SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 67

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Continued.) — Fourth Day. — The tourney proceedings were opened by Mr James Moir, of " Single Corner " fame, who said that there was one point in connection with our annual tournaments which had not been referred to in any of the opening speeches, and that was the- desire that was abroad in some quarters for the tournaments to be held a-t the various centres in Scotland id rotation — say, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen, etc., — andl not every year in Glasgow, as in the past. He remarked in regard to that proposition that he saw no objection that could be taken to it, provided that those who wished it found the money and the entries, and generally guaranteed to run the show. Another idea, Mr Moir remarked, had been mooted, that the tourney be xnade national, to be held in the large English centres alternately, as well as Glasgow, but it had been naively remarked that the English objected to this, ac they were very unlikely to participate largely in the prize-money. — (Applause.) Battersby and Hulley had 24 20 " Double Corner " fat their third game. When the pieces were reduced to five a-side the following was the position: — Black: 3, 13, 14, 19, 25; White: 21, 22, 30, 31, 32; Black (Hulley) to play— 3 7, 22 18, 14 23, 31 27, 25 29, 27 18, 29 25, 21 17, 13 22, 30 21, 7 11— Drawn. Their fourth gam« was aleo drawn. Bcott had a piece up against Smith in the ending of their sixth game. The following was the position: Black: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, king 30; White: 11, ]5, 21, 22, 25, 29. 31; Blaok (Scott) to play— 5 9, 22 18, 9 14, 18 9, 6 13, 15 10, 13 17, 21 14, 30 21, 10 7, 21 17, 14 10, 2 6, 29 25, 6 15, 25 22, 17 26, 31 32 15 19, 7 2, 19 23, 2 7 — Smith resigned, and Scott passed into semi-final. Batteraby and Hulley had 22 17 " Denny." Battersby handled the White pieces, and it was soon apparent that Hulley had got on a, weak game, which he was forced to resign in less than an hour's play. Bryden aud Ward had two draws from the " Kelso Cross." —Fifth Day.— Parish Councillor Deans of Shotts, officiated at the opening ceremony. The opening for Bryden and Ward in the second round was the 21 17 " Kelso." After 45 minutes* play the pieces were reduced to five a-sid« at the following position: — Black: Q, 4, 8, 14, 19; White: 22, 28, 30, 81, 82; tflack (Bryden) to play— B 11, 31 27, 4 8, 27 23, 19 26, 30 23, 11 16, 28 24, 16 20, 23 19, 20 27, 32 23, 8 12, 22 18— Dxawa.

I Fenie and Scott had 24 19 "Dundee" f<^ their third game. After an hour's play F«rri« dropped a piece at the following position: — Black: 1, 2, 5. 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 20; Whiten j 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30. 31, 32; Black (Scott) to play, which he did by throwing back the piece 20 24, 27 20, 2 7, 20 16, and the game now looked very much in favour of Ferric. * However, Scott improved his position so much when the pieces were reduced tc fiv» a-side that Ferric offered a draw, which Scott ■ accepted. After the usual rest, Ferric and Scott were again called to take their seats. Ferris this time had the Black pieces, and in place of Scott's 16 20, for second 1 move, promptly plumped 8 12, the game eventually running into a " Paisley" formation. It was remarked that Scott had the stronger position as follows:—Black: 3, 11, 13, 16, 20, king 80; "White: 6, 12, 21, 27, 31, 32; Black (Ferric) to play—3o 25, 61, 25 22, 27 23, 11 15, 23 18, 15 19, 18 15, 19 23, 15 10, 22 18, 1 6, 20 24, 32 28, 18 14, 28 19, 14 7, 19 15. At this point Scott proposed a draw, but Ferric demurred, and the play proceeded: —16 20, 5 9, 20 24, 9 14, 24 28, 15 10, 7 11, 10 6, 28 32, 6 2, 82 28, 2 6, 28 24, 14 18, 23 27, 21 17, 13 22, 18 25—Drawn. >, Bryden and Ward got on what promised to be a more elaborate affair for their second " Kelso," and after a very exciting gam« it resolved itself into the Heffner and Freeman ending, with Ward a piece down. Bryden tried every strategy he could think of, but all to no purpose, and latterly had to give it up as » draw. Bryden intimated at the oloae of this game that he would not continue th* match longer, and retired in favour of Ward. When plfty was resumed in the evening Battersby and Ward were the first to commence operations. The ballot brought out 22 17 " Edinburgh." This was a determinedly contested game. All thought that Battersby would score. Ward steered his pieces with great skill, however, otherwise he would have come to grief. The following shows th« ending:—Black: 3, 12, 17, 21, king 18; White: 8, 19, 28, 30, king 1; Black (Battersby) to play—lß 28, 19 15, 23 18, 15 10, 18 14, 10 6, l£ 16, 8 4, 21 26, 30 21, 14 18, 21 14, 18 2, 1 5, 2 7, 6 9, 7 10, 28 24, 10 15, 24 20, 15 11, 9 14, 16 19, 14 18, 19 24, 18 23, 24 28, 23 19, 11 7, 20 16, 28 32> 19 24—Drawn. The second game between these players was also drawn. Ferric and Scott had 24 19 "Double Corner " for their fifth* game. Ferric got on • very strong game, and all present expected that he would win easily from the following; position:—Black: 2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17; White: 14, 19, 23, 24, 26, 30, 81; Black (SJcott); to play—6 10, 14 9, 10 14, 9 6, 11 16, 24 20,' 14 18, 23 14, 16 23, 6 1, 12 16, 20 11, 7 16, 14 10, 16 20, 1 5, 17 21, 6 9, 23 27, 31 24, 20 27, i 25 22, .27 32, 9 14, 32 27, 14 18, 27 '31, 18 15, 81 27, 16 19, 27 32, 19 28, 32 28, 22 18, 13 17, 30 26, 28 24, 18 15, 24 20, 15 11, 20 16, 10 T, 16 20, 7 3, 2 6, 3 7, 20 24, 11 8, 6 9, 7 101 9 13, 10 14, 17 22, 26 17, 13 22, 14 17, 22 25, 17 22, 26 29, 22 26, 29 25, 8 3, 24 28, 8 8, 28 82, 8 11, 82 28, 11 15, 28 82, 15 18, 32 28, 26 22, 26 29—Drawn. After the usual interval their sixth game was entered upon, and proved to be a stirring one till the following position was reached: —Blacki 6, 11, 12, king 25;White: 18, 20, 28, king 14; White (Scott) to ; play—l 4 17, 6 10, 28 24, 12 16, 18 14. At this point a. dTaw wrs agreed upon, and Ferrir L passed into the final. (To be continued.) i i i !