DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 52

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

New Zealand Championship Tourney. — Tlia date of the forthcoming tourney is drawing rapidly nearer, and intending competitors will be busy with theii. preparatory studies. We have the positive assurance from the Invercargill committee that the prize fund will not fall short of the amounts awarded by the Dunedin committee in the last tourney, and with, that assurance all fears for the success of thicontest disappear. Invercargill's geographical position will no doubt militate against a big attendance of northern players; but Otago and Southland alone should provide a good entry list — sufficient to ensure a contest worthy of the occasion and the prize money. "We would remind players again that entries close on APRIL 6, with the secretary, Mr A. Gray, Waikiwi, Invercargill.

J. J). Janvier.- — The late Hon. J. D. Janvier was a Princeton University graduate, Mayor of Newcastle, Del., for several terms, a, member of the Delaware Legislature, and a very highly-respected gentleman.

A School Tourney. — The scholars p.fc the South Pumunbete (Victoria) State School holrl the anaiul championship tournament. For the 1890 tourney there were eight entries for the boys' prize and eight for the girls'. Each played one game with every other player. The result was — Boys: first (and year's champion), Leslie Cole. Girls: first (and year's champion), AJk'e Clements. The tournament jusfc completed is the third that has been held. Mr R. L. Clements, one of the South Western team, is the teacher in charge of this promising squad. We should like to hear of other teachers following this excellent plan. — Melbourne Weekly Times.

Scottish Championship Tourney — Stewart, the Winner. — Probably not since the inauguration of this competition has the play been keener than during the last contest. First, Forrie and Stewart, in the second round, played 14 drawn games, after which Ferric resigned. Then Stewart met Freednian, last year's champion, and another wonderful contest took place. Stewart began brilliantly, winning two out of the first three games; but Freedman, playing in. masterly fashion, eventually equalised the score, Stewart, however, winning the heat ■with the score— Stewart 3, Freedman 2, drawn 0. W. Bryden was another hero of the content, and mot Stowait in the final, after defeating G. Buchanan and W. K. Campbell. The ninth Scottish championship, -which was the longest on record, resulted in a brilliant victory for Mr R. Stewart, of Kelty, who i 3 one of the greatest masters of the game that Scotland has ever produced. His victory was very popular, and thoroughly well deserved. Although, he managed to oust H. Freedman after a- severe tussle, there is probably not much difference between these draughts masters. James Ferric did not disgrace his fine reputation; and VV. R. Campbell and G-. M. Bonar pleased their friends bj r their skilful play. The veteran Willie Bryden astonished a good many of his acquaintances by the fnu forni he displayed. Stewart played 39 games, of which he won 7, lost 2, and drew 30. Stewart was born in 1873, and this is the third occasion on which he has won the Scottish championship. Henry Spayth, G.O.M.— Mr E. G. Gorton, of Baltimore, and Mr Henry Spayth, of Buffalo, played a friendly match on December 30 with, the following result: — Spayth won 7, Gorton. 0, drawn 3. — Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. Freer! man v. Stewart. — In the contest of the third round between Stewart and Freedman, Stewart won the White side of game 2, the Black side of game 3, and the "White side of game 14. Freedman won the Black side of game 4 and the White side of game 5. Game 2 was a "Cross,"- in which the 27 23 line was adopted. Early in this game Freedman played 2 6, and on this move being reported to Mr Martins, the venerable ex-cham-pion, who v.as playing in an adjoining room, he said that he had never seen it before. The move brought on a very intricate position. Games 3 and 4 were "Ayrshire Lassies," and the time occupied in playing game 4 was only a little less than six hours, This breaks the record of a little less than fivehours, previously held by a "Cross" gamecontested in Edinburgh by the late "Herd Laddie."' Game 5 was a "Souter," in which J?i eediiian adopted the 22 17 line. The move 14 18 was followed by 17 14, 10 17, 19 10, 7 14, "doctoring" the "Souter," and the spectators were then treated, says the Glasgow Weekly Herald, to one of tke most brilliant displays of draughts-playing ever witnessed at a Scottish national tourney. Game 14 was developed from the "12 16, 21 17" opening. The positon seemed at first to be in favour of Freedman, but by slow and almost imperceptible degrees Stewart gained the advantage. This game occupied five hours. The Manchester Weekly Times says that if Freedman's play in the "Souter" game which he won from Stewart proved to be sound, it will correct all the standard v orks on the game, from Sturges, published in 1800, up to the present time. Although the actual number of competitors in the Scottish National Tourney of this year was smaller than in 1899, the tourney was more widely representative, there being players from Ayr, Bathgate, Bonnybridge, Dumbarton, Dumfries, Dundae, Falkirk, Govan, Glasgow, Hamilton, Kelty, Lesmahagow, Miiirkirk, and Rittherglen. The Leeds Mercury announces that although. "Mazam the Marvellous" is still standing at a restaurant in London, nobody now looks at the automaton, nor is there an attendant inviting visitors to play. The English tournament of 1900, to be held in London at Easter, will be watched with the iitmost interest by draughts players all over the world, for the contest will be made, on a large scale, a test of the time-limit rule.