Yorkshire Chess History

 

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1886: Llandudno Tournament

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Played (presumably) at the Newsroom and Library, Mostyn Street, Llandudno,

c. September & early October, 1886,

6 players, all-play-all 3 times.

 

Though not in itself of immense significance, this tournament in Llandudno may well have served to suggest or encourage the establishment, later on, or the series of Craigside Tournaments on the lower slopes of Llandudno’s lesser-known Little Orme.

 

There had been a chess club connected with the Newsroom and Library, Mostyn Street, Llandudno for some time prior to 1886.  To be a member of the club one had to be a member of the Newsroom and Library; ladies were eligible for membership.  In 1886 the chess club was described as having had “a languishing existence for several years.”  This lethargy, however, was broken by the organisation of an all-play-all tournament in which 6 players played each other three times.

 

The North Wales Chronicle [1] of 09/10/1886, page 6, described the event, saying with regard to the club, “A few weeks ago one or two of its leading members, encouraged by the presence in the town of several enthusiastic devotees of the royal game, seized the opportunity of organising a tournament, in which, readily responding to the invitation, the following players promised to take part: R. [=Richard] Pilkington (late president of the City of London Chess Club), Rev. J. Raymond, D. Edwards, E. O. Parry, Rev. C. F. Jones (for some years president of the club), W. Smith (hon. sec.).”

 

The Chronicle didn’t make it clear whether “presence in the town” meant the people were resident in the town, or just currently visiting the town.  E. O. Parry may have been “just visiting” as he was unable to finish one game, but the others were all presumably in Llandudno for the duration of the tournament.

 

Results were as follows:

 

 

 

CFJ

DE

RP

WS

JR

EOP

Total

1st

Rev. C. F. Jones

X

1,1,0

1,1,0

1,1,½

1,1,1

1,1,1

12½

2nd‑3rd=

D. Edwards

0,0,1

X

1,1,½

1,1,0

1,1,0

0,0,1

2nd‑3rd=

R. Pilkington

0,0,1

0,0,½

X

1,1,0

1,1,0

1,1,1

4th

W. Smith

0,0,½

1,0,0

0,0,1

X

0,0,1

1,1,1

5th

Rev. J. Raymond

0,0,0

0,0,1

0,0,1

1,1,0

X

1,0,½*

6th

E. O. Parry

0,0,0

1,1,0

0,0,0

0,0,0

1,0,½*

X

* The Chronicle explained, “Owing to the inability of Mr. Parry to finish this game, it was decided to represent it as a draw.”

 

[1]  The North Wales Chronicle is not one of the local papers available at Llandudno Archives, but is held at the Gwynedd Archives in Caernarvon.

 

 

Created

23/05/2014

Stephen John Mann

Last Updated

23/05/2014