The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-31

The American championship contest at
Boston has been concluded, c. F Barker
again proving that he is there with the
goods"
The story of this tournament is well
told in the Boston Post of date March
20:
c. F Barker of Boston is for the sec
ond time the winner of the American
checker championship.
After winning the championship from
a J. Heffner of Boston nineteen years
ago he had to repeat the feat at the
American house yesterday at the cham
pionship tournament which closed there
after seven days of play
The winners were Champion Barker.
first prize, $50; Heffner. second prize,
500: / S Head of New York, third
prize by default, $50; H. b Reynolds of
Syracuse. fourth prize. $50; Hermann
Hinek of Somerville. fifth prize, $50; VIII
lis Hill of Lowell. sixth prize, $40; George
w Andrews of Everett seventh prize,
$50. and George A. Pierce of Minneapolis,
Mimi, eighth prize. so.
The tournament was the largest and
most satisfactory ever held by the play
ers of the United States. The selection
of the American team to contest in
return game with the British players
two years hence Will be determined in a
large measure by the result of the tour
nament just closed
Sixteen of the best players that this
country can produce were matched
six days of continuous playing the old
rivals, Barker and Heffner, came out on
top to fight the old battle over again after
4 lapse of nineteen years. During that
time they had never played against each
other in a public match game
OF tie two HeffDer is the more agrees
sive. the more brilliant in the concep-
ton and execution of his plays. Bar
ker takes less chances, plays more on
the defensive and plays steadier and a
more even game. One is the very anti
thesis of the other.
Their final game. which closed the tour
nament, from the viewpoint of the check
er PLAYER. in a burst of glory, giving the
championship to Barker. was the finest
in point of briilianey and originality of
any game played during the entire tour
nament.
Ii is said that a bit of hitherto secret
had the same opening moves as one of
the famous Jordan VS.. Barker games for
the championship of the world.
Heffner was Barker's coach in that
match. which was played at the Ameri-
can house here in November. 1900. AT
the thirty-fifth game. when Barker was
4 game down with five to play and the
same opening as that of yesterday occur
red, 1914. 1913 14-1s, Heffner instructed
Barker as follows. IF Jordan in place
of 14-1S plays ILLS. then go 1913 and
rough it with Jordan for all it is
worth
1fSltfudN at the Close OF seven years.
Heffner adopted his own advice to Bar
ker and loses. although it is said that
Heffner had a good chance TO win if he
had not blundered.
The only reason Heffner assigns for his
blunderS is that his eyesight became
blurred
The third and fourth prizes. which were
awarded to Head and Reynolds went
by default. as Reynolds was unable to
play. as he was called home to Syracuse
bv the death of relative.
The minor tourney embraced the other
four players. Although Andrews had the
best record of any player in his matches
with the champion. having drawn ten
games with Barker. he was defeated by
his old-time rival Zinck of Somerville.
the youngest and most promising player
in the tournament.
If he had not been pitted against Bar