Selection News

This page will feature news of events where Chess Scotland will make a selection of players. This page may request that players indicate their interest to the International Director Jonathan Grant by a certain date. Selections will be made in accordance with the set out procedures regarding eligibility, selection policy for adults, selection policy for juniors.

Information added April 9, 2008

Notification of interest in European Club Cup: The European Club Cup (and European Women's Club Cup) 2008 will be held in Kallithea, Greece from 11-Oct-2008 to 19-Oct-2008 (invitation download). As the regulations stand Chess Scotland is allowed to enter two teams to the European Club Cup 2008 and it has until 4 June 2008 to nominate. I have written to Cathcart and Edinburgh West, this year's Richardson Cup finalists, about whether they wish to be considered. If your club is interested in participating then please notify me by end of April. The main barrier to participation for any club is costs and at this point in time there is no financial support from Chess Scotland for clubs to participate. Selections will be made as soon after the Richardson Cup Final, likely to be in May, as possible. More info

Jonathan Grant International Director

Information added April 9, 2008

World Amateur Championship 2008: Scotland will be represented in the World Amateur Championship 2008 organised in Kallithea, Halkidiki-Greece from 28 April (Arrival) to 6 May (Departure) by Stephen Hilton.

Information added March 3, 2008

1)  Entries for the European Individual and European Women's Individual Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from April 20 (day of arrival) until May 4 (day of departure) 2008 are to be made by 15 March through Chess Scotland.  All players have to pay own travel, accommodation and entry fee. Contact Jonathan Grant, International Director no later than 13 March with all necessary details if you want Chess Scotland to submit your entry in time. http://www.eicc2008.com/

2) Entries for the World Amateur Championship 2008 organised in Kallithea, Halkidiki-Greece from 28 April (Arrival) to 6 of May (Departure) 2008 , details attached in one file, are to be made not later than Monday March 17 2008 through Chess Scotland. Lloyd Hughes and Stephen Hilton have so far expressed interest. All costs (travel, accom, entry and registration fees) to be paid by participants. Two CS nominations get free FIDE entry fee. Contact Jonathan Grant, International Director no later than 15 March with all necessary details if you want Chess Scotland to submit your entry in time. www.gamesfestival.com

3) The 95th Championships of The British Isles Organised by the English Chess Federation. Sunday 27th July - Saturday 9th August - St. George's Hall, Liverpool. Contact Jonathan Grant, International Director no later than 20 June with all necessary details if you are not on the list below and want Chess Scotland to consider you for one of the four nomination places (unfortunately not free) for the British Championship. Places will be awarded by the selection committee. http://www.bcf.org.uk/events/bc2008/index.html The following Scots are already qualified:

Aagaard, Jacob

Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan

Bryson, Douglas M

Condie, Mark L

Dearing, Eddie

Gourlay, Iain

Mannion, Stephen R

McKay, Roderick M

McNab, Colin A

Motwani, Paul

Muir, Andrew J

Rowson, Jonathan

Shaw, John

Also there are two Scots on the reserve list i.e Connor Woods and Calum MacQueen

4) The 4th European Union Individual Chess Championships look like being a highlight of the British chess calendar in 2008.  Further details at http://www.liverpoolchessinternational.co.uk/index.htm

Venue: Liverpool World Museum

Dates: Tuesday 9th September to Thursday 18th September

Format: A 10 round Swiss, open to players affiliated to countries within the European Union

Prizes: Total Prize fund £30,000

January 15, 2008:

European Senior Team Championship in Dresden, Germany (11 - 19 February 2008)

The players previously selected were delighted to learn of the availability of 3-times former Scottish Champion Gerald Bonner to complete the Seniors squad for Dresden. Revised team is:

1. Gerald Bonner Fide rating 2225          

2. Alastair White Scottish rating 2045

3. Alan Borwell Scottish rating 1849

4. Hugh Flockhart (Captain) Fide rating 1922

5. Siegrun Macgilchrist  Fide rating 1821

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Cappelle la Grande, France (15 to 24 February 2008)

The Scottish delegation has been finalised as: IM Stephen Mannion FM Neil Berry FM Tim Upton CM Paul Roberts

January 5, 2008:

Cappelle la Grande, France (15 to 24 February 2008)

As usual, the Cappelle organisers invited Chess Scotland to nominate four titled players for this prestigious open. The conditions are for players to share a double room in Dunkirk with meals at the venue in Cappelle. Players meet their own travel costs to France. IM Steve Mannion, FM Neil Berry and FM Tim Upton have been selected. A fourth player, not necessarily titled but must have a high rating, is required to complete the delegation.

Selection committee of Jacob, John and Colin will decide on any interest expressed by 9 January.

Selection criteria are published on the International pages of the website.

January 3, 2008:

Scotland will be represented this year for the first time at the European Senior Team Championship in Dresden. The team selected in board order is: 

1. Alastair White -  Scottish rating 2045

2. Alan Borwell - Scottish rating 1849

3. Hugh Flockhart - (captain) Fide rating 1922

4. Siegrun Macgilchrist - Fide rating 1834

November 4, 2007:

Scottish Seniors - selection for events in 2008

A) 11-19 February = European Senior Team Chess Championship 2008 Dresden, Germany.
B) 9-17 August 2008 (tbc) = European Senior Chess Championship 2008 Davos, Switzerland.
C) 28 October-8 November 2008 = World Senior Championship 2008 Bad Zwischenahn, Germany.

Chess Scotland will shortly be selecting a team(s) for next year's European Senior Team Chess Championship in Dresden. Senior players over the age of 60 years (men) and 50 years (women), by 1 January 2008, are asked to express interest in playing plus details of age to  international@chessscotland.com  by 30 November 2007.

The selection committee for seniors consists of GM Jacob Aagaard, GM John Shaw and IM Steve Mannion.

Each team will consist of four players and one reserve; all the players must be members of Chess Scotland. Further details of the tournament are in the download.

November 4, 2007:

Catalonia - V tournament 4 nations
Chess Scotland is invited, by the Catalan Chess Federation (FCDE), to send a four player team plus captain to a friendly four way match between Catalunya (Catalonia), Escòcia (Scotland), Euskadi and Portugal from 26-29 November 2007. Scotland was previously invited to a similar tournament in 2003. The Catalan Chess Federation's website is www.fcde.org

The team selected is 1. GM John Shaw 2446 2. GM Colin McNab 2427 3. FM Keith Ruxton 2314 4. FM Iain Gourlay 2349. Non-playing captain Alan Minnican

All five have confirmed their participation. Many thanks to Jacob for seeing through the selection process for this team after he started it whilst still International Director.