Scottish Championship 1888

 

This was the only occasion on which Captain George Henry Mackenzie played in the Scottish Championship. Although born in Scotland, he spent most of his life abroad, and eventually making his home in the USA.

From the British Chess Magazine 1888.

The fifth annual Congress was begun on Monday, 16th July, in the rooms of the Glasgow Chess Club, Athemeum, St. George's Place, Glasgow. The programme contained :—

I.—Major Tournament :—Prizes, 1st, Championship Cup (for one year), and £4 4s.; 2nd, £2 2s.

II—Minor Tournament :—Prizes, 1st, £3 3s.; 2nd, £2 2s.

III.—Handicap Tournament :—Prizes, 1st, £3 3s.; 2nd. £1 11s. 6d.

In the Major Tournament there were 7 entrants, viz. :— Captain G. H. Mackenzie, New York; Andrew Hunter, London; D. Y. Mills, Manchester; Sheriff Spens, G. E. Barbier, J. D. Chambers, Peter Fyfe, all of Glasgow.

The following are the results of play in the

Major Tournament - Scottish Championship

   
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Total
1 Capt. G.H. Mackenzie
■
1
½
1
1
1
½
5
2 G.E. Barbier
0
■
½
1
1
1
½
4
3 D.Y. Mills
½
½
■
1
0
1
1
4
4 P. Fyfe
0
0
0
■
½
1
1
2½
5 A. Hunter
0
0
1
½
■
1½
6 Sheriff W. C. Spens
0
0
0
0
■
1
1
7 J.D. Chambers
½
½
0
0
0
■
1

Mr. Hunter retired, leaving two games unplayed. Captain Mackenzie is thus the Champion of Scotland for the year. Messrs. Barbier & Mills having made equal scores, agreed to divide the second prize.

Capt. Mackenzie

Minor Tournament

In the Minor Tournament there were 9 entrants, viz. :— Robert Brander, Lossiemouth; J. Mackenzie, Islay; James Phillips, Helensburgh; Wm. McCombie, A. B. Law, G. Andrews, Timothy Bost,Wm. Seligmann, and H. L. Seligmann, all of Glasgow. [A.B. Law was a future Prime Minister.]

The following are the results of their play :—

   
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
1 G. Andrews
■
1
½
1
1
1
1
1
6½
2 A.B. Law
0
■
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
3 Wm McCombie
½
0
■
1
1
1
½
½
4½
4 Wm Seligmann
0
0
0
■
1
½
1
1
1
4½
5 H.L. Seligmann
0
0
0
0
■
1
1
1
1
4
6 J. Mackenzie
0
0
0
½
0
■
1
1
1
3½
7 J. Phillips
0
0
½
0
0
0
■
1
1
2½
8 T. Bost
0
0
½
0
0
0
0
■
½
9 R. Brander
0
0
0
0
0

Mr. Brander, who is an octogenarian, retired after playing 5 games. Mr. G. Andrews won the 1st prize, and Mr. A. B. Law the 2nd.

Handicap Tournament

In the Handicap Tournament there were 20 entrants, classed as follows:

Class I.—Capt. Mackenzie.
Class II.—D. Y. Mills, G. Andrews, J. D. Chambers, Sheriff Spens, John Gilchrist, John Court, John Crum, David Chirrey, and Jas. Marshall.
Class III.—J. M. Finlayson, A. B. Law, Wm. Black.
Class IV.—J. Mackenzie, J. Sanderson, Wm. McCombie, Jas. Phillips, Dr. E. Duncan.
Class V.—John Johnston.
Class VI.—Robert Brandon.

The usual scale of odds :—P and move, P and two moves, Kt, R, and two minor pieces, separated the various classes. This Tournament was conducted on the pairing system, one game being decisive.

Final Pairing

Marshall defeated both Chirrey and McCombie, winning the first prize; Chirrey and McCombie agreed to divide the 2nd prize.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the Association was held on Friday, 20th July, at 3-30 p.m. Mr. D. Y. Mills was chairman, and there was a large attendance. The following office-bearers were appointed for the ensuing year :—President, Sir Wyndham C. Anstruther, Bart., of Carmichael. Vice-Presidents, Sheriff Spens, Glasgow; Christopher Meikle, Edinburgh; John D. Chambers, Glasgow; and W. N. Walker, Dundee. Directors, Arthur Russell, Cupar-Fife; D. Y. Mills, Manchester; Rev. George McArthur, M.A., Edinburgh ; John Russell, Glasgow; D. M. Latta and W. W. Robertson, Edinburgh; Peter Fyfe, G. A. Thomson, and John Crum, Glasgow; and Rev. Robert Semple, Aberdeen. Secretary and Treasurer, David Forsyth, 16, St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh.

The Treasurer's statement showed that the Association had at their credit in bank at the beginning of the year, £61 9s. 2d., and it was estimated that this sum would be slightly increased at the end of the current year.

It was resolved to hold the next Congress in Edinburgh, in July or August, 1889, the particular date to be fixed three months beforehand.

After the meeting, Captain Mackenzie engaged 15 members of the Association in simultaneous play, losing to Messrs. Court and Russell, drawing with Messrs. Black, McArthur, and Marshall, and winning against the others. Captain Mackenzie also gave another simultaneous performance in Glasgow, on the 22nd July, against 8 players, losing to Marshall and Chirrey, and drawing with Pirrie.

At the Edinburgh Chess Club, on the 27th, 28th, 30th, and 31st July, the Captain gave similar performances, playing in all between 50 and 60 games, and losing only 5,—to G. P. Galloway (2), Latta, McArthur, and Forsyth.

Sources
British Chess Magazine 1888, pp. 356-359.

 

Alan McGowan