SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 83

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP.

I (Continued.) —Sixth Day.— Mr Thomas Aitken, of Catrine, in the course of an eloquent address, expressed the hope that their English friends across the Border would, in the near future, see their way to make their tourney open also. They had not yet been fortunate to carry off the premier honours, but he had no doubt if they persevered they would do it, as there was an old proverb " that everything comes to those who wait." Battersby and Ward now took their s-eats at the board. The ballot for their third game turned out 23 19 " Edinburgh." After an hour's play the pieces were reduced to five a-side, at the following position: — Black: 7, 10, 12, 14, 20; White: 17, 21, 23, 28, 31; White (Ward) to play— l 7 13, 14 17, j 21 14, 10 17, 13 9, 7 10, 9 6, 10 15, 6 2, 12 16, 2 7, 17 22, 7 11, 15 19, 23 18, 19 23, 18 14, 22 25, 14 10, 25 29— Drawn. After the usual breathing space the fourth game was entered upon. Ward refused to have anything to do with " Will o' the Wisp " by going 11 16 for his second move, which Battersby met with 27 23, and gradually built up the better game, until the following position was reached: — Black: 3, 4. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11. 13, 18, 20; White: 12, 15, 17, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31; Black (Ward) to play —11 16, 26 23, 16 19, 23 16. At this point Ward resigned, with the score — Battersby 1, Ward 0, drawn 3. When play was resumed in the evening Battersby and Ward faced each other in their fifth game, which the ballot turned out to be 24 19 " Dundee," and Battersby had only to play safe and draw two games to win the heat. He had the Blacks in their fifth game, ■which had been an hour and a half in progress when the following position was reached:—B lack: 3, 9, 10, 11, 15, 13, 21; White: 12, 18, 22, 26, 27, 30, 32; White (Ward) to play— 26 23, 9 13, 32 28, 13 17, 22 13, 15 22, 13 9, 22 26, 9 6, 10 15, 28 24, 11 16, 6 2, 26 31, S 6, 21 25, 80 21, 31 26, 23 18, 15 22, 6 10, 22 25, 21 17, 26 22, 17 18, 22 18— and Ward resigned the game and the heat, the scores being— Battersby 2, Ward 0, drawn 8. — Seventh Day,— The final stage having been reached, there was a fair number of draughts devotees forward in attemdftjice to -witness the struggle far supremacy. The players were introduced by Mt Mulvey, of Langside, who briefly Announced the objects for which each pair had «t ocntend. EVrri© w& Batteiata at once took"

their seafs at the hoard. The opening dra^tt was 24 19 " Double Corner.' An hour's plaj! brought up the following position: — Black :k 1, 2, 5, 6, 18, 14, 18; White: 13, 17, 21, 23^ 25, 27, 31; Black (Battersby) to play— 6 9. 13 6, 2 9, 17 13, 10 15, 13 6, 1 10— Drawn. Scott and Ward had 22 17 "Dundee" fo^ their first game, which - was soon drawn. Their second game resolved itself into tht£ following position:— Black: 1, 3, 11, 14 24r> White: 9, 19, 21, 22, 32; White (Ward) t* play— 22 17— Drawn. The second game between Ferric and Bafk tersby proved to be a very interesting fightt Battersby looked to be playing easier at th* following position:— Black: 1, 3, 11, 14, 19 i, White: 9, 20, 26, 31, 32; Black (Ferric) to play— 3 8, 32 28, 8 12, 26 2», 19 26, 31 22fr 11 15, 28 24, 14 18, 24 19, 15 24, 22 15— Drawn* When play was resumed in the evening Ferric and Battersby had to apply to the " hat " for another opening, which proved to be the " Switcher." Battersby with the Blacks adopted the 2 6 line of play, to whielt Ferrio replied by cutting 24 19, which was a line played often by the " Herd Laddie." 1 After a few more moves Battersby gave 7 Mt, cut, where Wyllie used to play 9 13, whicb brought out the following position: — Black :| 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; White: 17, 18, 19, 2*,, 25, 26 30; White (Ferric) to play— l 7 14, 10 17, 25 21, 17 22, 26 17, 11 16, 19 15, 16 20, 24 19, 9 13, 17 14, 20 24, 14 10, 24 27, 10 7, 27 32, 7 3, 32 27, 19 16, 12 19, 3 12, 5 9, 12 10,, 19 23, 15 10, 27 24, 18 15, 24 19, 30 26, 19 12, 26 19. After a few more moves a draw was agreed upon. Ward and Scott having contested twdi " Dundees " and four " Edinburghs," all resulting in draws, agreed to divide the prizes," and were presented by Councillor Graham with £5 each. These proceedings over, the second! " Switcher " between Ferric and Battersby] was entered on. Ferric with the Black* varied from Battersby by choosing J. 6, instead of 2 6, as in the previous game. This introduced a line that has figured often ml these tournaments. Buchanan won it from Searight in the final two years ago with that Black pieces, and gained the championship by it. The following shows the ending:— * Black: 6, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18; White: 14, 20, 25^ 26, 27, 28; Black (Ferric) to play— ls 19,, 20 16, 9 13, 25 21, 13 17, 27 24, 18 22, 24 15, 12 19, 15 10, 22 31, 10 3, 31 27, 3 7, 27 23k 14 10, 17 22, 10 6— Drawn, with the score-5 Ferric 0, Battersby 0, drawn 4. (To be continued.)