Southland Championship Tournament.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 40

Southland Championship Tournament.

A Gore conesjtoiuleut kindly supplies the following details :— . .^ Play in tbe above commenced on Wednesday afternoon, 22nd ult., at the Town Hill, Gore, and the first pairing resulted in some very evenlycontested battles. The tie between Beee-ot and Morris produced some good play, their two first games being drawn and Morris winning the third with the black side of a " Defiance," but Beecot made the score even by winning the last game, a "Bristol." In the play-off the first game, a " Croat," wag drawn, and Beecot won the next, a " Black Dyke," through Morris exceeding the time limit.

At No. 2 board Ayson scored the first game off Mulvey with the white aide of the "Bristol Cross ; then two "Bristols" were drawn, aud Mulvey equalised tba score by winning the fourth S&ine, also a "Bri«tol," with the black pieces. Mulvey won the next game with tin- vrhifi 1 sifie of ft " D>ke," ihu« wit u>ng tbv tie. Mujtheaon appeared to ba.v c an easy victory over Harrison, as lie scored 2 wins atid 1 draw : Souness making a like score against Hannah, while Scott had a walk over, aa his opponent, M'Kenna, did nor turn up. M'Kenna resigned before the second round was commenced.

Play in the second round started <m Thursday afternoon. In the fkst class Beecot drew Souness, and a very even match resulted, lhe first two games were drawn, the third wag won> by Beecot with the black aide of a "Souter," but Souness" scored the next gaine.ta " Centre." Tbe first game in the play of! was drawn, but Beecot scored the next by winning the white side of a "Glasgow," thus windiiig the tie. Mulvey scored 3 wins to 1 against Matheson, winning with White in a " Double Corner" anda "Cross" and with black in a "Paisley," and losing the b'aok side of a "Bristol." Scott had another eaEy round, as he diew the bye.

Iv the becond class Morris beat flarri«on by 2 games, one being drawn, The tie between Aysou and Hannah was well contested, Ayson scoring 1 win and drawing the remaining three games. The third round commenced late on Thursday evening. In the first class Mulvey met Scott, and Beecot drew the bye. After drawing a " Switcher " and a " Paisley." Mulvey scored with the black in a "Paisley" and then drew a "Switcher^ thus winning the tie. In the second class Morris made a good score against Ayson, winning three consecutive games, and Souness scored 2 wins against Matheson, one game being drawn. Mulvey and Beecot being the only ones left In the first class commented, piajrias tb» fourth

round on Friday afternoon. Their first six gamoi were drawn, three being " Paisleys." Beecot kavicg white, and three Switchers," Mulvey haviug white. Beecot won the seventh game with the black side of a " Dyke." In the second class Scott was pitted against Morris, and the spectators expected Morris to come off victor in this round. Scott, however, won the firot two games, with white in a "Single Coruer" and black in a " Douglas." The third game resulted fn a draw, and Morris waß out of the running and just escaped Ratting a prize. Souness drew the bye. The fifth round saw Souness and Scott meat, Mulvey having a bye, and Beecot had a spell for two rounds waiting for the winner of the second cl»s3. Scott formed a " Glasgow" the first game and scored the first*win, but lost his advantage by losing the white side of the "Single Corner" in the h( cond game The third game was drawn, and Souness won the fourth, a "Siugle Corner." Souncss now met Mulvey and scored in the firat and third games, both " Single Corners," he having black. The second game, a " Bristol Cross " was drawn.

Beecot and Souness now faced each other for toe second time, and a good contest was looked forward to, as Sou ness was playing in fine style. An " Old Fourteenth " was their first g^me, and resulted in a draw. Souness drew first blood by winning the black side of the " Will o' the Wisp." Beecot next formed a " Souter," but could only get a draw, and in trying to win the next game, a " Dyke," was beaten. This finished the round and both players were now level, each having lost once. The final round commenced at 10 15 p.m. on Saturday, and the longest game of the tourney result d, there being 140 moves in it. Wither player could have forced a draw, but each was in hopes of wiuning, and at last Beecot got a grip on Souness aud forced a man, winning the game. , Play for the evening finished with this game, ancrßeecot's chances looked rosy, but when play recommenced on Monday morning he collapsed, first losing the white side of a "Cross" and thena " Glasgow."

Beecot refused the " GUsgow " the n^xt game by forming a " Glasgow Whilter," but only a draw resulted.

SouneSD therefore takes first prise, -£6, and the championship of Southland ; Beecot, second, £3 j Mulvey, third, j£2; and Scott, fourth, a *ilver coffee pot.

Gr-a_t credit is due to the officials for the m <nner in which the tourney was conducted, Me>s*-s Domigan and JBarron being mainly responsible for this success. The tourney would have occupied a much longer time had not pkyari in ucfuiished ties kindly consunteJ to play off in the mornings. C. Sonnets now holds the champio ship until suck time as the Mat aura Valley Draughts Association is in a position to make the tourney an annual fixture.

The Touruey Committee have forwarded their thanks to the Witness for the donation of £3 33 to the prize fund.