Our President, Raj Bhopal has been playing in the European Senior Chess Championship and was delighted to play a legend of the game – GM Nona Gaprindashvili, who was women’s world champion from 1962 to 1968, and is still a strong player in her 80s. The game finished in a draw, so Raj can now say he’s drawn with a world champion. Definitely a day to remember.
Hard on the heels of his first tournament win, 8 year-old Adam Ling has triumphed a second time, at the Albyn Intermediate Shield event in Aberdeen. We’re clearly going to have to watch this young lad carefully.
Congratulations Adam!
After a couple of convincing wins in the quarter and semifinal of the Summer Plate, Edinburgh 1 came up against a very youthful and talented Edinburgh West team in the final.
Matthew Willder produced a quick win for us on board 3 but all the other games were tight.
Raj was fought to a standstill in an opposite coloured bishops endgame. Mark Gyalus had a very sharp game that mercifully was agreed drawn while time was running out for both players.
The final result was a deserved victory to Edinburgh West by 3.5 to 2.5 – before allowing for handicap points. Taking into account the handicap the result was 5 to 2.5. Congratulations to Edinburgh West.
Report by Ivor McConnell
Delighted to hear that one of our youngest members, 8 year old Adam Ling, has won the intermediate section of the Bothwell Junior Chess Congress at the Bothwell Scarecrow Festival in September.
Very well done Adam and good luck in the NEJCA Albyn Trophy in Aberdeen on the 29th. Enjoy the trip and enjoy your chess. You’re already ahead of most of us!
Intrepid chess player and global traveller Bob Kane recently competed in the 2nd Torquay Riviera Tournament, U1900 section, and scored 3.5/5, finishing in a tie for second place. He sent us this report:
It’s an 8-hour train journey from Edinburgh—or in my case, 5 episodes of Netflix series “the Bear” —but it was worth traveling to visit the picturesque harbours, steam railways, quaint pubs, and more.
In my first-round game, the position was looking pretty drawish even, with Rc7 being threatened, which would lead to an exchange of major pieces. I played Kf2—how does this trappy move stop 24..Rc7? The answer is : ..24..Rc7? 25 Qxd6 ..Rc2+ 26Rxc2 ..Qxd6 27 Rc8+ ..Kh7 28 Rh8+ ..Kxh8 28 Nf7+ resigns. [tip : alway look one move further particularly for forcing moves]
Please don’t publish the whole game as its very boring!
Best Regards
Robert
Delighted to learn that two members won prizes in the 2023/24 Scottish Grand Priz Challengers section (for players graded 1750-1999) and sponsored by Chess and Bridge, New in Chess and the Walter Munn fund:
2nd was Bob Kane (whose grading is 1812) scoring 42.0 points and winning a magazine subscription and a book/dvd.
3rd was Ross Blackford (with a grading of 1926) scoring 40.5 also winning a magazine subscription and a book/dvd.
Congratulations to both (and apologies if I’ve missed any other prizewinners from the club).
[Full list of prize winners is on the Chess Scotland web site]