Scottish Chess Association Centenary: 1984

Special promotional efforts were made in the centenary year, including a visit by World Champion Anatoly Karpov to Glasgow on 14 May for a simultaneous display sponsored by Scottish Amicable.

Organisers in Aberdeen secured the participation of Hungarian GM Gyözö Forintos in a simultaneous exhibition against 24 opponents. Forintos, who was on holiday at the time, didn't have an easy time: +14, =5, -4 (Gordon Duthie, Sandor Vizy, Ian Gelly and Steve Townsend).

In a successfull publicity-seeking venture, four players ascended Ben Nevis in September - Douglas Bryson, Les Melvin Alison McLure and Lynne Morrison. Weather conditions necessitated a knockout 5-minute tournament, rather than the originally planned all-play-all.

Two significant books were published; Scotland's Chess Centenary Book, by C.W. Pritchett and M.D. Thornton and The Story of Dundee Chess Club, by Peter W. Walsh.

Murray Johnstone Congress

 

Source:
Scottish Chess, April, June and October 1984.

Compiled by
Alan McGowan