Never played in this, know nothing about it really, but might consider playing my (2) daughters (and possibly myself with them) if that's possible - anyone more knowledgeable/experienced who might be interested please just get in touch directly: 0787-282-2760

Myself, Phil Giuilan, Ian Marks and Martin Mitchell are playing in the A section and George Murphy is playing in the B section. There are over 800 competitors including many GMs IMs and FMs. More details perhaps later.

Hi Guys sorry about the delay
Round one draw
1 Pearston, John : Doyle, James
2 Hulme, William : Thomson, Peter
3 Brown, George : Monaghan, Mark
4 Brownlee, Ian : Monaghan, Steven
5 Perrie, Bill : Bond, Alexander
6 Murray, Frankie : Lees, Marc
7 Aitken, Brodie : Stirrat, Ralph
8 Potts, David : Wilson, Adam
9 Strachan, William : Watson, James
10 Smalls, Jim .0.5 BYE

The Lanarkshire Chess League will be held at the Murray Owen Centre, East Kilbride on Wednesday 26th August at 7.15 pm for at 7.30 pm start
The Agenda will be as follows

1. Presidents opening remarks
2. Secretary’s and league controller’s report
3. Caretaker treasurer report
4. Prizegiving
5. Chess Scotland AGM and Lanarkshire Chess League’s vote
6. AOCB
7. Election of office bearers
8. Closing remarks by secretary
9. Close of business

As always each member club can send up to o two votable members. An open invitation to everyone else who would like to attend

Andrew Muir proposed that to be eligible to become Scottish Champion a player must be SCO affiliated with FIDE.

I seconded.

Why is it not listed in the motions for the AGM?

The Gambit: see thegambitplay.webs.com

On 10th-29th August (excluding Sundays) at 13.50pm - Greenside at Nicolson Square (Venue 209). Take on 'Karpov' on the Royal Mile at Blitz chess (he was there this morning before the performance at Greenside ... and can really play a bit).

Makes a change from all things CS constitutional. I'm going!

Magnus Carlsen:

In advance of travelling to the US to prepare for the Sinquefield Cup, I felt it important to share with you something I have been thinking about a great deal: the World Championship cycle format.
I want to preface what I’m about to say with the notion that I have great respect and reverence for all the World Champions that have come before me, and for those that have contributed to the professionalization of chess. The Chennai match against V. Anand and our subsequent match in Sochi were both equally powerful and wonderful experiences. I was amazed by the intensity of the match format, as well as the massive interest from both the media and the public. I know people are working diligently to organize the 2014-2016 World Championship cycle, and I very much look forward to the match in November 2016 against the winner of the spring 2016 Candidates tournament.
Despite this, I have, for a long time believed - and voiced publicly - that there should be a new World Championship cycle system, which is both balanced and fair. Those of you who have followed top level chess closely for years will remember that I openly raised the issue of the privileges held by the World Champion on several occasions, prior to qualifying for the match in 2013.
In short, I strongly believe the chess world should evolve to a more just system. What does that look like? I have long thought that moving to an annual knock-out event, similar to the World Cup, would be more equitable. This change would in effect improve the odds of becoming World Champion for nearly every chess player, with the exception of the reigning World Champion, and potentially a few other top players who would no longer be favoured by the current format. Creating regional qualifying events combined with rating spots, the participation of all the top players in the world and the undisputed World Championship title at stake, I truly believe this would make the World Championship cycle more accessible to everyone.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend FIDE look into modernizing the World Championship cycle format.
What are your thoughts? Do you agree that the Chess World Championship cycle would benefit from a new system?

I’m thinking of putting a proposal to ensure that for future SGMs (not the one this month, obviously!) there is time for consideration, submission of amendments, voting for them and arranging for proxies, as well as adequate time for the SGM itself. The present total timescale of 2 weeks from the announcement to the meeting is way too short, which impedes proxy voters. Indeed proxies end up being blamed when the real problem is often that processes that deal with serious issues shouldn’t be rushed or compressed.

Here is my suggestion:

AGM Proposal: SGM notice periods and running of SGM meetings

The normal notice period for an SGM should be 4 weeks, within which at least SEVEN days time should be allowed EACH for the submission of amendments, the voting for amendments and the receipt of proxy votes on the ultimate proposals.

[i.e. a schedule like this:

Day 0 Notice and proposal(s)
Day 7 Closing date for amendments
Day 14 Amendments voted on.
Day 21 Proxy votes in on the amended proposals.
Day 28 SGM meeting and votes on amended proposals. ]

Circumstances of exceptional difficulty may require the meeting to take place within a minimum of only 21 days notice, in which these 7 day periods may be shortened proportionately to a minimum of 5 days each.

The results of the votes on amendments should be posted (eg on the CS noticeboard) within two days, with any delay in excess of this time extending the deadline for receiving proxy votes accordingly.

Proxy vote totals shall be published (eg on the CS Noticeboard) at least one day before the meeting.

Any time limit on the length of the meeting shall also be announced at least one week in advance after which the meeting shall not be curtailed due to time constraints.
[END]

Thoughts!?
Cheers

Good luck to Hamish Olson and Neil Irving playing in the A section starting today. Hamish is on a live board, black against the top seed, a 2575 Russian GM. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.czechtour.net/summer-prague-open/online/">http://www.czechtour.net/summer-prague-open/online/</a><!-- m -->

In the last few days the tone of the topics has become much darker and not the type Chess Scotland want to see on its forum. As it is close to the AGM I allowed posts which in hindsight I should have nipped in the bud. I then had to lock two topics until I considered what action to taken. After much thought I have banned Robin Moore until further notice and Phil Thomas for two weeks. I felt that warnings were insufficient. Robin's punishment is more severe as he has been already been banned on a previous occasion. If apologies are forthcoming to Chess Scotland, then these bans may be reviewed. Please all remember that this type of behaviour makes my job much more difficult