On the February 2024 FIDE list :
Freddy is 15th in World Rankings (born 2010 or later), headed by Yagiz Erdogmus of Turkey
Supratit is 2nd in World Rankings (born 2014 or later), one ELO point behind Marc Llari of France

Hi all,

As part of canvassing views from the Chess Scotland community, we are going to be convening focus groups - one of which would ideally be an LGBTQ+ group. These focus groups will be looking at recognition and further development of the diversity of our chess community here in Scotland. 

If you are a chess player in Scotland who is part of the LGBTQ+ community, I would be really interested in hearing from you. Please feel free to get in touch with me at ruairidh.mckay@yahoo.co.uk.

Ruairidh McKay
Admin Director

P.S. If you would like to give anonymous feedback, this will also be accepted and I will not divulge anything to others without permission.

My goodness where has January gone!

I hope you are well on the way to getting your full teams ready for this Sunday. No one has informed me that they are unable to come so I am expecting a full house.
 
The dogs are having a weekend holiday with my friend so will not be attending.

Look forward to seeing you all

GG

FIDE ARBITER SEMINAR AND EXAM 23-25 February 2024
Chess Scotland is running an online FIDE arbiter seminar (and exam) the weekend of 23 – 25 February 2024. The FIDE lecturer is Chess Scotland Principal Arbiter, IA Alex McFarlane.
This gives members a chance to gain a norm towards the FIDE Arbiter title. Please note that to take part you must be a Licensed National Arbiter.

Anyone interested please contact the Chess Scotland Arbiter and Rules Director, Alistair Maxwell in the first instance at alistair.maxwell34@gmail.com and put the text “CS FIDE ARBITER Seminar 2024” in the subject field of the email. The maximum number for the seminar is 20 and places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. (NB there is already interest from overseas).
The Schedule is as follows:
FRIDAY 23rd February
Laws of Chess                                     18.00-22.00
 
SATURDAY 24th February
Laws of Chess                                       10.00-12.00
Chess Clocks                                        12.15-13.00
Title Regulations                                   13.30-14.30
Arbiter Titles                                        14.30-15.00
Rating Regulations                                15.00-16.30
FIDE Pairing                                         16.45-19.00
 
SUNDAY 25th February
FIDE Pairing                                         10.00-10.30
Systems of Games/Competition Rules    10.30-11.30
Tie-breaks                                             11.30-12.30
Fair Play                                               12.30-13,00
Revision                                               14.00-15.00
Exam                                                    15.00-19.00
 
The fee for the course for Chess Scotland Members is available on request.
The course is also available to non-members and people from other countries and the fee for the course for those is as per the notice  https://arbiters.fide.com/news/event/152...e_id=17756
Alistair Maxwell
Arbiter and Rules Director

4 days to go until our next allegro and we may have 2 places available over the next day or so. Keep an eye out, we do not keep a list and it will be first come gets the place.

Thanks to all of you for entering, now please turn up or, if you have a problem crop up which stops you coming, please let us know as soon as possible if you cannot make it.

If you don't and just don't bother turning up and contacting us before or after that may have consequences if you then try to enter other events we organise.

Chess results go here.  For no ads or cookies go here for Open and here for Inter.

Several of you do not have a fin, please go here, fill out the form and send it off before Sunday.

Enter early as we cannot "squeeze" another entry in no matter how often you email having missed out.

From Bill Gray of Grangemouth Chess Club:

Shortly after midnight on Saturday 13 January, George MacKay died suddenly at home after suffering a seizure. He was 49 and leaves behind a young family.

He used to be a member of the Bon Accord club but his work took him away from chess a number of years ago. He had played top board in the SNCL for a strong BA team, and their website tells me he was their club allegro champion over two consecutive seasons between 2002 and 2004, a feat that the unassuming George would never mention.

I came to know him over 4 years ago when he and his family moved to a neighbouring house. Despite my best efforts, he could not be persuaded to join the local Grangemouth club, due initially to work commitments and, more recently, because of family illness.

Aside from being a formidable chess player, George was a quiet, kind and considerate neighbour and, above all else, a dedicated family man.

I will have a limited number of signed copies of my new chess book - DragonMasters - available soon. To secure your copy please message me for details -  abburnett@hotmail.com

   

I am looking forward to this tournament in February. I wonder how many of our top talented juniors will play in their busy schedules. In 1971, in the midst of the Fischer era and with Scotsman sponsorship , 50 schools entered.  The last three Schools champions I know of are 2007 Robert Gordon's 2009 James Gillespie's and 2017 Bishopbriggs Academy. Was the tournament held in any years between 2018-2023 ?

Hi there,

Just to let everybody know that The Top Scot Series Final will take place on Saturday (13th Jan) starting at 10:30am at Phones Chess Club. Participants have qualified from one of the three qualifier events which were happening across the autumn. By the end of the day, we will have Top Scot champions in the Open section and Under 800 section. 

For those of you who would like to watch some of our top juniors in action, we are planning to use live boards to ensure as many of the games as possible can be watched online. We will make the links available to you on the day. 

Ruairidh