In yesterday's Scotsman John Henderson made the claim that the Glasgow Chess League was the strongest and oldest in Scotland.

Close but no cigar, John, while I leave strongest to be debated by others I can confirm that Glasgow is not the oldest chess league in Scotland. Glasgow started in 1908 but the Ayrshire chess league had already started the year before in 1907 with Kilmarnock winning that inaugural season.

You expect this sort of inaccurate reporting in the tabloids but the Scotsman surely aspires to a higher standard.

So, Ayrshire in 1907, oldest chess league in Scotland, unless you know better?

Hi All,
After working at The 4NCL this weekend I realised how many of our titled players want to but just cannot afford to spend 2 weeks playing away from home at The British Championships.

To make the tournament successful we need as many titled players as possible - everyone there (and all over the world) wants to see their favourite players playing. Without titled players you cannot make new titled players. Without titled players we don't get the hits on the website to watch the live games - which, in turn, may encourage a sponsor for future years.

Will someone out there sponsor their favourite player to play this year? Either by donating direct to the player or to me and specifying which GM, IM, WGM or WIM they would like to see at the event?

Examples:
£100 would pay someone's travel
£250 would be reasonable start money for someone who is able to stay with a friend
£500 is roughly the cost of reasonable B&B accommodation in North Tyneside for 2 weeks
£1000 would get really good conditions

A huge thank you to the people who have already pledged money for GM accommodation - 3 members of Northumberland Chess Association have pledged £500 each to support the event.

There are proposals at the GL AGM to reduce the number of clubs. I would like to know which clubs would be removed under these rules. I believe Hamilton, Dumbarton & East Kilbride to be at risk.

RESOLUTION 1A: Proposed by Cumbernauld Chess Club
11 Venues and Dates for matches
Change 11.1 to read:
All clubs should play League matches at a suitable venue within a 25 minute drive
(as defined by Google maps) of George Square in Glasgow unless the home team can
obtain agreement from visiting clubs. Such visiting clubs, declining to play due to the
excessive driving time or at an unsuitable venue must do so at the League Fixture Meeting.

RESOLUTION 1B: Proposed by Cumbernauld Chess Club
11 Venues and Dates for matches
Change 11.1 to read:
All clubs should play League matches at a suitable venue within the postcode areas
G1-G62 , G64-G82 or PA1-P10 unless the home team can obtain agreement from
visiting clubs. Such visiting clubs, declining to play due to the location or unsuitability of
a venue must do so at the League Fixture Meeting.

RESOLUTION 1C: Proposed by Cumbernauld Chess Club
11 Venues and Dates for matches
Change 11.1 to read:
All clubs should play League matches at a suitable venue within 12 miles radius of
Exchange Square in Glasgow unless the home team can obtain agreement from
visiting clubs. Such visiting clubs, declining to play outside the 12 mile radius or at an
unsuitable venue must do so at the League Fixture Meeting.

Just in from a great social night at the Parkstone hotel in Prestwick. A delicious buffet and frequently visited bar accompanied a thoroughly enjoyable evening. GM Sarunas Sulskis gave a brief introduction to his chess life then proceeded to analyse a very interesting game he played at Ravenna in Italy last year where he gave up his queen early for three minor pieces, eventually winning against an Iranian GM. This was followed by a simul v twenty opponents. Seventeen wins, two draws and one loss. The loss? An eleven year old boy from Aberdeen called Murad Abdulla who many people involved in Scotland's junior scene feel may be a little bit special,

Robin.

Pairings for R4 of the Open, starting at 09:45 Sunday 6 May:

1. Alan Tate (2½) v Sarunas Sulskis (3)
2. David Findlay (2½) v Stephen Burns-Mannion (2½)
3. Chukwuka Allor (2½) v Peter Jamieson (2½)
4. Mark Orr (2) v Ian Marks (2)
5. Alan Grant (2) v Neil Thomson (2)
6. Kenneth Malkin (2) v Colin Costello (2)
7. James Doyle (2) v Elliot Frew (1½)
8. Elaine Bamber (1½) v Gary McPheator (1½)
9. Joe Parks (1½) v Steven Brown (1½)
10. Ali Roy (1½) v Alan Jelfs (1½)
11. Sai Kong Tsang (1) v Gary Gillespie (1½)
12. Murad Abdulla (1) v Rosie Giulian (1)
13. Daniel Thomas (1) v David P Gillespie (1)
14. Jamie Malkin (1) v Lennart Koehn (1)
15. Anthony Dunlop (1) v Nihad Abdulla (1)
16. Michael Grove (½) v Michael Ridge (½)
17. Richard Jennings (0) v Stephen Hamilton (½)
Philip Giulian (2) ½-pt bye

Paul MacDonald was taken ill at the Prestwick congress last night. He was taken immediately to Crosshouse hospital and attended to on his arrival. It appears that he may have suffered a stroke or a mini-stroke. At this time I would ask everyone not to contact the hospital directly. David Deary is in constant contact with Paul's ward and hopefully I will be able to give you all better news in the next few days. If there is anything urgent that you needed to speak to Paul about regarding any junior chess matter could you please contact Andy Howie, Donald Wilson, myself or anyone on the junior board of selectors. All our thoughts are with the big man at this time,

Robin.

