DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 70

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Gore. — From some of the visitors to town last week wa hear that the Gare Club is j» a flourishing condition. It has a membership of nearly or quite 30, and the meetings aret well attended, although the room is open every night. A match between the Gore Club and the Otago Club would be an interesting event, if it were possible of accomplishment.

Melbourne v. Collingwood. — An association match was played between these clubs on Juno 2, at Collingwood, and resulted in the eighth, successive win for Collingwood against Melbourne. There were nine players a-side, tha only score on the Melbourne side being two games by Mr D. R. Hay, against Collingwcod's six, and 16 draws. Mr F. T. Best, Collirgwood's leader, played three drawn games with Mr W. Houston.

An Important Challenge. — Mr John Hynd, jun., of Pendelton, has forwarded a, challenge to Mr Albert Cam, Liverpool, the English champion, offering to play him a. match of 20 games, English tournament restriction, for a stake of £50 (£25 a-side). The match to bo played in either Manchester or Liverpool, whichever town suits Mr Cain's convenience, a-nd Mr Hynd will take or give £4-expenses. This challenge is the result of what Mr Hynd considers the ihar^h treatment meted out to hirri by the committee d management at the recent, Leeds tournament, and it will be remembered that or the occasion of the irregularity in the ballot (for the second round of that tournament, which the committee Tefused to declare void, Mr Hynd decided not to take any further part in it, but intimated to the press* representatives present that he would exercise his right to challenge the winner. That right ho has now exercised, and as he was informed a.t Leeds by several of Mr Cain's supporters that if ho issued a challenge it would be accepted, we tfike it for granted that the match will come off. It is not the first time that a match be> tween these two- players has been proposed". At tho close of the international match, England v. Scotland, in 1899, the Liverpool players were very anxious to match Mr Cain against Mr John Hynd, jun., and one of their number (Mr J. K. Lyons, of Seaccmbe) interviewed the latter player for the purpose of learning if he were agreeable to this proposal. Mr Hynd gavo a ready assent, but negotiations went no further, as, for some reason or other, never explained, the Liverpool players backed out of their own pioposition. — Manchester "Weekly Times.

Mr John Hyad, jun., the Lancashire champion, has challenged Mr Albert Cain 'for & stake of £50, and a match will in all probability be the result at an early date. Mr Hynd proposes that the match shall consist of 20 games, wins and draws to count, the restriction to bo similar to the system adopted in the English. Championship Tourney, but the play to be governed by the rules as laid down in " Robertson's Guide." He offers to give or take £4 expenses, and will piny either in Manchester or Liverpool. — Leeds Mercury.

The "Order of Strength" Board. — From more tLan one source recently we have had inquiries as to the working of this idea, and therefore give tho details again. A board can easily bf improvised to ho.d the number of cards required containing the names of the membera. The cards need be no more than 3in x lin, and the board may be made with headings to contain the cards, or they may be hung with, ordinary dressmakers' hooks and eyes. When everything is ready, the cards may be drawn from a hat and placed in the order drawn, and as time goes on they will find their proper place as a result of play. This interesting style of competition will be governed by the following ra-?s —

1. Any member whose name is on the "record" list shall have the right of challenging 1 for place the player immediately above him.

2. If any member fail to respond to a challenge within seven days, and to complete the match on appointment within seven days, tho player challenging may claim the match.

3. No player, if victorious in a " record "- match, need play the same opponent again within one month.

4. No player shall be engaged with more than one challenge or match at the same time.

6. Players must inform the hon. secretary of the results of their matches, upon which tho necessary alterations in their positions on tho list will be made. 6. Each match shall consist of two games. Should the match result in a draw, the player challenged shall retain hi 3 position on the list. 7. Play to be governed by the standard laws of draughts. Disputes to be decided by the committee, whose decision shall be final.