Scottish Championship 1913

The thirtieth annual congress of the Scottish Chess Association opened on Friday, 21 March, in the rooms of the Glasgow Chess Club in the Athenaeum.

With only four entrants, the competition was a double-round event. Rounds 1 and 2 were played on the opening day, rounds 3 and 4 on Saturday, 22 March, and rounds 5 and 6 on Monday, 24 March. This was A.J. Mackenzie's third title, his previous victories being in 1908 and 1909.

Championship 1913		1	2	3	4	Pts
1	A.J. Mackenzie	■	11	1½	1½	5
2	W. Gibson	00	■	11	11	4
3	J. Black	0½	00	■	1½	2
4	C. Wardhaugh	0½	00	0½	■	1

Source: The Scotsman for March 22, 24 and 25, 1913.

The Falkirk Herald chess column of 26 March 1913, p4, showed "J. Black", indicating a pseudonym. 

This player also played in the 1914 championship, when J. "Black" was described as a 'former champion' (Fakirk Herald column of 31 December 1913, p4). The main candidate is James Borthwick. It is doubtful if J. Crum or JD Chambers would use an alias, and James Marshall was still in Japan.

 

Alan McGowan
Historian, Chess Scotland

updated 4/4/2024