happened with these two play ors— the loser had a king and three men to his opponent's three single pieces, and yet had to resign. Black men on 17, 19, 22, 23 ; White men on 26, £8, 29, 31, k7. White to play— 710 1014 1418 18 23 28 24 23 30 17 21 2125 19 26 White wins. Jackson JTerrie.— Black men on 3, 7, 10, 11, 12, k 26 ; White men on 19, 20, 21, 23, 32, k2. White (Jackson) to play— 2 6 1127 1915 711 1714 3 8 32 23 22 26 2117 2319 615 26 22 2318 26 23 1410 Black wins. Burns-M'Kelvie. — Burns had a certain win in hand, but played a little carelessly in tlie end-game— everything looked as if ib would win. PositionBlack men on 6, 17, k 16 ; White men on 12, 18, 21, k 14. Hera Burns moved 12 8. "My only hope, and what I've been play, ing for," remarked M'Kelvie, who, amid a round of applause, moved 610, 14 7, 1612, 2117 12 17, and won. Buchanan-Brown.— Black men on 5, 10 11, 12, 13, 15, 16 : White me^on 18, 20, 22, 24, 26^ 28, 31. White (Buchanan) to play— 1814 26 23 3122 2419 2819 1017 1726 5 9 1524 1115 Drawn.

The following shows the respective scores up to the fourth round :— First and Second Rounds. Wins. Draws, Wins, 3 gearight ... 8 Mauohan ... 1 3 Jackson ... 1 Henderson ... 0 1 Brown ... 5 Buchanan ... 0 4 Ferrio ... 0 Nichol ... 0 3 MMtelvie ... 1 M'Donald ... 0 1 Burns ... 5 M'lnnes ... 0 2 Stewart ... 3 Eraser ... 0 2 Bryden ... 3 Wm. Scott ... 1 3 Searight ... 2A. B. Scott... 0 Third Round. 2 Searight ...15 Bryden ... 1 2 M'Kelvie ... 8 Burns ... 1 2 Stewart ... 3 Brown ... 0 0 Jackson ... 3 Ferric ... 2 Fourth Round.

812 2 6 1015 19 23 311 25 2L 10 7 710 1417 10 r , 711 610 1519 1519 24 2! 14 9 7 3 1014 17 22 7 1 514 4 8 1115 19 24 16 2( Then 38, 1116, 811, 27 31, 1115. White wins.

9 6 18 22 29 6 1 16 30 25 2016 26 30 27 20 23 26 White wins.