Miles v McKay Challenge

June 1983

In June 1983 Cathcart Chess Club arranged a four game match between their top player IM Roddy McKay, seven times Scottish Champion, and GM Tony Miles. The event, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cathcart CC, was organised by the late Alan Shaw, Cathcart member and founder of the Chess Suppliers company, and staged at the Grosvenor Hotel in Glasgow. Alan secured sponsorship from Stakis for the venue and from Langs, the whisky firm. TV coverage had been promised but was usurped by Margaret Thatcher holding the General Election on the eve of Miles' visit.

No match of this status had been seen in Glasgow since Fairhurst v Eliskases some 50 years earlier. Miles, world no.17 at the time, recorded a narrow victory 2.5-1.5 but McKay missed chances to equalise in the final game (33 f3 for instance). Miles also played 176 games against local players in five simultaneous exhibitions around Scotland losing three, one to Cathcart player Brian Noon, one to the former Johnstone player Brendan Keenan (perhaps someone knows the other simul victor). Miles was given honorary Cathcart membership.

(1) Miles,A - McKay,R [E32]
Langs Challenge (1), 12.06.1983

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Qc2 0-0 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 d6 7 e3 e5 8 Nf3 exd4 9 Nxd4 Nbd7 10 Be2 Ne5 11 0-0 Bxc3 12 Qxc3 Ng6 13 Bxf6 Qxf6 14 Nb5 Qe7 15 Qd4 Be6 16 Rad1 Rfd8 17 f4 a6 18 Nc3 c5 19 Qd3 b5 20 b3 bxc4 21 bxc4 f5 22 Rb1 Rab8 23 Rfd1 Rb4 24 Bf3 Kh8 25 Bd5 Rdb8 26 a3 Rxb1 27 Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28 Qxb1 Bg8 29 Qc1 Bxd5 30 Nxd5 Qe4 31 Kf2 Ne7 32 Nxe7 Qxe7 33 Qc2 Qh4+ 34 Kf1 Qf6 35 Ke2 Qg6 36 Kf2 Qf6 37 Qd3 Qh4+ 38 Kf1 Qf6 39 h3 h5 40 Qd1 h4 41 Kg1 Qc3 42 Kh2 Qxa3 43 Qh5+ Kg8 44 Qe8+ Kh7 45 Qh5+ Kg8 46 Qe8+ Kh7 47 Qe7 Qd3 48 Qxh4+ Kg8 49 Qe7 a5 50 Qe8+ Kh7 51 Qh5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2