Williamson Shield 1924: Allen wins again
The 1924 Williamson Shield started in late April
and was scheduled to be completed by 15th July. Five players, including the previous year's champion W, J. Allen, had entered the lists. The format was that each player would play every other player twice, once with each colour. Allen made a good start with 2.5 points from his first three games, but then he suffered a lost to Alexander Orr in his fourth game. This allowed R. A. Heaney to overtake him and after six Rounds the scores were Heaney 4/5, Allen 3.5/5, Orr 2/5, L. E. Deens 1.5/5 and D. McDonald 1/4. Orr then beat McDonald, whereupon the latter retired from the competition, with his unplayed games counting to his opponents.The Belfast News-Letter reported the up-to-date situation as of the 10th July. The scores (including McDonald's defaults) were now Heaney 5/6, Allen 4.5/6 (plus one adjourned game), Orr 3.5/7 (plus one adjourned game), Deens 3/7 and McDonald 1/8. The adjourned game between Orr and Allen had been a fluctuating struggle, but by the adjournment looked likely to be a draw - indeed the players had agreed to adjourn on the understanding that if it did not affect the result of the tournament a draw would be agreed to.
The Belfast News-Letter for the 17th July takes up the story of Heaney's last two games, which were to decide the winner of the Shield.
Messrs. R. A. Heaney and L. E. Deens played their return game in the Belfast Championship Tournament on Friday evening last in CIYMS Rooms. Mr. Heaney played the Evans' Gambit, which Black accepted. White did not seem to get compensation for the pawn sacrificed, and Black eventually got a fairly level position with pawn still to the good. White worked up a fresh attack, but the defence proving adequate, the initiative fell to Black, who mated on the 30th move.
On Monday afternoon Messrs. R. A. Heaney and W. J. Allen played the deciding game of the tournament in the same rooms. Mr. Heaney again had White and played the Guioco Piano. White at the 16th move exchanged Queens to prevent a pawn advance. Some moves later, an ill-advised exchange of pawns left him with an isolated QP, which Black eventually won. A Rook and pawn ending followed, and after an exchange of Rooks, Black queened a pawn and won the game and the Championship.
Final standings
|
W. J. ALLEN |
X X |
1 1 |
1 1 |
0 = |
= 1 |
6.0 |
|
R. A. HEANEY |
0 0 |
X X |
1 0 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
5.0 |
|
L. E. DEENS |
0 0 |
0 1 |
X X |
= = |
1 1 |
4.0 |
|
A. ORR |
1 = |
0 0 |
= = |
X X |
= 1 |
4.0 |
|
D. McDONALD |
= 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
= 0 |
X X |
1.0 |
R. A. Heaney - L. E. Deens: Williamson Shield Belfast 11th July 1924
[Annotations from the Belfast News-Letter for 24th July 1924]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bc5 6.0-0
22.g5 bxc4 23.gxf6 gxf6 24.Qh6
28.Rc1