Login

Forgotten Password

Upcoming Events

Adult Events

27th Online SCT Weekender – July 2022

01/07/22 - 03/07/22 (3 day event)

Edinburgh Chess Club Bicentenary – Schaakstad Apeldoorn

15/07/22 - 17/07/22 (3 day event)

SCT Livingston Allegro – July 2022

31/07/22 (1 day event)

Junior Events

27th Online SCT Weekender (Junior sections) – July 2022

01/07/22 - 02/07/22 (2 day event)

Ads / Sponsors

Recent News

Page 1 of 46

World Senior Team 2022

22nd June 2022

WSTCC Scotland Round Reports

The World Senior Team Championship takes place in Acqui Terme, Italy 19-30, June 2022.

https://www.scaccomattissimo.com/acqui-2022-en/

https://chess-results.com/tnr641917.aspx?lan=1&art=3&rd=1

Round 6:

***

Round 5:

The Still Active NL team from Netherlands sit across from us at breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, so our typical team discussion before the games had to be put on hold – Alan Scrimgour was quick to silence the loose lips among us who had forgotten about our culinary neighbours eavesdropping abilities!

It was Alan’s turn to sit out, and after both myself and David had turned in short and uneventful draws, it was left to Neil and Jim to do the hard work.

Unfortunately for us, Jim’s opponent played an excellent game and determined defence couldn’t hold, while Neil went astray in a wonderfully complex tactical position, although it did lead to an enjoyable group analysis session with the opposition afterwards.

***

Round 4:

Facing Ireland in what was possibly a must-win match to avoid the “bye” region of the tournament, we were met with a shock on arrival at the venue with news that their board 3 had come down with Covid.

What that meant for the rest of the team was unclear, but with no specific covid regulations in place (no masks, no testing, etc) basically an “honour” system” is in operation. There has been little in the way of hacking coughs and runny noses doing the rounds but who knows what the rest of the event will bring.

Anyway, a point up, we added to that with solid draws from Alan and David, leaving Neil to bring home the match against legendary Russian-born, Irish GM Alexander Baburin. That he did with an excellently played game and a timely draw offer from a position of strength.

***

Round 3:

On paper we should have won quite handily against Wales Cymru, one of two teams representing our southern Celtic cousins in the 50+ section. Of course, in reality things are often quite different and a 2-2 draw was a fair result given what happened on the boards.

Both David and Jim took draws while Alan played an excellent game (which will be annotated for the August issue of Scottish Chess magazine).

That left yours truly to seal match victory by simply shuffling the pieces around in a bishop ending, but I committed the cardinal sin of playing for 2 results while failing to appreciate a third result was also possible. My opponent grabbed his chance and suddenly we had only drawn the match. My bad, and time to sit out and contemplate my own idiocy the following day!