Results and commentary by Gerry Wilson
GLASGOW CHESS LEAGUE Division 2 Final Table for 2000-2001 HC CC CW GM PY GI DN DA PO P W D L F A - Pt Holy Cross A ** 4½ 5½ 6 6 7 7 6½ 5½ 8 8 0 0 48 16 0 16 Cathcart B 3½ ** 5 4½ 6½ 4½ 5½ 4½ 2½ 8 6 0 2 36½ 27½ 0 12 Crowwood B 2½ 3 ** 4 4½ 6½ 3½ 6½ 5½ 8 4 1 3 36 28 0 9 Glasgow Montrose 2 3½ 4 ** 4 3½ 7 6 6 8 3 2 3 36 28 0 8 Polytechnic C 2 1½ 3½ 4 ** 4½ 6½ 2½ 6 8 3 1 4 30½ 33½ 0 7 Giffnock B 1 3½ 1½ 4½ 3½ ** 6 2 5 8 3 0 5 27 37 0 6 DnA A 1 2½ 4½ 1 1½ 2 ** 4½ 5 8 3 0 5 22 42 0 6 Dalmuir 1½ 3½ 1½ 2 5½ 6 3½ ** 3 8 2 0 6 26½ 37½ 0 4 Phones B 2½ 5½ 2½ 2 2 3 3 5 ** 8 2 0 6 25½ 38½ 0 4 Final Comments Confirmation now received of the DnA Giffnock result above and so the final table is as shown. April 10 comments Cathcart B defeated Montrose B in the critical promotion match and so join Holy Cross - fellow relegatees last season back in division 1. Meanwhile Phones B duly lost to the champions elect in their last match and with Giffnock rumoured to have beaten DnA 6:2 or thereabouts in their last match it would seem that Phones B will be taking the drop. Again we rely on rumour control for the news that DnA found their room double booked when Giffnock came to call so by the time they sorted it out they were all 30 minutes down on the clock, which no doubt contributed to the result. A result card from either party would be appreciated, and I have already made 1 phone call and sent 2 e-mails looking for this result. April 03 Comments Dalmuir gave themselves a lifeline - and almost certain safety by getting out their best team for the first time this season - and thus defeating Poly C in their last match to equal Giffnock and Phones match points and give themselves a good games points total. This match nearly featured an outbreak of World War 3 on board 2 as the two contestants, with a combined age of around 130, had a verbal stramash when one of them made an illegal move in the quickplay finish and then thought that more than 2 minutes had been added to his opponents clock before peace finally broke out ! Now Giffnock, who don't travel well, need at least a point from their final fixture away to DnA in order to finish above Dalmuir, while Phones face the gargantuan task of either taking a point or more from their final match with champions Holy Cross or losing 5:3 or better, so that they can finish above Dalmuir. Meanwhile the other remaining match will settle the second promotion place. Cathcart and Montrose's B teams meet with a win for either side earning promotion and a share of the spoils gving to to Cathcart. Mar 23 Comments Having already tied up promotion, Holy Cross tied up the title with a narrow win over Cathcart B. Although in 4th place, the latter look like good candidates to join them in division 1, as they have games in hand, and either they or Glasgow Montrose will grab the second promotion spot, with matters being clarified when they meet head to head on April 5. Meanwhile the one relegation spot remains unclear. Dalmuir go first and will be relegated if they fail to beat Poly C on April 2. If they survive that then Giffnock need to take at least a point from DnA on April 5 to ensure their survival, and the size of any win that Dalmuir may achieve will determine if Phones B will need to take an interest in game points in their match against champions Holy Cross on April 9. Feb 21 Comments Holy Cross A wrapped up promotion with a demolition of struggling DnA A and while the title is not mathematically certain, it will take a series of unprecedented upsets to prevent it. The B teams from both Cathcart and Montrose are contesting the second spot, but it would appear to be the prize that nobody wants. Down at the bottom, Dalmuir looked down and out when they trailed the pack by 4 points with 3 to play, but then a stunning 6:2 victory against Giffnock B materialised to give them hope of avoiding the one relegation place. With a high degree of volatility in the results of the teams in the bottom of the division, its still anybody's competition here. Jan 31 Comments Holy Cross A continue to rampage away with this division where the second place contest is a repeat of 2 seasons ago when nobody else wanted promotion. At the bottom Dalmuir look to be in a bit of trouble being 4 points adrift of the rest of the pack with only 3 matches left. Remember only 1 relegation here as Paisley have withdrawn. Dec 01 Comments Holy Cross A look set for a quick return to the top flight with 2 strong victories against respectable opposition. Paisley have withdrawn here as they could only raise 4.5 players. There have been a few postponements here, including a couple due to the industrial action by Unison causing problems with clubs venues. Round 1 00 OCT 03 Giffnock B 5 : 3 Phones B 00 OCT 26 Crowwood B 3½ : 4½ DnA A 00 OCT 09 Cathcart B 4½ : 3½ Dalmuir 00 OCT 05 Holy Cross A 6 : 2 Glasgow Montrose B Round 2 00 OCT 16 Dalmuir 2 : 6 Glasgow Montrose B 00 OCT 19 DnA A 1½ : 6½ Polytechnic C 00 OCT 16 Phones B 2½ : 5½ Crowwood B 00 OCT 31 Giffnock B 1 : 7 Holy Cross A Round 3 00 NOV 16 Crowwood B 6½ : 1½ Giffnock B 00 NOV 16 Polytechnic C 6 : 2 Phones B 01 MAR 26 Cathcart B 5½ : 2½ DnA A 01 JAN 18 Holy Cross A 6½ : 1½ Dalmuir Round 4 00 DEC 07 DnA A 1 : 7 Glasgow Montrose B 00 NOV 27 Phones B 5½ : 2½ Cathcart B 01 FEB 20 Giffnock B 3½ : 4½ Polytechnic C 00 DEC 07 Crowwood B 2½ : 5½ Holy Cross A Round 5 01 JAN 11 Glasgow Montrose B 6 : 2 Phones B 01 JAN 15 Dalmuir 3½ : 4½ DnA A 01 JAN 11 Polytechnic C 3½ : 4½ Crowwood B 01 FEB 26 Cathcart B 4½ : 3½ Giffnock B Round 6 01 JAN 22 Phones B 5 : 3 Dalmuir 01 JAN 23 Giffnock B 4½ : 3½ Glasgow Montrose B 01 JAN 25 Crowwood B 3 : 5 Cathcart B 01 JAN 25 Polytechnic C 2 : 6 Holy Cross A Round 7 01 FEB 15 Glasgow Montrose B 4 : 4 Crowwood B 01 FEB 12 Dalmuir 6 : 2 Giffnock B 01 JAN 29 Cathcart B 6½ : 1½ Polytechnic C 01 FEB 15 Holy Cross A 7 : 1 DnA A Round 8 01 MAR 12 Phones B 3 : 5 DnA A 01 MAR 08 Crowwood B 6½ : 1½ Dalmuir 01 MAR 15 Polytechnic C 4 : 4 Glasgow Montrose B 01 MAR 12 Cathcart B 3½ : 4½ Holy Cross A Round 9 01 APR 05 Glasgow Montrose B 3½ : 4½ Cathcart B 01 APR 02 Dalmuir 5½ : 2½ Polytechnic C 01 APR 05 DnA A 2 : 6 Giffnock B 01 APR 09 Phones B 2½ : 5½ Holy Cross A