Evening star., 1933-06-17
question Of the District
match championship chess title
again is to the fore. The Star

l
| again is to the fore. The Stal
Of June IL, 1892, contained Z
copy Of the formal challenge Of g. E
Bishop to J. w. Byler to play a match
for the match championship Of the
| District.
Following q conference between the
oversigned and Byler The Star of that
| date stated that "Byler's reply will be
favorable to a match, but that oppor-
| tunity should be given to others to
challenge, such as Sournin, Often and
Drysdale, and if they do so there
| should be an elimination tourney to
decide which one shall meet him." Nc
further action appears to have been
taken on this challenge"
The Star of April 80, 1888. stated
that Carl A. Hesse has forwarded
through George e. Bishop, president OF
the District Chess League, challenge
to James. w: Byler to play a match for
the match championship of the District
under rules, conditions and auspices OF
the District league.
Bishop, as president of the league,
appointed a committee, with Willard
H. Mutchler chairman, to consider the
matter and make the necessary ar
rangements.
Byler, however, refused to recognize
the jurisdiction of the committee or of
the league, in the premises and called
meeting at the Capital City Chess
Club on May 81 last at which was ap-
pointed a committee, with j. B. Beadle
chairman, to draw up rules and regula-
tions for an elimination tourney.
1t Is stated that the rules have been
drawn up, that the entry list will close
on June 20, and the tourney be started
at once. The entrance fee has been
set at SO. The chess editor has not
seen a copy Of these rules.
Bishop has opened fire from a new
angle. AS league president he an
nounces that should Byler not accept
the challenge Of Hesse, the title will be
forfeited to Hesse. Bishop has let it
be known that he favors an elimination
tourney, as Byler proposes, provided
only that c. A. Hesse's challenge, which
he considers worthy Of legitimate pri-
ority, be first disposed Of. In the event
Hesse were willing to waive his chal-
lenge, the tourney would be sanctioned
by the league, but not held under its
Jurisdiction. Should Hesse's challenge
remain ignored, the previously men
toned forfeiture will 60 into effect in
so far as the league is concerned
The chess editor has been informed
over the telephone by Hesse that he
will not withdraw his challenge.
That, in brief, Is the status to date
Of the controversy.
IN 1893 Frank P. Libbey, the local
i merchant, donated a cup, to be
played for in District chess cham
pionship tournaments, and to be the
v~$~v - IL
won 1t three times in succession. r.
M. Wright won it three times In sue
cession, and carried the cup away to
California. I was playing q match
with Wright for the District champion
ship when he moved away. He re-
signed the title to me about 1896. I
defended 1t in successive matches,
against w. A. Gwyer, jr. (twice); Capt.
Patrick OFarrell, L. Thorp, E. p.
Havener and others
Later the Post offered a cup to be
played for in a championship tourna-
ment. think this Is the cup won
by I. 8. Turove7 about 1916. It was
played at the Home Club on Jackson
Square. Turover and myself tied for
first place, and he won in the play-off
Turover held the title Of District cham
pion, without being called on to play
for it either In tournament or match
play, until 1927, when, with the idea
Of holding another tournament and
stimulating local chess, he relinquished
his right to the title A tournament
for the championship was thereupon
arranged, with six entries. Walker was
induced to enter as "the veteran" and
came in first. he rules provided that
"the winner Of this tournament shall
hn nicfr irf r1, <ISn
year 1927-and for any period subse-
quent thereto, until his title shall have
been lost through defeat or non-par-
ticipation in some future District cham
pionship tourney, or through defeat in
a private match"
The next District championship tour
nament was held In 1880. The reg
ulations first provided for tournaments
every two years, the title to be subject
to challenge every six months. Then
s. Turover donated championship
cup, and the regulations were changed
to provide for annual tournaments, the
title not to be subject to challenge
Walker won the title again, the play
ers finishing In the following order:
F. 3. Walker, j. w. Byler, G. e. Bish-
op, e. M Knapp, c. A. Hesse, C. c.
Bettinger, w. K. Wimsatt, jr., and A.
Y. Hesse.
In 1881 another tournament was
held for the District title and the Tur.
over Cup, there being five entries, and
Walker again won first place The reg
ulations of this tournament made
Walker chess champion of the Dis
trict. He also had won custody Of the
Turnover Cup twice in succession. The
rules governing the 1881 tourney pro-
vided:
THE purpose Of this tourney shall
be to determine the champion chess
player of the District of Columbia fol
1881, and Corr until the championship
title shall be lost through match OF