DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 52

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

For the Manchester '' Individual Merit Tournament ' thcio were 32 competitors; and the final loiuiil ior Viie first and second prizes was coi.testecl between W. Biakeley and W. M'Lymoiit; Biakeley winning the first prize by two wins three draws to one win three draws.

3Jr John (Toodall, the president of the Yorkshire Draughts Association, died, after a lingering illness, on December 5. He was in past years one of the most prominent of the Leeds player 3, the question of the city premiership being between him and the late Mr F. Allen. Mr Goodall died at the age of 61. New Zealand Dra\ights Championship. — We have had several inquiries whether entries for the above will be received until the opening of the contest.

Was it Checkers or Skittles?— J. C. Minkins, of the Providence Checker Club, recently g,avc an exhibition of notably quick simultaneous play sit the club looms. Twelve* men were his opponents, and two rounds wer^ played, each lasting less than 45 minutes, an average of about four niiautes to a game. As there were fully 30 moves to a game this meant that Minkins had to make fully eight moves a minute. In the first round 11 players faced. him ; he won six, lost three, and drew *wo games. In the next line up Minkins won five, lost three, and drew three games. Total score — Minkins 11, others six, drawn five. Mr Minkins is a mulatto, and 10 years ago was champion oi Virginia.

Mr R. Atwell, in consultation with another experienced player, has evolved the following titles for the seven first moves of Black and the first seven moves of White respectively : — 12-IG, "Dundee"; 11-16, "Bristol"; 11-15,

'• Glasgow " ; 10-15, " Kelso " : 10-14 " Denny " ; 9-14, "Fife"; 9-] 3, "Edinburgh"; 21-17, "Switcher"; 22-17, '• Leeds"; 22-IS, "London"; 23-18, '•Cross"; 23-19, "Manchester"; 24-19, " Paisley " ; 24-20, ' Liverpool." It will be observed that the majority of the above titles are already used in connection with the moves to which they are attached, and by this system of classification each of the 49 openings of the " two move " restriction can be designated by a combination of the distinguishing titles — viz., " Dundee-Switcher " (12-16, 2117), " Kelso-Switcher " (10-15, 21-17), etc. The Draughts World for January contains an interesting-resume of all the important draughts events of the past year, in addition to its usual admirable selection of games and problems. Australian draughts is specially honoured by a beautiful etching, which is given as a supplement, and headed " Our Australian Heroes —A Souvenir of Jordan's Last Match," comprising a photographic group .of those officially connected with the Jordan-Moore mateh — viz., Mr R. Jordan, Mr P. J. Moore, Mr F. Brown, and Mr F. T. Best, timekeepers, and Mr David R. Hay, umpire, as well as short biographical sketches of their careers.

The Manchester Tourney. — A scratch tourney, under the auspices of the Manchester and District Draughts League, was played recently. The four " international " players —Messrs A. Hynd, J. Hynd, jim., W. Halliwell, and F. Dunne — were debarred from entering, so as to encourage the' rising talent to take part in the contest, and the result must have been very gratifying to the promoters, as evidenced by the great number of players who entered.

G. H. Slocum, of problem fame, and a talented violinist, was in Moline, Til., recently and between overtures and fantasies he entertained the local checker players " cross board."