Northallerton, Yorkshire, England (24-30 October 1871)
1 2 3 4 5 6 Wins
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Owen ½ 0 1 1 1 1 4
Skipworth ½ 1 0 0 0 0 1
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Format: First to four wins, draws not counting.
Time Control: 20 moves per hour.
Prize: Provincial Champion Cup
Stakes: 3 guineas (each)
Prologue
A Champion Cup.
A certain sum of money has been liberally placed in the hands of the editors of this magazine for the purchase of a Champion Cup (a handsome cup has already been procured), to be open for competition to all chess amateurs throughout the provinces, and entitling the person holding it to be considered the Champion Chess-player of the Provinces for the time being.
The following are the conditions of play:—
1. That all the matches shall take place in the town or parish in which the holder of the cup resides.
2. That the competitors in all cases shall stake £3 3s., and winner receive the money, 10s. 6d. being allowed to the loser for expenses when the cup does not change hands, and 10s. 6d. to be given to the editors of this magazine for the cup fund, to meet incidental expenses and to pay off a portion of the cost of the cup.
3. That the player who first scores four games shall be considered the winner, drawn games counting nothing.
4. That the holder of the cup shall be bound to fix or accept a time of play within fourteen days of receiving a challenge, and to commence within sixty days of receiving it, or give up the cup, along with a forfeit of £1, to be paid to the editors of this magazine for the cup fund.
5. During every match at least one game shall be played every day, Sundays excepted, and no adjournment of any game shall take place before the expiration of a five hours sitting, excepting in cases of decided illness.
6. That there shall be a time limit, twenty moves to the hour.
7. If the holder of the cup at any time receives no challenge within four months from the time of his holding it, or of the termination of his last match, he shall demand £4 4s. to be staked to his £3 3s., and an additional £1 1s. for every four months that shall elapse before the receipt of a challenge.
8. The games shall be played in accordance with the rules laid down in Staunton's Chess Praxis.
9. All disputed points to be referred to the editors of this magazine, and their decision to be final. Exception.—If the editors are at any time taking part in the competition, all disputed points shall be referred to the secretary, and two other members of the club chosen by him, or some leading metropolitan club (the St. George's Club to have the preference), and their decision to be final.
10. Any competitor failing to comply with the regulations shall be liable to the penalties of rule 4.
11. All challenges to be sent through the editors of this magazine, and addressed, The Editors, Chess Players' Quarterly Chronicle, Gazette Office, York.
12. That the winner in every match shall forward correct copies of all the games to the editors of this magazine, whose sole property they shall be considered.
⁂ The editors of this magazine reserve to themselves the right of altering and amending these regulations at any time, to meet the requirements of the chess public. (1)
Introduction
The Champion Cup.
By request of the originators, the Rev. A. B. Skipworth now holds the cup, and he will be glad to defend it as long as he is able against all comers. (2)
The Match between the Rev. John Owen (known in Chess circles as "Alter") and the Rev. A. B. Skipworth terminated last week in favour of the former, the final score being Owen 4 Games; Skipworth 1; Drawn 1. (3)
Champion Cup.—This cup has been won from the Rev. A. B. Skipworth by the Rev. John Owen, who is now the champion player of the provinces. The match commenced on Tuesday, October 24th; the first game was a draw, lasing nearly ten hours, the second game was won by Mr. Skipworth, and the next four were all scored by Mr. Owen. Mr. Skipworth challenged Mr. Owen to a return match, which will be played in February, and according to regulations, at Hootan (sic), in Cheshire, where Mr. Owen resides. (4)
Sources
(1) Chess Players' Quarterly Chronicle, v2 n5, October 1870, pp151-153
(2) Chess Players' Quarterly Chronicle, v2 n5, October 1870, p153
(3) London Era, 1871.11.12, p2
(4) Chess Players' Quarterly Chronicle, v2 n12, December 1871, p378
Kibitzing
