Chess Scotland Team Finals 2008-2009

Stirling University

 

The Finals of the Richardson Cup, Spens Cup and the Jack Campbell Rosebowl team tournaments took place on Saturday, April 25th 2009 on the Stirling University campus.

The Richardson Cup was a hard-fought affair between the closely-matched Glasgow Polytechnic and Hamilton A teams. On top board for Poly, GM John Shaw overcame Hamilton's (IM) Andy Muir: the latter's weak pawns proved to be too much of a liability in the rook end-game. Adrian Stalker playing on Board 7 for Hamilton was the last to finish: after nearly five hours play, he drove his opponent's king all the way to the 7 th rank to deliver checkmate with queen and rook. Although this result drew the match 4-4, Poly emerged clear winners on tie-break, having taken three of the top four boards.

In the Spens Cup, Wandering Dragons were the clear favourites over Irvine , out-grading them by an average of 200 points. But it was not to be. Three of the six games were drawn; honours were shared in the next two, but an epic battle ensued on the remaining (third) board. With Q, R & (opposite coloured) Bishop each, the outcome depended on whose king was the most vulnerable to attack. Well into extra time, the answer emerged. A remarkable victory then for Irvine by 3½ - 2½, against the odds.

In the Jack Campbell Rosebowl, Bon Accord had a significant paper advantage over Hamilton B, particularly on Board 1. Nevertheless, the 6-0 drubbing was as unexpected as it was swift. Only on Board 5 did Hamilton B put up prolonged resistance; indeed, it seemed that the Hamilton player had the better of the game for quite a while.

The handsome and historic Spens Cup and Jack Campbell Rosebowl were presented to the winning team captains but, regrettably, the Richardson Cup was unavailable on the day. Members of all the winning teams were presented with individual engraved trophies. The excellent (if pricey) venue was a very satisfactory stage for this most prestigious of all Scottish team events.

On behalf of all participants, I'd like to thank Sam Collins for organizing these tournaments: unfortunately, due to work commitments, he was unable to be present at the very end to witness the outcome of all his work.

Trevor Davies

Richardson Cup Final

Board No Glasgow Polytechnic Hamilton Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  W  John Shaw 2509 1  Andy Muir 2347 0 2    Eddie Davis 2237 1  Pat Coffey 2222 0 3    Peter Biro 2189 0  Joe Redpath 2207 1 4    Lukasz Turlej 2137 1  Steven Tweedie 2226 0 5    Larry Kirk 2127 0  Clement Sreeves 1923 1 6    Iain Swan 2070 0  Chris MacDonald 2066 1 7    Fan Zhang 2058 0  Adrian Stalker 2092 1 8    Neil Reid 2000 1  Duncan Walker 1953 0       Total 4   Total 4

Spens Cup Final

Board No Wandering Dragons Irvine Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  W  Alan Minnican 2071 ½  Tommy Barrett 1819 ½ 2    Graham Hamilton 1989 1  Phil Walsh 1799 0 3    Elliot Sloan 1850 0  Graeme King 1730 1 4    Donald Heron 1833 ½  Andrew Thomson 1678 ½ 5    Eoin Campbell 1767 0  Robert Loughran 1542 1 6    Ewan Taylor 1796 ½  John Shankland 1443 ½       Total 2½   Total 3½

Jack Campbell Rosebowl

Board No Bon Accord Hamilton B Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  W  Robert Lothian 2128 1  Robt. Montgomery 1668 0 2    John Clifford 1776 1  Arthur Mulholland 1614 0 3    Eric Davidson 1725 1  James Montgomery 1539 0 4    Ade Egbaiyelo 1650 1  Luke Greenslade 1524 0 5    Ian McDonald 1490 1  William McIntosh 1574 0 6    Daniel Maxwell 1318 1  Lawrence Freel 1492 0       Total 6   Total 0

 

*****

Finals preview by Sam Collins

This years Chess Scotland team tournaments will be held on Saturday 25th April 09 at:-

STIRLING MANAGEMENT CENTRE, UNIVERSITY of STIRLING , STIRLING FK9 4LA

All games will start at 1.00pm.

ALL FINALS ARE AS FOLLOWS

RICHARDSON CUP

GLASGOW POLYTECHNIC v HAMILTON A

SPENS CUP

WANDERING DRAGONS v IRVINE

JACK CAMPBELL ROSEBOWL

BON ACCORD v HAMILTON B

In the Richardson Cup Sec1 Edinburgh West set Hamilton a hard task. They had to win 8-0 against Kilmarnock in order to reach the Richardson Cup Final in thier last game. Guess what?

In the Richardson Cup Sec2 Polytechnic secure their place in the final with a better games points from Dundee Victoria who did not lose a match.

In the Spens Cup Sec1 Irvine won both their games to reach the final, with Hamilton going through to the final of the Jack Campbell Rosebowl as runner-up.

In the Spens Cup Sec2 there was still a lot to play for. The last game between Edinburgh CS v Bon Accord would decide the placings. However ECS defaulted their match.

Richardson Cup Section One   Results as at 22 MAR   09
                 HA EW ED KM GN  P  W  D  L  F   A   - Pt
Hamilton A       ** 3  5½ 8      3  2  0  1 16½  7½  0  4
EdinburghWest    5  ** 3  8      3  2  0  1 16   8   0  4
Edinburgh        2½ 5  ** 4½     3  2  0  1 12  12   0  4
Kilmarnock       0  0  3½ **     3  0  0  3  3½ 20½  0  0
Glenrothes       Withdrawn       0  0  0  0  0   0   0  0

Richardson Cup Section Two    Results as at 22 FEB  09
                 PY DV CC OB CH P  W  D  L  F   A   Pt
Glw Polytechnic  ** 3  6  6     3  2  0  1 15   9   4
DundeeVictoria   5  ** 4  4     3  1  2  0 13  11   4
Cathcart         2  4  ** 5     3  2  1  1 11  13   3
Oban             2  4  3   **   3  0  1  2  9  15   0
Castlehill       Withdrawn      0  0  0  0  0   0   0

Spens Cup      Section One    Results as at 16 MAR  09
                 IR HA GM DF  P  W  D  L  F   A   - Pt
Irvine           ** 4½ 3½     2  2  0  0  8   4   0  4
Hamilton         1½ ** 5      2  1  0  1  6½  5½  0  2
Glw Monrtrose    2½ 1  **     2  0  0  2  3½  8½  0  0
Dumfries & Dist  Withdrawn    0  0  0  0  0   0   0  0

Spens Cup      Section Two    Results as at 16 MAR  09
                 WD BA CS CH  P  W  D  L  F   A   - Pt
W Dragons        ** 3½ 3      2  1  1  0  6½  5½  0  3
Bon Accord       2½ ** 6d     2  1  0  1  8½  3½  0  2
Edinburgh C S    3  0d **     2  0  1  1  3   9   0  1
Castlehill       Withdrawn    0  0  0  0  0   0   0  0