Williamson Shield 1914

The 1914 competition was a double round all-play-all with on this occasion four contestants for the Shield, among them the defending champion Harold Thomas. The following report on the crucial last round game appeared in the Belfast News-Letter for the 9th April 1914:

The deciding game in the Belfast championship tourney was begun on the 4th inst., when Mr. H. Thomas, the holder, met Mr. A.S. Roper. The latter being 1/2 point behind his opponent, had to play for the win, and after a stubbornly contested game, prolonged into a third sitting, he secured the advantage and won. Mr. Roper thus gains the title for the first time, and he is to be congratulated on his fine record of 5 wins out of 6 games played.

The Northern Whig on the same date provided a cross-table, reporting that the final game between the other two players had still to be played.

WILLIAMSON SHIELD 1914

              R   T   A   P    PTS

A.S. ROPER    XX  01  11  11   5.0
H. THOMAS     10  XX  =1  11   4.5
W.J. ALLEN    00  =0  XX  =*   1.0
T. PATTERSON  00  00  =*  XX   0.5

* Result unknown - game probably not played

T. Patterson - A. Roper
Williamson Shield Belfast, 1914
[Annotations from the Belfast News-Letter chess column for 30th April 1914]

Play through the game with our PGN Viewer

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8
Or 3...Qa5. The text retains command of the d-file and avoids the annoying attack (if White is plucky enough) commencing 4.b4.
4.d4 c6 5.Bc4
Perhaps the best square for the Bishop, though 5.Bd3 prevents Black playing 5...Bf5.
5...Bf5
A great point in the defence is to play this bishop before e6 (Mason).
6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0-0 Qc7
Preparing to castle and get command of the open file with the Rook. The object of Black's 4th is now apparent.
8.g3
Very weak. Up to this move White has played accurately. 8.Re1 or 8.Ne5 and White has a good game.
8...e6 9.Ne5 Bd6 10.Bf4 Nbd7 11.Re1 0-0-0

Risky; the subsequent exchanges are not in Black's favour. Certainly he has a vigorous attack, but White does not play the best moves.
12.Nxf7 Bxf4 13.Nxd8 Rxd8 14.gxf4 Qxf4 15.Ne2 Qh4 16.Ng3
This does not stop the threat, and there are better moves. 16.Qc1 and if 16...Ne4 (or 16...Ng4 17.Qf4) 17.Qe3.
16...Ng4 17.Qf3

17...Rf8
[Black should first play 17...Qxh2+ 18.Kf1 and then Rf8 with a winning position - DMcA.]
18.Nxf5
18.Qg2 prevents disaster.
18...Qxh2+ 19.Kf1 Rxf5 20.Qxf5
Nothing better, and the game is virtually over as Black does not allow the rooks to come into play.
20...exf5 21.Ke2 Qxf2+ 22.Kd3 Qf3+ 23.Kd2 Nf2 24.c3 Ne4+ 25.Kc2 Ndf6 26.Rad1 Ng4 27.Kb3 Qf4 28.Bg8 h5 29.a3 Ngf2 30.Ra1 h4 31.Ka2 h3 32.Rf1 Ng3 33.Rh1 Nfe4 0-1

Alf Roper, having volunteered for service in the war, set sail on the evening of Thursday 6th August 1914, destination unknown - now he was a pawn in someone else's hands.

The Williamson Shield would not be competed for again until 1923.