DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 48

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

The Versatile Pillsbury.— Mr H. N. Pillsbury, the American chess champion, gave a display of his extraordinary talents at the Metropolitan Chess Club, Liverpool, on May 25. He took a hand at whist, and at the same' time conducted, without sight of boards or pieces, six games at chess and two games at draughts. He has performed a similar action several times now. Seated at a table at one end of the room, he calmly manipulated his cards, at the same time calling out his moves without hesitation to the tellers at the chess and draughts tables. Once he paused at one of the draughts tables and said, " I guess 111- make a few moves right along &p this board ;" and then dictated a series -of moves in rapid succession, which left him a piece down, with • a strong " Doctor " sort of position. One of the chess players was the first to resign and then followed a draughts player, the others forming a little procession. Mr Pillsbury scored at all the chess and draughts tables, notwithstanding the fact that his opponents were all strong playeTS. Mr James Hill was teller for the draughts games. At whist Mr Pillsbury lost the first rubber 1 to 2, and the second was unfinished with a point each. Play lasted three hours and a-quarter. We give the draughts games played at the Metropolitan Chess Club, which, together with these partichlars, we take from the Liverpool Mercury. Victorian Dratights Championship. — This important contest is advancing satisfactorily. Some of the rounds have been -stubbornly contested. J. P. Moore passed into the second round without playing, as his ; opponent resigned. In the second round he. defeated^-H. Boardman by 2 wins to 0 and 3 drp,w.s, so thathe must be in excellent form. Mr S. Salmon;, unexpectedly, we should imagine, defeated J« Best in the second round by 2to 1 and 3 draws, and at latest news P. Brown and S. Piper had even scores at tbe close of the 10th game. The four prize-takers will be Messrs Brown, Moore, Dcvette, aid Salmon. The Scottish Champion.— Mr Hairy Preedinan does not believe in wasting time. At present he is playing two noted London playera, Atwell and Lambert, matches foi a small stake on each game. At latest the score stood: Freedman. 17; Atwell, 3; Freedman, 8; Lambert, 1. There is also some talk of a match with' Jacob on even terms, or with Willie Gardner, ' ohampion of England, lor the championship oi Great Britain. If tho matches are not arranged, Freedman intends sailing for New York. He ia also publishing a book on draughts which ia said to contain some entirely fresh play.

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