DRAUGHT ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2319, 11 August 1898, Page 48

DRAUGHT ITEMS.

E. Martins.— We (July Draughts World) learn with deepest regret that R. Martins, tho ex-champion draughts player, is lying seriously ill at his home in Douglas, Lanarkshire. The veteran has long since passed the allotted span of three score years and ten, and we are sxire that in all draughts circles over the known globe the utmost sympathy is being felt for him and his family in their distress. The Draughta World and S.D.Q.— Messrs Bryeon's publications, the Draughts World and the Scottish Draughts Quarterly corn* to burnt with the regularity of the sun. Of both these magazines we cannot speak in terms ol too gre it praise. The World for July is as full as it can hold of good things. The very covers have to be pressed into the service for items of interest instead ol being filled mlh standing advertisements. It would be waste of time to refer to its contents in detail— it should be sufficient that the World is quoted nnd praised by every draughts column in existenre. Even Uio Americans are for once unanimous — something good does come out of Scotland. The Quarterly Review, No. 7, vol. 11, in addition to the many excellent games and problems, contains tome dozen pages of notes and play on the "Bristol" (unclassified: 11 16, 21 17). With the magazine is presented a separate sheet of toned paper containing well-executed photos of three deceased gentlemen — John Love, David Gourhiy, and Robert M'Call. The Review is published at 6d and the World at. 3d by Messrs Bryson and Co, 92 Trongate, Glasgow. Matches at Home. — The game has been lively at Home recently in the way of match play. Tho principal event of June, however, was the contest in Glasgow between the much-lauded Ilany Preedman, champion of Scotland, and Alck. Buttevsby (challenger) for a stake of £40. Baltersby, it may be remembered, created ft senration in the 1895 tournament by playing against the famous Bryden for five days without settling their round, the score standing R wins each and 14 draws, when the ballot wa3 rcsortod to and Battersby was thrown out. Wa have no room this week for details of the match with Freedman, but the result was a win (or Freedman with the score: Freedman 5, Battersby 3, drawn 21. Another match of importance played during the same month was a contest botween Messrs M'Kelvie and Holmes for th« championship of Stirlingshire and £40, 28 gomes to be played. When the twenty-sixth game was ilnistied the two competitors wcro equal— s win* each and 16 drawu. Mr Crookston, the stakeholder, at tins juncture made tho suggestion that they allow tho remaining opening in tho bag — the Edinburgh— to stay where it "was and call th« match a draw. This was finally agreed to. the opinion being that f.hfl stake wd3 too large to risk on Ihe result of such a weak opening as the " Edinburgh."