Murad Abdulla is currently playing in the Dutch Open. You can follow his results here:

http://onk.schaakbond.nl/toernooien/2014/reservegroep-a

With four out of six and only three rounds remaining, he has a decent chance of finishing top in his section. The format of the tournament is interesting, everyone is divided into sub-categories based on rating. This format looks like a good way to gain rating and get some good games.

Leonard Barden plugs Seniors Chess in yesterday’s issue of The Guardian. (Note:The Guardian treats Chess as a sport, so that LB’s column is to be found by clicking on Sport at the top of the front page before scanning through the sports listed at the the right hand side of the page thus opened.)

Broadly, LB reports on the recent event in Vilnius, muses about a possible renaissance as former English stars such as Nigel Short become eligible to represent England at this level, and recalls the former glories of legends such as Nona Gaprindashvili (Georgia) and Valentina Kozlovskaya, Board 3 for the Russian Women team at Vilnius. In particular, LB generously highlights Kozlovskaya’s success; aged 76 (!!) she scored 8/9 [or 88.9%], the highest individual result at Vilnius.

Of course, parallels can be drawn with organised Seniors chess in Scotland. But, my focus here is to stress the beneficial effects that chess can offer our rapidly ageing society. It is common to hear of the advantages chess has to offer youngsters. But, mental sports like chess can help combat the onset of illnesses such as Alzheimer’s Disease. For example, the social and competitive aspects of chess can be invigorating. Is there any reason why chess cannot be part of Adult or Further Education programmes offered by Local Councils? I remember taking part in just such a programme for (Duplicate) Bridge whose tutor was a Scottish International Bridge player. Could there be opportunities here for marketing or sponsorship ‘deals’?

Leonard Barden has been a stalwart for Chess for as long as I can remember and is always worth reading. Another advantage afforded by The Guardian is that - unlike many of the broadsheets - its Crosswords are free to access! (Another instrument with which to fight the good fight!)

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://britishchesschampionships.co.uk/pgn-games-tournaments/">http://britishchesschampionships.co.uk/ ... urnaments/</a><!-- m -->

Link for games: open in chess viewer hiarcs chessbase etc

Seem to be shy of Scottish players again - shame that

Paisley Chess Club invites you to attend a series of talks at our club.

They will be delivered by our own FIDE rated expert Richard Cochrane and will explore games from Irving Chernev's classic book " Logical Chess Move By Move" .

The talks will take place every Monday (4th, 11th, 18th and 25th) in August . They will start at 7.30 in the evening and finish around 9.00.

Players attending the talks may stay behind afterwards for a chat or a game of chess if they wish.

Entry to these talks is free of charge for Chess Scotland members.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.paisleychessclub.org.uk">http://www.paisleychessclub.org.uk</a><!-- m -->

A big Scottish contingent playing here just now, mostly in the class C-Open. results to date can be found here...

http://chess-results.com/tnr139747.aspx?...=30&wi=984


Also Mikey Groves and part-honorary Scot Peter Constantinou (formerly St Andrews Uni. who won a very nice game today against a German IM <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.czechopen.net/en/live-games/round-6/">http://www.czechopen.net/en/live-games/round-6/</a><!-- m --> board 44 ) are going well in the GM open.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://chess-results.com/tnr139745.aspx?datatyp=&lan=1&flag=30">http://chess-results.com/tnr139745.aspx ... =1&flag=30</a><!-- m -->

Best of luck to all of them!

The new season should appear online shortly.

Meanwhile the Commonwealth crosstables have been processed for domestic rating and appear in the new season tree of events. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chessscotland.com/event2015/events2015.htm">http://www.chessscotland.com/event2015/events2015.htm</a><!-- m -->

Some of the FIDE ungraded ECF players will have their latest ECF grade added when these appear later this month and will be used in CS calculations. The FIDE grades in the crosstables (for those visitors who dont have a CS grade) are July 1. (It was June 1 used for FIDE processing).

