The Scottish Championship.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 52

The Scottish Championship.

The ninth annual tournament of the Scofc tish Draughts Association, which awards the title of Scottish champion with the first prize, commenced in the Lesser City Hall, Glasgow, on Monday, January 1. Only 22 players entered this year, being four less than last year. Shortly before noon the proceedings were opened by Bailie R. Anderson, the chair being occupied by Mr M'Gowan, Glasgow, president of the association. Scobbie beat Bisset in the second and third games, winning the tie. Freedman also settled his opponent, winning the fourth and sixth games. Macfarlane and Kirk made four draws; Holmes and M'Cafferty also tied with a game each and two drawn, while Buchanan, got a game up on M'G-eorge which settled the tie. Preedman's last win was a Kelso Cross in which he had the black men, and after fully two hours' play wrought himself into the following nice position: —Black —9, 20, kings, 22, 26; White—2l, 29, kings, 19, 7. Black (Freedman) to play.

After a few more moves Henderson resigned.

On Tuesday the proceedings were opened by Bailie W. F. Anderson. FERRIE V. STEWART. An "Old Fourteenth" was taken from the hat. and in a very short space of time both sides were rattled off drawn. The next opening, a. " Kelso," proved an exceedingly interesting e;ame. At one stage of the play, Ferric, who played black, gave away a man, and shortly afterwards Stewart had to part with it again, so as to keep on safe ground. It was very, difficult to say how the game would go. At length a clearance was made, and a drawing position was secured. The following shows the ending:—Black—l, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14; White—lV, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 31. Black (Ferric) to play—

After a few more moves a draw was declared. EKEEDJIAN V. SCOBBIE. These players contested a " Will-o'-the-Wisp" opening. All went well xintil a certain stag© was reached when Fieedman, it was thoxight, played a losing move, as shown by Willie Gardner. This liae of play admitted of Scobbie getting two men ahead. With this seeming advantage Freedman's position was a very bad one. At length Freedman got one man back, and the position stood as follows:—Black—l, 3, 4, 8, 13, king 22; White—s, 10, 18, 27, 28, 31, 32— White (Scobbie) to play, which he did by going 18 15, and Freedman soon scored a win. It was thought by the critics that 18-11 would have drawn, but Freedman showed a win on. that line too. Their next " Will-o'-the-Wisp " resulted in a draw. A lead of a game was gained by Scott, Bo» nar, Campbell, and Robertson, while M'George, whose brother had fallen to Buchanan in the first tie, pluckily succeeded in making an equal score with the noted expert. M'Farlane still stood even with a game each and seven drawn. Scores: —

On Wednesday the proceedings were opened by the president. In the undecided tie between Kirk and M'Farlane it was agreed to decide the result by ballot. The lot fell against the Bathgate man, and Kirk met Bryden in the second round. Ferric and Stewart contested four balloted games, two Edinburghs and two Double Corners, all drawn, making a, score of 10 drawn games. Campbell, having a game up on Brown in the second round, drew his sixth game and won his tie. Meeting Scott in the third round, Campbell opened with a win." Bonar beat Montague in the second, and played three games with Robertson in the third, making an equal score. In. the decisive game with Montague, Bonar got his opponent in the following tight corner: — Black—2, 5, 21, king 22; White—2B, 30, king 3 1, 11. Black (Montague) to play: —

Montague resigned, and took his place amongst the majority. Buchanan succeeded in giving the final coup to M'George. Black—6, 8, 13, 16, 19, king 31; White—7, 15, 17, 22, 23, 26, 28. White (Buchanan) to play —

Scores: — SECOND ROUND. Wins. Draw s. Wins. 0 Fer-ie 10 Stewart 0 1 Campbell ... 5 Brown " 2 Bonar ... ... 3 Montague ... 0 2 Scott 4 Holmes 0 2 Robertson ... 3 Gall 1 1 Kirk 3 Bryden 0 2 Buchanan ... 5 M George A THIRD ROUND. 1 Campbell ... 1 Scott 0 1 Bouar ... ... 1 Robertson ... 1

*td JO 7 10 9 13 18 23 19 15 15 24 20 27 26 23 25 22 7 10 31 27 27 214 i

/in?. 1 Holmes ... 3 Scobbie ... 2 F eedman 0 M'Farlane 1 Buchanan 2 Scott Draw?. ... 2 M'Cafferty ... 1 Bisset ... 3 Henderson ... 4 Kirk ... 2 M'George... ... 2 Penman Win ... 1 ... 0 ... 1 ... 0 ... 0 ... 0

12 IB J9 12 11 16 12 S 4 11 27 24 Jfi 20 24 19 10 15 19 10 6 15 17 10 7 14 28 24 20 27 31 24 1 5 £.0 95 14 17 22 6 15 29 6 2 29 25 2 6 25 22 24 20 22 28 23 19 26 23 19 16

Win?. Draw?. Wins. 2 S-'cott 3 Te-.man 0 2 Holmes 5 M'Cafferty ... 1 2 Bochinau ... 1 Al'CJejige No. 1 ... 0 1 Kirk 7 M'Farlane ... 1 SECOND BOUND. Wins. Draws. "Wins. 0 Feme 6 Stewart 0 1 Buchanan ... 1 M'Oeorge 1 2 Fivedman ... 3 Scobbie 0 ] Gall 2 Robertson ... 2 1 Campbell ... 3 Biuwn 0 1 Bonar 3 Montague l» 1 Sn.it.l-. 1 TT,,Ir»PB n

5 9 11 15 9 14 1 5 14 IS 15 19 22 17 5 9 1Z 14 9 13 14 10 13 17 2 (5 17 13 10 7 28 24 7 2 13 17 2 7 17 14 18 22 19 U 22 2^ 24 20

:•> jo 8 12 7 52 « in JO U 19 24 28 10 If! 30 ?0 25 7 10 25 21 iv it 12 16 6 2 31 2fi IB SO IS 15 20 24 21 14 10 17