Scottish Championship 1923

The 36th annual Congress of the Scottish Chess Association opened at Glasgow Chess Club on Friday, 29 December 1922, a change from the previous Easter events. The entrants for the main tournament were: W. Gibson (present champion), J. Borthwick, J. Marshall and A.V. Logie, all of Glasgow; C.B. Heath, Dundee; Dr R.C. Macdonald, Inverness; G. Page, Edinburgh and A.J. Mackenzie, Birmingham.

Scottish Championship 1923	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Total
1. W. Gibson	■	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	6
2. Dr R.C. Macdonald	1	■	0	1	1	1	1	1	6
2. C.B. Heath	0	1	■	0	1	0	1	1	4
4. A.J. Mackenzie	0	0	1	■	0	1	1	1	4
5. G. Page	0	0	0	1	■	1	1	1	4
6. J. Borthwick	0	0	1	0	0	■	½	0	1½
7. J. Marshall	0	0	0	0	0	½	■	1	1½
8. A.V. Logie	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	■	1

The presence of Dr Macdonald, absent from the chess scene for many years, was significant in itself, particularly after a harrowing 18-hour car journey from Inverness, but more so because of his involvement in a dramatic last day of the event.

Play commenced at 10 a.m. Gibson had won against Logie by noon, but Macdonald's game against Marshall was adjourned at 2.30 p.m. At 3 p.m. he sat down to play his adjourned game  against Mackenzie, winning it after 55 minutes. At 4 p.m. he resumed the game with Marshall, outplayed him, and won. With only a few minutes breathing room, he then faced the tournament leader at 5 p.m. with the black pieces and, despite the circumstances, proceeded to inflict on Gibson his only defeat, thereby securing three points for his day's work and a tie for first and second places. 

 The play-off match was later held in Glasgow and was won by Gibson with +1, =2. This was Gibson's third consecutive win, which allowed him to retain the championship trophy presented to the SCA by C.S. Rankine Simson of Edinburgh.

Scottish Ladies' Championship
There were eight entries:- Miss E.J. Adams, Miss Forbes, Miss Sanders, all of Edinburgh Ladies' CC; Miss Heard, Edinburgh Central Club; Miss M.D. Gilchrist, Rutherglen; Miss M. Gibb, Miss E. Gibb and Mrs Brockett, all of Glasgow Ladies' CC.

The results:
Miss Gilchrist 6; Miss Heard 4½; Miss Forbes & Miss E. Gibb 4; Miss Adams, Mrs Brockett & Miss Sanders 3; Miss M. Gibb ½.

 Major
There were five entries. The pre-tournement favourite was McKee, a former Scottish champion, but he lost to the tournament winner. H.K. Handasyde 4; J.A. McKee 3; H.N.J. Walsworth 2; H. Paulet and M. Anderson-Robertson ½.

Minor
There were eight entries. The results:-
J. Fine & J.H. Elliott 6½; W.R. Stewart 5; Mrs J. Young 4; Mrs Reid 3; Mrs Watson Young 2; Mrs McChlery 1; Miss Edington 0.

Fine and Elliott played a game for the title of Minor Champion, the former winning.

Lighning Tournament
This was played on Saturday, 30 December, between the second and third rounds. There were 16 competitors, including Gibson and Mackenzie from the championship, and was played on handicap terms. It was won by Miss Forbes, ahead of A.J. Mackenzie.

Sources
Glasgow Herald, 3 January 1923, p12; 6 January 1923, p4 (chess column).

Alan McGowan

Updated 5/6/2020