Grand Prix 2013-2014

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://chessscotland.com/csinfo/gpleader.htm">http://chessscotland.com/csinfo/gpleader.htm</a><!-- m -->

The Grand Prix figures are finalised July 21 after the addition of the 2014 Commonwealth Championships. These are included twice in GP calculations as last event of 2014 and first of 2015 season. They will only count for grading in the new 2015 season.


Congratulations to the prizewinners. Prizes may be distributed at Marymass - all will be notified.

Meanwhile if anyone spots any errors in calculations please let us know immediately: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:grading@chessscotland.com">grading@chessscotland.com</a><!-- e -->. The individual winner list will appear here shortly.

Thanks to our long-term sponsors Chessbase, Everyman Books and New in Chess magazine who have all agreed to continue into the new season.

Thanks to programmers Gordon Rattray and Andrew McHarg who continue to provide invaluable support to the grading system - of which the GP is an offshoot.

Just passing this on in case anyone has any ambitions to play chess in Hungary

"Respected Chess- friend,

Please inform your GM-IM norm candidates and chess- friends in your country, from 2nd - until 12th August 2014 FIRST SATURDAY we have GM and IM tournament in Budapest.

We have some vacancies yet.


The next Title tournaments in Hungary 2015:
1. 10th-16th August, HAVANNA CAFÉ Open Pécs, Org: Mr FULOP, e-mail: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:fulop.csaba@digikabel.hu">fulop.csaba@digikabel.hu</a><!-- e -->

Website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.baranyasakk.hu/index.php?cat=naptar&id=4&age=0&vid=2&lang=en&det=4">http://www.baranyasakk.hu/index.php?cat ... g=en&det=4</a><!-- m -->

2. 16th-24th August, CAISSA Kecskemet, GM-IM-ELO closed, org: Dr Erdelyi. e-mail: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:erdelyichess@gmail.com">erdelyichess@gmail.com</a><!-- e -->

3. 16th-24th August GM-IM-OPEN tournament, Budapest, org: IO Nadasi,

contact IO Nagy, e-mail: <!-- e --><a href="mailto:firstsat@hu.inter.net">firstsat@hu.inter.net</a><!-- e -->

4. 6th-16th Sept GM-IM-FM, FIRST SATURDAY, Budapest,

5. 20th-28th Sept GM-IM-FM, CAISSA Kecskemet,

6. 4th-14th October, First Saturday GM-IM-FM (ELO), Budapest,

7. 18th-26th October, CAISSA, Kecskemet,

8. 1st-11th November, FS Budapest,

9. 15th-22nd November, CAISSA, Kecskemet,

10. 21st-28th November Open HARKANY, (250 km West from Budapest, bath city, free bath tickets),

contact: IO Nagy,

Website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.baranyasakk.hu/?cat=naptar&id=3&age=0&vid=15">http://www.baranyasakk.hu/?cat=naptar&id=3&age=0&vid=15</a><!-- m -->

11. 6th-16th December, FS Budapest


Pls read and publish these info.

Your feedback would be highly appreciated.



Chessfriendly:

N a g y , L a s z l o

International chess organizer

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.firstsaturday.hu">http://www.firstsaturday.hu</a><!-- m -->

Online chat is possible from the website with

the middle right red button LIVE CHAT,

cell: +36-30-2301914

Motto: We do all our best possible for our chessplayers "

This seems to be a question for Dougie, but I suppose anyone can reply if they happen to know the answer.

What is the cost for to a non CS member club to have internal club games graded on a game by game basis next season?

Hi everyone,

As the new editor of Scottish Chess magazine I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Peter Wood for his excellent stewardship over the last few years - hopefully I can match his standards!

I am expecting to have the next issue out by mid-August, so please feel free to contact me if you have anything you'd like to see included - the deadline for copy is Wednesday July 30th.

I have already contacted many of those who regularly contribute to the magazine and plan to contact many more in the days to come - CS directors/event organisers/league secretaries/members/writers/etc. - but please feel free to contact me in the meantime via abburnett (at) hotmail.com

I'm really looking forward to the challenge but will obviously require help from all those mentioned and others to produce the quality of publication we have become accustomed to. All suggestions, comments, offers of support and constructive criticisms are welcome!

Kind regards,
Andy Burnett