It is with great regret that we have been informed that Alan Birnie of Irvine and Greenwood chess clubs passed away last night.

There is no further information about the circumstances to be had at this time.

We hope to give details of the funeral arrangements on here when that information becomes available.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Alan's family at this difficult time.

As one of Alan's many friends of long standing I am saddened by his passing. He was a keen, competitive chess player and fun to socialise with. He will be greatly missed.

I am pleased to confirm that the Commonwealth Championships will be held in Glasgow from 30 June - 8 July 2014.

The playing venue will be in Cathedral Street in the Centre of Glasgow so ideal for commuting.

This is slightly earlier than normal but is to allow those wishing to stay to do so at reasonable costs. People are arriving early for the Commonwealth Games (athletic) starting on 23rd July and this is reflected in hotel prices and availability during the normal dates.

An entry form will be available in the very near future.

The main event will take place from 1.45pm daily. Junior Championships will be held from 9am.

Alex

The draw for the group stages of the London Chess Classic can be seen here
http://www.londonchessclassic.com/super16_draw.htm

Our own Jonathan Rowson (late replacement for Magnus Carlsen) has landed a corker of a group with Kramnik, Svidler and Sadler =o Good luck with that Jonathan!

I was playing a game earlier today and this position came up with black to play (bottom left square is a1). On initial glance it looked like it should be a draw. But it's actually a win by force for black. 8)

[pos]8/6Kp/7P/3k4/8/5n2/8/8 b - - 0 59[/pos]

At the moment someone who was not born in Scotland and who has never lived in Scotland but has a Scottish grandparent is ineligible to play for Scotland. This rule is likely to be reviewed at the council meeting or AGM in January. If it is changed then Matthew Turner will be immediately eligible to represent Scotland. To help me decide on this as a selector, I want people to email me with an answer to the following question by January 11 (a separate vote is being held among the 2300+ players).
Q Do you think that Matthew Turner should be considered for selection for the 2014 Olympiad ? Answer YES or NO

I quite fancy a couple of chess books appearing under the tree with my name on the tags come Christmas Day.

Preferably instructive with a 'workbook' element: something along the lines of Jacob Aagaard's 'Calculation' in his Grandmaster Preparation series which I am currently enjoying. (Are the other books in this series also worth buying?)

Does anyone have any suggestions? I do have most/all of the 'classics', so something more recent perhaps?

Andy Burnett

Good luck to the Glasgow and Ayrshire players who go to play in the Benidorm tournament tomorrow.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://chess-results.com/tnr105014.aspx?art=0&lan=2&turdet=YES&wi=984">http://chess-results.com/tnr105014.aspx ... YES&wi=984</a><!-- m -->

Mikey Groves' adventures in Czechoslovakia continue:
http://chess-results.com/tnr116807.aspx?...984&snr=17
At this time he has 3/3 including a win over a 2300 IM

Also taking part is Miroslav Plchot:
http://chess-results.com/tnr116807.aspx?...984&snr=40
Currently on 2/3

Doesn't seem to be advertised on the CS site.
Lenzie Chess Academy are holding an event at Bishopbriggs Academy (G64 1HZ)
between 10.30am - 4pm in three categories, namely u1200, u600 & u300 open to any junior aged 8 or over but under 16 on Dec 31st and obviously graded below 1200. Entry fee is £5 with minimum of 5 rounds and 25mins per player per round. Entries to Harry Marron (harry.marron"at"ntlworld.com) by Friday 29th.

I am very pleased to be able to announce the launching of the new website for Lothian Junior Chess, formally Lothian Primary School Chess League (LPSCL):-

http://www.lothianjuniorchess.org.uk

The new site represents both a make over and a dramatic updating of functionality that will make it easier to add content: both by LJC but also external authors and I would welcome contact from anyone who might wish to submit articles - be that to highlight an event or about some other chess issue of interest to Lothian juniors.

Similarly organisers of events that might be of relevance to Lothian juniors are invited to send details to myself to have them placed on the site's calender.

The site is still 'work in progress' and any suggestions and comments, which can be made via the feedback form, are most welcome.