Boston, MA, United States (30 May 1887)

Introduction
The second annual meeting of the Massachusetts Chess Association will be held to-morrow at the rooms of the Boston Chess Club, 33 Pemberton square. The meeting of the state association is attracting unusual interest among local chess players, as a number of unusually exciting and stubborn contests are expected. There is more attention being given to chess nowadays than for some time past, and reports from all parts of the state show many additions to the old clubs, while new ones are being formed in localities where the game has been comparatively unknown. The Boston club also reports a lively growth in its membership, which includes a number of very strong players. This club was formed in 1856, and is the oldest in the world under the same organization. There are at present 50 name on its rolls. Its rooms on Pemberton square are pleasant and well furnished and at any time during the day or evening the gray beards and bald heads can be seen thoughtfully studying the lines of battle formed by the mute little armies before them, as each player lays deep plots for the fatal mate. The present tournament will be conducted by the state association, the Boston club merely tendering the use of its rooms to the visitors.

Tomorrow's games will be played under handicap conditions, with the odds as follows:
First class gives the second pawn and two moves.
First class gives the third queen's knight.
First class gives the fourth queen's rook and one move.
Second class gives the third pawn and two moves.
Second class gives the fourth 2 knights and one move.
Third class gives the fourth queen's knight.

There will be five prizes offered in this major tournament to be awarded to the five players having the highest scores. First there will be a class tournament to decide what players shall enter the handicap to compete for the prizes. Following are the entries in the several classes:
First class—D. W. Horace Richardson, Preston Ware, Jr., F. K. Young, H. M (sic; N). Stone, C. B. Snow, F. B. Harlow.
Second Class—Z. B. Adams, Col. F. S. Haseltine, Howard Sargent, Charles Simmons, Charles M. Rice, H. L. Nelson, Judge William H. Fox, George W. Warren, W. E. Alden, F. Woodward. Third class—E. S. Farnum, C. S. Weston, E. L. Dresel, Hollis Webster, J. W. Hawes, J. B. Goodrich, W. P. Metcalf, J. H. Ballou. Fourth class—W. H. Howe, Willard Read, G. H. Lord, E. H. King, Dr. W. L. Faxon, James Read, E. F. Howe, J. H. Barbey, W. T. McIntire, C. J. Carvan, Richard Rowse, W. Baldwin, C. Fosdick, James C. Kelsey. (1)

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The first grand tournament of the Massachusetts Chess Association was held at the rooms of the Boston Chess Club yesterday. At an early hour chess players from all parts of the State began to gather in the club rooms, and when the business session of the association opened the apartments were crowded. Captain E. S. Huntington, secretary of the association, announced the details and rules of the proposed tournament, and the rolls being opened the membership was nearly doubled. Dr. Horace Richardson, president of the association, delivered a pleasant address, expressing his satisfaction at the great enthusiasm in chess now being manifested throughout the State, and congratulating the members upon the flattering prospects of the association. The president further requested that the next meeting of the society should be held at his country-seat in Framingham, July 15, and the invitation was unanimously accepted. The tournament was then formally declared open to all members of the association. Play began promptly at 11 o'clock a.m., with thirty-four entries. (2)

Conclusion
Following is the summary of the tournament and award of prizes:

Major tournament—First prize, $10, John W. Hawes; second prize, $5, and third prize, set of chessmen and chess table (in doubt); fourth prize, British Chess Magazine, H. E. Snow.

Minor tournament—First prize, Staunton's and Wormald's "Chess Openings," F. F. Woodward; second prize, Selkirk's "Chess," H. N. Stone; third prize, "Chess Fruits," G. H. Simmons; fourth prize, set of chessmen, W. H. Howe.

"Consolation" tournament—Prize, an elegant set of chessmen and casket, C. F. Burrill (sic; Burille).

The tournament was brought to a conclusion at about 10 o'clock p.m., amid great enthusiasm, and the occasion was unqualifiedly declared to be one of the most enjoyable chess events ever held in the State. Mr. John W. Hawes, who won the chief honors of the tourney, is well known as the winner of the third prize in the great Boston Chess Club tournament of 1885. (2)

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The meeting of the Massachusetts Chess Association was called to order yesterday morning in the rooms of the Boston Chess Club, 33 Pemberton square, by Dr. Horace Richardson, who kindly thanked the local organization for placing its commodious quarters at the disposal of the visitors. The secretary then read the conditions under which the tournament would be conducted, and announced the names of those who would compete in the various classes. As the time was limited the players were asked to make at least 20 moves an hour. The matches were not ended until a late hour last evening. The following was the result:

In the minor (sic; major) tourney John W. Hawes of Boston won first prize. The second and third are to be played off between Harlow and Sargent; fourth, by Henry E. Snow, of Hopkinton; and the fifth to be played off.

In the minor tourney F. F. Woodward of Fitchburg won the first prize; Henry N. Stone of Boston, second, Mr. Simmons of Boston, third; William H. Howe of Cambridge, fourth. There was a total of 30 entries. (3)

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The first grand tournament of the Massachusetts Chess Association took place yesterday at the rooms of the Boston Chess Club, Pemberton square. After the business meeting, which was held yesterday morning, the members of the fourth class began to play among themselves, the winners in each class to lay in the handicap tourney for the prizes. Francis Harlow was the winner in the first class, Howard Sargent in the second class, J. W. Hawes in the third class and H. E. Snow in the fourth class.

In the handicap tourney Hawes won the first prize, any article valued at $10. Sargent and Harlow are to play for the second ($5) and third prizes (set of men) Saturday. The fourth prize (subscription to the British Chess Monthly) was captured by Snow. As there were five prizes offered the players who were next to the winners in the four classes played for the prize. The players were James (sic) Burille in the first class, H. Helson in the second class, L. Delano in the third class, and Dr. Faxon in the fourth class. The prize was won by Burille.

The other losers formed a minor tournament, and H. M (sic; N). Stone was the winner in the first class, Charles Simmons in the second, F. F. Woodward in the third and W. H. Howe in the fourth. In the handicap tourney to decide the winners of the prizes, F. F. Woodward captured first prize (Staunton and Wormald's Chess Openings). H. M. Stone won second prize (Selkirk's Chess), Charles Simmons won third prize (Chess Fruits), and W. H. Howe won the fourth prize (set of men). (4)

Sources
(1) Boston Sunday Herald, 1887.05.29, p4
(2) Boston Post, 1887.05.31, p1
(3) Boston Herald, 1887.05.31, p2
(4) Boston Daily Globe, 1887.05.31, p7