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Chess Scotland Club Tournament Finals

Grangemouth - April 17, 2004

report by Ken Stewart

The finals of the Chess Scotland team competitions were played at Grangemouth on Saturday 17 April.

For the third successive year the Richardson Cup final was contested by Edinburgh West and Glasgow Polytechnic, but this year the former had a strengthened team and a significant grading advantage.

At first Edinburgh West seemed to have an overall edge with three of their players with White having a large opening advantage and little was changed when Perez and Roberts drew a game which became rather sterile. However, Polytechnic came back into things despite losses on Board 2, where Swan's attempt to free a very cramped position allowed a decisive attack by Muir and Board 8 where Farrell's opening grip proved conclusive.

The remaining games all began to favour Poly as Byrne escaped his opening problems to beat Grant. Soon Watt edged out Henderson by a tempo in a rook ending and Kirk's bishops became decisive against Neave as a blocked position became opened up. Davis had a small edge which grew much bigger as Pritchett perhaps took some risks and the rook ending became a clear win. Shaw's attack had won the exchange but Arakhamia had compensation in an advanced passed a-pawn and active bishops. After much difficult manouevring the time situation forced a burst of rapid activity resulting in a draw where both flags were hanging and Arakhamia had B+2P v B+P but no way to win.

This gives Polytechnic a sixth successive victory, a feat never before achieved in the competition and their twelfth win overall (still well behind Glasgow and Edinburgh). Captain Larry Kirk of Polytechnic receives the Richardson Cup from Ken Stewart (photo by JBH).

The Spens Cup final was difficult to predict as Glenrothes had a grading advantage on the higher boards but Edinburgh Civil Service were stronger lower down. Civil Service took the lead through their veteran Austin, then gained a crucial victory on Board 1 when Prince beat Jenkins. Further wins confirmed victory before Pyrich scored consolation for Glenrothes on Board 2. Civil Service had previously won the Spens ... in 1926.

The Jack Campbell Rosebowl trophy was retained by Dunfermline whose stronger team always looked sure to beat Lanark, the latter making a second Rosebowl final having lost to Ferranti in 1992. (Match photos by Sam Collins)

 

Grading Data to follow

Chessbase Game File

Richardson Finals

Spens Finals

 

Richardson Cup Final

Board

No

Edinburgh West

Glasgow Polytechnic

Colour

Name

Grade

Score

Name

Grade

Score

1

 B

 K Arakhamia-Grant

2406

½

 J K Shaw

2486

½

2

 

 A Muir

2379

1

 I Swan

2201

0

3

 

 C Pritchett

2312

0

 E Davis

2142

1

4

 

 J Grant

2232

0

 D Byrne
2131
1

5

 

 P Roberts

2228

½

 M Perez

2057

½

6

 

 G Neave

2080
0

 L Kirk

2057

1

7

 

 J B Henderson

2058
0

 D A Watt

2052
1

8

 

 N Farrell

2036

1

 G Lyons

2020
0
     

Total

3

 

Total

5

Spens Cup Final

Board

No

Edinburgh Civil Service

Glenrothes

Colour

Name

Grade

Score

Name

Grade

Score

1

 B

 A Prince

1800

1

 B Jenkins

1982

0

2

 

 D Stewart

1702

0

 G Pyrich

1946

1

3

 

 D Heatlie

1658

1

 T Thomson

1820

0

4

 

 S Bate

1560

½

 S Blyth
1542
½

5

 

 G Brown

1537

1

 P Selbie

1322

0

6

 

 R Austin

1492
1

 N Taylor

1291

0

     

Total

 

Total

Jack Campbell Rosebowl

Board

No

Lanark

Dunfermline

Colour

Name

Grade

Score

Name

Grade

Score

1

 B

 I McLachlan

1692

0

 I Roberston

2078

1

2

 

 J Smalls

1655

0

 G Saxton

1794

1

3

 

 T Brown

1643

1

 L Madzinga

ung

0

4

 

 G R Brown

1473

0

 W Pearson
1658
1

5

 

 M Benyon

1460

½

 W S Brisbane

1626

½

6

 

 N Donohue

1016
0

 C Smith

1484

1

     

Total

 

Total

 

 


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