ANovember 26 1940
The Ottawa Journal, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Tuesday, November 26, 1940
Mountie Plays Twenty In Chess Exhibition
Outstanding chess players of Ottawa and Hull districts will be in action this evening at special games to be played at Chez Henri Hotel, Hull. Constable William N. Wilson, R.C.M.P., chess champion of Ottawa has challenged 20 enthusiasts and will play the 20 games simultaneously. The challenger will be seated in the centre of the room and his 20 opponents with their boards will be around him in a large horseshoe.
Philippe Brunet is playing four opponents simultaneously while blindfolded. Mr. Brunet has made a special study of the blindfold game and, as is the case with Constable Wilson, is an enthusiastic correspondence chess player. Both are now engaged in mail games with South American players in which one move takes 60 days.
Prior to the chess exhibition, challengers and opponents will be the guests of Fred Johnston at a complimentary dinner at the hotel.
November 27 1940
The Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Wednesday, November 27, 1940
Chess Exhibition Sees Officer Play
Constable William N. Wilson of the R.C.M.P. proved his ability as a chess player last night when he played 20 games simultaneously at a gathering of chess enthusiasts held at Chez Henri Hotel. Director J. A. Robert of the Hull police and Crown Attorneys Francois Caron and Jacques Bertrand were among his opponents. Constable Wilson, who is chess champion of Ottawa, put most of the players out of action, in a remarkable display of his ability.
Philippe Brunet of the Ottawa Chess Club was the hero of a unique tournament in which he placed four simultaneous games while blindfolded. How he could memorize the moves of the 32 pieces on the 60 squares of each of the four chess boards puzzled the interested spectators.
The chess exhibition was held following a dinner tendered by Lieut. Col. Fred C. Johnston, manager of Chez Henri Hotel, to members of the Ottawa Chess Club and a number of chess enthusiasts from Hull. Upwards of 50 guests were in attendance. Chess players of the Hull Volants Association were among those present.
M. H. Arnoni of the Ottawa club, who was in the chair, voiced the opinion that chess was not sufficiently organized in Ottawa and Hull. There were some very fine players in Ottawa and Hull and it was regrettable that they did not enter Dominion and International tournaments, he said.
A vote of thanks to Col. Johnston for his cordial hospitality was moved by Constable Wilson. The exhibition matches then got under way with Constable Wilson, the main challenger, standing in the middle of a square facing his 20 opponents, some of them expert chess players, while Mr. Brunet played blindfolded four simultaneous games.
