Edinburgh Chess Club

Both teams ended the SNCL season with draws – the first team against Edinburgh West and the second team against Stonehaven. The first team are champions of the SNCL, for the first time since 2001. The second team narrowly missed promotion, finishing third in division 2. My thanks and congratulations to all who took part.

Results of SNCL rounds 3 and 4 played at Dunfermline on 25 November.

In division 1, Edinburgh 1 beat Giffnock and Clarkston by 4:1 and Edinburgh Uni by 3:2. Edinburgh 1 leads the division.

In division 2, Edinburgh 2 lost to Glenrothes Kings by 3.5:1.5 and drew with CS BoS 1. Edinburgh 2 is in second place on board points.

Results of the first two rounds of SNCL played on 28 October were: in Division 1, Edinburgh 1 beat Dundee City A by 3:2 and Hamilton A by 3:2 – really good results against last years winners and runners up. In Division 2, Edinburgh 2 beat Kilmarnock 3:2 and Dundee City B by 4.5: 0.5. Individual results are posted on the Chess Scotland noticeboard.

A few first thoughts on whether we should be doing anything for the 200th anniversary in 10 years time and if so what. It seems to me that it would be nice, if we could, to organise at least one event that would make some sort of impact on the chess world, but I guess that’s the first question – do members have enough time, interest and enthusiasm to put something like that together. Or would people just prefer things that the membership could participate in? Then we get to the question of cost – we’re not going to host top GMs without some sizeable sponsorship. If possible, could we do a variety of events – perhaps a few visits, talks, or simuls for the members, perhaps a special local league event(s) to involve other Edinburgh players, and then school visits or a children’s tournament to encourage juniors? It would be nice to know how members feel about it. As an aside we should perhaps also be thinking about redecorating the premises if we’re going to put ourselves on show to the world. Please share your thoughts.

A new season and this year we start with a team in the top division! and one in the second. So hopefully tough opposition should be available to all wanting to play. If you’d like to play in SNCL and you haven’t been emailed by me in the past for each match, please let me know (johnssmith@blueyonder.co.uk). I’ll send out an email for teams for the first sncl day, which is at the end of October, in a few weeks. John

Match played 17th April at Alva Street:

Edinburgh 3            ½  -  5½     Dragons 2

Raj Bhopal               ½  -  ½      Alan Tate

Lindsay McGregor     0  -  1      Tony  Dempsey

Graham Dempsey      0  -  1      Richard Kynoch

Chris McIntee            0  -  1       Eoin Campbell

Colin Hutchison         0  -  1      Ewan Taylor

Motiejus Gudenas     0  -  1      Donald Heron

Matches played 12th April at Roslin:

Round 12

Edinburgh A  1½  -  2½    Pentland Hills

Edinburgh B   3½  -  ½     Sandy Bells

Edinburgh B finish 4th with 27 points, ½ a point ahead of Edinburgh A in 5th.

Match played 29th March at Alva Street:

Tiger Cubs           1 – 5     Pentland Hills 2

Fergus Skillen         0 – 1     Roy Ramsey

Captiva Mills            0 – 1     Lindsay Ridland

Dennis Anderson   1 – 0      Dick Heathwood

Michael Welch        0 – 1      Jim Kilgour

Robert Pirrie            0 – 1     Terry Purkins

Terence Douet        0 – 1      Andrew Clark

In the second division, Edinburgh 1 beat CS Bos 5-O. Edinburgh 1 are runners-up in division 2 and are promoted to division 1 for next season.
In the third division, Edinburgh 2 beat Dundee City B 3.5 – 1.5. Edinburgh 2 finish as runners-up in division 3 (behind Dundee City B) and are promoted to division 2.