<PERHAPS many players who are inclined to pooh, pooh the efficacy
of problem training will be surprised to find that such an expert
player, as Mr. Locock has proved himself to be, is equally at home in
the sister art. Yet such is the case, and although his fame rests chiefly
upon his many brilliant victories in cross-board encounters, the
strategetic qualities of his compositions, and the ease and facility with
which he penetrates the inmost recesses of problem, have secured him
place in the foremost ranks of British problemists. Born in 1862, and
educated at Winchester College and University College, Oxford, Mr.
Locock early displayed fondness for chess, and for five years he
played for Oxford v. Cambridge.
In 1887 he won the amateur championship tournament of the
British Chess Association without losing game. In the Masters'
International Tournament, held at Bradford in 1888, he scored seven
antl half games against very powerful array of talent. The Masters'
International Tournament, held at Manchester, in 1890, found him somewhat below par, but in 1801 he
won the British Chess Club Handicap without losing game. In 1892 he tied with Bird for fourth prize in
the National Masters' Tournament. Emanuel Lasker (then rapidly forcing his way to the throne, so long
and honourably held by Wilhelm Steinitz) won the first prize, with score of nine James Mason second,
seven and half; Rudolph Loman third, seven and Messrs. Bird and Locock six and half each. Seven others competing.
During the past four years Mr. Locock has played some twenty-six match games without losing one. In team matches he has only lost one since 1886. These include the two telephone matches, British Chess
Club v. Liverpool and also the cable match, British Chess Club v. Manhattan Club, 1895, when Mr.
Locock, at board three, drew with Mr. A. B. Hodges; and the cable match, British Isles v. United States,
March, 1896, when Mr. Locock again drew his game with Mr. E. mes on board five.
Partially owing to want of practice, Mr. Locock is gradually retiring from serious chess, although
we trust many years will elapse ere he finally says good-bye to the scene of his triumphs. Life is generali)
voted too short for chess, yet, in addition to the sterling work already alluded to, Mr. Locock has found
time to edit the well-known excellent chess column in Knowledge, and enrich the already huge store ot
problems with many stategetical positions. His "Miraculous Adjudicator" and Three Pawns ending,
published in the B.C.M., having been greatly admired by connoisseurs.
Mr. Locock has favoured us with few humorous remarks on what he terms the vice of problemmaking,"
and with these we conclude our sketch of perhaps the strongest living amateur player-problemist
>
Kibitzing
