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]
Club member Geoff, intrepid journalist and chess-patzer, never turns down the opportunity to mix a pint and chess by interviewing actor, comedian and fellow chess-patzer Kevin James Doyle for Chess Magazine when Kevin appeared in the Fringe!
Many congratulations to club member Raghuram Parasur, who plays for the Tiger Cubs, on being awarded the Balerno Trophy for the highest rise in grading over a season.
His grade last year was 742, but has risen an astonishing 1052 points to 1794. Of the 14 games he played in this period he won 13 and drew 1.
The previous record in the Edinburgh leagues was held by our own Freddy Waldhausen Gordon.
To put his rise in perspective, a certain Magnus Carlsen, in the year he got his first coach, rose from 904 to 1907 Elo, a rise of merely 1003 points.
So no pressure Raghuram 😉 but we all look forward to seeing you continue to improve. Very well done.
In order to create more space and to raise funds the club is selling a vast quantity of duplicate / surplus chess books and magazines – a completely varied selection:
They are on display in the analysis room over the coming weeks – a complete list is also available online or ask for a copy to be sent. Note this list will be regularly updated to reflect sales made plus additonal items being added for sale.
Payment can be made directly to any club officer (cash or cheque). It would be appreciated if the item being bought is crossed of the list in the analysis room – noting who bought it and when.
If you see an item on the list but can’t manage to get into the club just email me and, if it’s not already been sold, I’ll put it to one side and send you an invoice for payment.
Just shout if any questions!
Ian
Ian Whittaker, Curator (curator@edinburghchessclub.co.uk)