National Team Event Reports - 2023-24
Richardson Cup
In the major competitive highlight of season 2023/4 we retained the Richardson Cup. It was our 27th victory in Scotland’s oldest team chess competition, and the first time we have won back to back titles since 1982.
This year’s competition featured 8 teams, and was a knockout event running between March and May.
Quarter Final - 9th March 2024
| Edinburgh | Hamilton | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freddy Waldhausen-Gordon | ½ - ½ | Steven Tweedie |
| 2 | Keith Ruxton | 1 - 0 | Andrew McCusker |
| 3 | Neil Berry | ½ - ½ | Tom Donohue |
| 4 | Craig Thomson | 1 - 0 | Derek McCormack |
| 5 | Petros Wallden | ½ - ½ | Robert Montgomery |
| 6 | 1 - 0 | default | |
| 7 | 1 - 0 | default | |
| 8 | 1 - 0 | default | |
| 6½ - 1½ |
The match was made significantly easier when our opponents turned up with only 5 players. It has to be said that the current rules for Richardson and Spens Cup eligibility do not support clubs wishing to compete in both competitions. In particular players who would be reserves for the Richardson Team are not allowed to compete if they are part of the Spens Cup. Our opponents were missing a few players, and a number of potential replacements were ‘cup tied’.
Semi Final - 13th April 2024
| Edinburgh West | Edinburgh | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keti Arakhamia-Grant | 0 - 1 | Freddy Waldhausen-Gordon |
| 2 | Joe Redpath | ½ - ½ | Keith Ruxton |
| 3 | Craig Pritchett | 0 - 1 | Neil Berry |
| 4 | Jonathan Grant | 0 - 1 | Craig Thomson |
| 5 | George Neave | ½ - ½ | Adam Bremner |
| 6 | Neil Farrell | 1 - 0 | Petros Wallden |
| 7 | Kritan Bogarappu | 0 - 1 | Calum MacQueen |
| 8 | Alan Bell | ½ - ½ | Hugh Brechin |
| 2½ - 5½ |
The semi-final was held at Alva Street and was a rerun of last season’s final. Our opponents had also recently defeated us in a critical Edinburgh League game to win the Edinburgh League title. We took an early lead in the match, but the situation remained tense for some time. The result was confirmed by wins for Craig and Freddy in the final 2 games.
Final - 18th May 2024
| Dundee | Edinburgh | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacques Ophoff | 1 - 0 | Keith Ruxton |
| 2 | Declan Shafi | ½ - ½ | Neil Berry |
| 3 | Rishi Vijayakumar | 0 - 1 | Craig Thomson |
| 4 | Ed Spencer | 0 - 1 | Petros Wallden |
| 5 | Andrew Wright | 0 - 1 | Andrew Green |
| 6 | Joshua Crofts | ½ - ½ | Hugh Brechin |
| 7 | Euan Dawson | 0 - 1 | Willie Rutherford |
| 8 | Alastair Dawson | ½ - ½ | Lindsay McGregor |
| 2½ - 5½ |
The final took place in Giffnock, as the usual venue was double booked and Chess Scotland needed somewhere large enough to host the Richardson, Spens and Jack Campbell Rosebowl finals. We had some selection issues with Freddy, Adam and Calum being unavailable, and a couple of potential replacements not eligible due to playing in the Spens. On the plus side Andrew Green returned to play his first competitive game in 5 years, and Willie and Lindsay also came into the side. Wins from Petros and Willie saw us move ahead:
Rutherford, William (1935) - Dawson, Euan (1892)
25.h5! Rxd6 26.exd6 Qb7 27.hxg6 f5 28.Qh5 Kg7
[28...Qg7 29.Rd1 Rxd6 30.g4! and the g6 pawn will live, making Black's position untenable]
29.Qh2 Kxg6 30.Qe5 Kf7 31.e4! [decisively opening up the 3rd rank for the rook] 31...Bxe4 32.Rg3 Rg8 33.Bxe4 fxe4 34.Qf4+
1–0
Dundee reduced the deficit when Jacques Ophoff’s exchange sacrifice turned the tables. In the final 3 games we were winning on 2 boards and holding the other, the main danger being the lack of time on any of the boards. Andrew and Craig held their nerve to bring home the wins and Neil held to seal the victory.
Picture (l-r): Alastair Maxwell (Tournament Organizer), Alex McFarlane (CS President), Hugh Brechin, Willie Rutherford, Neil Berry, Keith Ruxton, Craig Thomson, Lindsey McGregor, Petros Wallden, Andrew Green.
Spens Cup
Scottish National Chess League (SNCL)