All posts by bill

Edinburgh 2, who finished 5th in the Premier Division, have won the play-off with Bank of Scotland 1, who finished 2nd in Division 1, thus assuring themselves of playing in the Premier Division again next year (assumming no unexpected league reconstruction).

Well done guys!

The club will hosting the Bowes Lyon Trophy on the 15th and 16th June 2019. This is a Chessbase Grand Prix event for players graded under 1600.

The event is a 5 round Swiss with a time control of 30 moves in 60 minutes with a 15 minute quickplay finish.

There will be 3 rounds on the Saturday starting at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm, and 2 rounds on the Sunday starting at 11am and 2pm.

Entry fee is £10 – pay at the door.

There is a maximum of 30 players, so to be certain of playing it is advised that you send your entry early. If the tournament is fully subscribed, additional entrants can be added to a waiting list.

Please email entries to Calum McGillivray at:
calum-1989@hotmail.co.uk

Next week sees the first evening of the club’s Johnny Marr Allegro championship (currently held by David Sime).

The first three rounds will take place on Tuesday, 16 April, and the second three rounds on Tuesday, 30 April. Ideally, entrants would play all six rounds but if that is not possible you are welcome to play on one of the two evenings. The time control will be 25 minutes with a two second increment for each move.The games will be rated.

If you intend to play, and have not already done so, please send your name and your grading (for Allegro if you have one and the normal time control grading if you do not) to Neil Berry before 9 PM on Sunday, 14 April.

If you are unable to make a decision on playing in advance, please arrive on each night by 7:25 PM at the latest, so you can be registered. The games will start at 7:45 PM or earlier if we are all assembled and ready. We expect to finish at 10:30 PM on each of the two nights.

The Perth Congress was held last weekend at the Salutation Hotel (an excellent venue – and has been welcoming guests since 1699?!?) – with a significant number of club members taking part.

No prize winners in the Open but good 3½/5 scores by both CM Paul Roberts (drawing with the eventual winner Junhao Xian in the second round but then losing to IM Mark Orr in the third) and Willie Rutherford (losing to Max Turner in the third round).  Robert Kane, Benjamin Ridge and Michael Ridge all scored 2/5 and David Robertson ended on 1½/5.

In the Major six players came first equal on 4/5 leaving Ian Whittaker as 7th equal on 3½/5 (sharing the U1650 grading prize).  Keith Aitchison followed closely behind on 3/5 and Will Samson scored 2½/5.

Leading on 100% into the final round of the Minor, after a marathon fourth round win which only finished just before the start of the final round, a drained Allan Buchan unfortunately lost his final game to Gordon Greig, the eventual joint winner, coming third equal (on 4/5).  Andrew Rutherford (Tiger Cubs) was close behind on 3/5 coming sixth equal and Mark Smith ended up with a score of 3/5.

Full tournament results are on the Chess Scotland web site

Have you played in any events that we haven’t mentioned here on the site? If so please let us know – bill@spiderwriting.co.uk

Members ventured into darkest Fife in January for the Kirkaldy weekend congress.

In the U2200 Mike Ridge came in second with a score of 3/4 ahead of third placed Benjamin Ridge on 2½/4, followed by Robert Kane on 2/4 and Vipin Zamvar (0/3).

Keith Aitchison came second in the U1800 tournament with a score of 3/4 and Calum McGillivray scored 1½/5.

Full tournament results are on the Chess Scotland web site

Have you played in any events that we haven’t mentioned here on the site? If so please let us know – bill@spiderwriting.co.uk

The Lothians Allegro was held at the Bainfield Bowling & Social Club on 13th January with a number of club members taking part.

David Robertson was in the Open scoring 1/5.  In the Challengers Ian Whittaker came second on 4/5 followed by both Raj Bhopal and David Archibald, who were third equal on 3½/5, and Robert Kane on 2½/5.

In the Major, Calum McGillivray scored 4/5 to come in at second equal, with James Hartman (from the Tiger Cubs) following in sixth place with 3½/5 and Jonathan Fallman (who scored 2/5).

Allan Buchan was first equal in the Minor (4½/5) followed by Jennifer Shelley and Mark Smith (both with 2/5).

Full tournament results are on the Chess Scotland web site.

Again let us know of any ommissions.