Scottish Championship 1927

Play began Friday, December 31, 1926 in the rooms of Dundee Chess Club. Note the inclusion of Miss Florence Hutchison Stirling, a five-time Scottish Women's Champion. She also played in the 1925 championship.

The 40th annual congress of the Scottish Chess Association was very successful, and the members of the Dundee club excelled themselves in their endeavours to make the competitors and visitors welcome. Refreshments were served free of charge twice daily to competitors, and the officials of the Association had only to make a suggestion to have it at once attended to.

Mr. Wardhaugh [secretary of the SCA and chess editor for the Glasgow Herald ] says: Between the play of the three leaders, Macdonald, McKee, and Page, there was little to choose, and right up to the very end the ultimate order of these three players was a matter impossibel to accurately forecast.

At the conclusion of the final round there were no less than seven unfinished games to be completed,the largest number we remember being seen at a Scottish championship.

Scottish Championship 1927	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Total
1. Dr R.C. Macdonald	■	1	½	0	½	1	1	1	1	6
2. G. Page	0	■	1	½	1	0	1	1	1	5½
3. J.A. McKee	½	0	■	0	1	1	1	1	1	5½
4. H.L. Forbes	1	½	1	■	1	1	½	0	0	5
5. E.G.W. Beckingham	½	0	0	0	■	1	1	1	1	4½
6. R.T.R. Serjeant	0	1	0	0	0	■	1	0	1	3
7. Miss F.H. Stirling	0	0	0	½	0	0	■	1	1	2½
8. J.K. Harris	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	■	½	2½
9. A.J. Mackenzie	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	½	■	1½

L to R: Dr R.C. Macdonald; J.A. McKee; G. Page; E.G.W. Beckingham

We give a few more interesting notes from the pen of the retiring Scottish secretary:—

Towards the close of the fourth hour of their play a little argument occurred between two competitors, one claiming that only 36 moves had been made and the other that he had completed his 40 th move. The matter being referred to the officials the game was played over ab initio and both players were found to be wrong! A result of course not in the least surprising for all who have had experience of chess congresses are well aware that no good player can score his game correctly.

The hearty thanks of the press are tendered to the lady competitor, Miss Hutchison-Stirling, for playing through the tournament without a single adjourned game.

A player who was handling the Black pieces contrived in his first 8 moves to move his King's Knight no less than five times, finally landing it at his QKt square. He won the game naturally!

At the annual business meeting it was fixed that the 41 st congress should be held in Edinburgh at the New Year, 1928. Dr. R.C. Macdonald, of Inverness , was elected president of the SCA, an honour fully deserved in consideration of the long and valued service he has given to the cause of chess.

The secretary intimated his retirement after seven years of service, but a worthy successor was found in the person of J.M. Nichol, of Clydebank , who is quite au fait with the business side of the Association work. New directors were two Edinburgh ladies, Miss Heard and Miss Malcolm, and two Glasgow gentlemen, Messrs. Gibson and McKee.

Sources:
BCM February 1927, pp. 72/3.
The Evening Telegraph, Thursday, January 6, 1927, p. 3 (photo).
Glasgow Herald, January 8, 1927, p. 4.

Alan McGowan
Historian/Archivist, Chess Scotland

Updated 5/6/2020