A DRAUGHTS CHAMPION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9574, 21 August 1909, Page 3

A DRAUGHTS CHAMPION.

MR JAMES BOREHAM.

i Advice has been received at Dunedin that Mr James Boreham won the draughCß championship of Australia at the tournament just concluded ,at Brisbane. Mr Passey, a Queenslander, was fiecond. This is the third Australasian draughts tournament that has been held. The first took place in Mel '; bourne twenty-one years aeo. and j the second nineteen years back in Dunedin. Those taking part in the 1 tourney just concluded were Mr W. ; Warnock, former champion of Aus- ; tralasia, and State champions in ■ Messrs Boreham (New Zeaiaodj, I Egan (Victoria), Drury, (New South j Wales), Passey (Queensland), and I Watts (ex-Queensland champion), with Messrs Armstrong (Victoria), and J. Lee (New' South Wales). Country Clubs were also represented by 'Messrs C. Gray (Nananog), Grevell (Kingaioy), and Sluice, and Mr J. Ryland, who was looked upon as metropolitan "dark horse." Mr Boreham has been a proimnent figure in New Zealand draught circles for many years. He has frequently won the New Zealand championship, one of his earliest, if not his first success, being that obtained in Wellington in 1896. He is the present holder of the title of New Zealand chapion, having again come out in ( the lead at the annual tourney held at Gore during last Easter. As regards th« money f value of the prize attached to the Australasian charapion, there would appear to be some doubt. Writing from Brisbane, under date August 9th, to Mr C. Reid, a prominent draught player of Wellington Working Men's Chess and Draughts Club, the New Zealander stated that at the time of hi* writing only £26 was in hand for the purpose, and he feared that the prizes would not be of a very substantial nature. In all probability Mr Boreham, on his return to Wellington about a week or ten days hence, will be suitably entertained by the Wellington Working Men's Chess and Draughts Club, in recognition of the new distinction he has gained. Describing the play in the first round of the tournament, the Brisbane "Courier" says the chief centre of attraction was the board be- , tween Egan (Victoria), and Boreham I (New Zealand). In the first game the young Victorian cleverly gained a man, and the win seemed most easy. The veteran New Zealander, however, brought experience into play, and ultimately managed, to secure a fine draw ; with the piece down. The two next games resulted in wins for Boreham.