DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 62

DRAUGHTS ITEMS.

Otago Championship. — It has been decided to hold a meeting in the Otago Club next Saturday evening to consider the prospects of holding a tourney for the championship of Otago. This is, of course, not a club matter, and anyone interested in the project should endeavour to be present.

Town v. Country. — At the meeting in the Otago Club next Saturday evening the appointment of an executive for the next Town v. Country match will be made part of the business. It is hoped that the town players outsi'ie the club will manifest an active interest in the appointment of a committee to undertake the management of affairs, as on this depends the ultimate success of the winter gathering. The Blindfold Record. — Exchanges mention that W. Gardner has i - eceived an invitation to give a blindfold exhibition at Sheffield, biit has deferred the matter until his return from, the international match, in April, when th elite of the "talent" in Sheffield and district will oppose him, and' for the honour of the "Rose" he will attempt to create a new record to recover his title of blindfold champion. Stewart's record mentioned last week is remarkable not only for the number of boards engaged, but for the wonderful correctness of his play. In all lb.e exhibitions Stewart has given he has not yet lost a single game. George Buchanan, the new Scottish champion, is 28 years of age, and has been one of Scotia's premier players since he was 16, at which age he was known as the "Boy Wonder." He has been a regular competitor since the tourneys were inaugurated in 1892, -when he> was defeated by Searight (Ferries famous pupil), being then only in his 17th year. A member of the Scottish international team, he played in the last three matches, England v. Scotland, making good! scores for his country on each occasion. In the tourney just concluded he defeated four of his fellow "internationals" — viz., Ferric, Brown, Searight, and Henderson, his total score standing — Won 8, lost 1, drawn 22 games. A Balloting Contrivance. — A novel littla apparatus for balloting tlie "two-niove" openings has been hiv en-ted by Mr Jsrvis, a Liverpool player, which he calls the "Spinning Jenny." It is in the form of a dial, like a clock face, with a loose hand attached in the centre, -which can be spun round at will. Black's seven opening moves form the outer ring and White's the inner one in seven divisions. The hand is spun round, and when, it stops indicates the moves that must be played. One spin for Black's move and one spin for White's forms the opening. Very handy indeed. But we think it might b3 improved by having 43 divisions — one for each, of the "two-move openings — then one spin would be all that would be necessary to decide any opening. — Leeds Mercury Supplement. London Championship. — Messrs A. Jordan and D. G. M'Kelvie concluded their match for the London championship early in February, the final score being: Jordan, 3; M'Kelvie, 1; drawn, 1. It is understood that F. Tescheleit is the next challenger.