Just a reminder that our inaugural Spring Allegro takes place at our usual venue on Saturday 26th May from 10:00 until 16:30. Full details and online entry at –

http://dundee-allegro.co.uk/

Also, running alongside, same date, time & venue is our first venture at a Chess For Kicks event – info/entry details also on the allegro website and CS calendar.

Live game links Will appear here. This is likely to be the last tournament with the old software as we are beta testing the new version. If it is as half as good as the wired version it is going to make my jo
b a lot easier

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5

Photos

We had a total of 135 children take part in 13 sections with children travelling from Dumfries, Oban, Campbeltown, Dunoon & more local. Thankyou to my arbiting team - Donald Wilson, Michael Hanley, Phil Thomas, Peter Devenny, Tom Donahue, Duncan Campbell, Andrew MacQueen & Derek Howie. I think they broke their previous record this year - we started 10.15 after a few late arrivals & we started prizegiving at 3.45pm after playing 6 rounds (one section it was 7 & we also had a play off).

Thankyou also to Mora Richmond, Rebekah Bond & Mrs Curran for keeping everyone fed & watered & to Matthew & Daniel who set up the tables & chairs before & after the event. Special thankyou to Chess Suppliers being there to give a lot of juniors their first opportunity to buy a nice a chess set & of course the parents support as taxi & personal bank for the children.

Qual- Forename Surname Girl /Boy Section School
Supremo Oran Pathi B U7 Kirkhill PS
Q Sam Harper B U7 Lanark CC
Supremo John Douglas B U8 Rockfield PS
Q Abhinav Datta B U8 LCS-St Cadocs PS
Q Louis McGarrity B U8 St Brides PS
Q Aryaman Tyagi B U8 Dunard PS
Suprema Victoria Smith G U7 Whithorn PS
Q Sophie Bond G U8 Carluke PS
Q Mackenzie Edwards G U8 Fernhill PS
Suprema Naomi McArthur G U8 LCS - St Anthony's PS
Q Kate Rankin G U8 Fernhill PS
Supremo Michael Campbell B U9 St Brides PS
Q Douglas Mack B U9 Dunard PS
Q Kyle McFie B U9 LCS - Carlibar PS
Q David Trainer B U9 Dunard PS
Suprema Lucy Docherty G U9 St Brides PS
Q Caitlin Curran G U9 Rockfield PS
Q Maryam Hanif G U9 Hamilton College
Q India Mackay G U9 Rockfield PS
Supremo Liam Richmond B U10 Rockfield PS
Q Callum Dougall B U10 Tinto PS
Q Euan Dunbar B U10 Fernhill PS
Q Adithya Mohan B U10 LCS - Hutchesons Grammar
Q Lewis Newall B U10 St Brides PS
Q Fintan Pathi B U10 Kirkhill PS
Suprema Ellie McGarrity G U10 St Brides PS
Q Erin Allen G U10 St Anthonys PS
Q Grace Thompson G U10 Rockfield PS
Supremo Luke Laverty B U11 St Marks PS
Q Andrew Lawther B U11 Bishopton PS
Q Richard Menzies B U11 Bishopton PS
Q Mati Steele B U11 LCS-St Mary's
Suprema Lauren Bond G U11 Carluke PS
Q Kirsty MacArthur G U11 Rockfield PS
Supremo Colin Howie B U12 Kirkhill PS
Q Advaith Sastry B U12 Douglas Academy
Q Jack Stewart B U12 Greenwood Academy
Suprema Iona Bryson G U12 Annan Academy
Suprema Caitlin Reid G U13 LCS-Paisley CC
Supremo Alexander Bond B U13 Lanark Chess Club
Q Tom McFadyen B U13 Douglas Academy
Q Tom Reilly B U13 Douglas Academy
Q Dagan Smith B U13 Douglas Academy
Q Ryan Stewart B U13 Dunoon Grammar
Supremo Gareth Coltart B U14 Hamilton College
Supremo Declan Taylor B U15 Our Lady & St Patricks
Suprema Katie Smith G U15 LCS - Hutchesons Grammar
Supremo Brandon Carmichael B U16 Our Lady & St Patricks
Suprema Ruth Devenny G U18 LCS- East Kilbride CC

The Parkstone Hotel is now fully booked for the congress weekend, which is good news for the hotel and the congress in the future.

There are still rooms available in B&B's close by.

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

On Friday 4 May 3 rooms available and on Saturday 5 May one room available.

Cost for two people is £60, one person is £40.00.

Golf view... <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.golfviewhotel.com">www.golfviewhotel.com</a><!-- w --> Email <!-- e --><a href="mailto:welcome@golfviewhotel.com">welcome@golfviewhotel.com</a><!-- e --> 1x single room £45 pppn 2x double/twin rooms £35 pppn. Telephone number for Golf View is
01292 671 234

Fernbank <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.fernbank.co.uk">www.fernbank.co.uk</a><!-- w --> telephone 01292475027 email <!-- e --><a href="mailtotay@fernbank.co.uk">stay@fernbank.co.uk</a><!-- e -->
1x twin £55 per room 1x triple £80 per room, 1x single £35 per room, 1 x small double £50 per room

They are all ensuite and include breakfast. They are about 15 minutes walk from the venue and about 5 minutes walk from the Parkstone hotel where the simul is taking place on the Saturday night.