Just 4 weeks to go folks. The 50th edition of the Glasgow Congress is happening on the 18th to 20th of May. Entry form was put up last week, unfortunately I was abroad so did not get a chance to advertise here.

Intention is to start putting up the list of entries from May 1st

Andy

I recently heard the sad news that Alex Bruce a past secretary of the Glasgow Chess League and a member of Netherton cc and Knightswood cc, had very recently passed away suddenly at the age of 97, a few weeks back.

I first met Alex who was a retired Headmaster and always the perfect gentleman, when we both served on the Glasgow League Mancom in the late 80s, although I had been good friends with his son Jim and daughter in law, Ann Bruce since the 70s. Jim was at that time an East Kilbride chess club member, who later played the occasional game for Knightswood along with Alex.

Alex who was still as bright as a button and physically good and active for his age, had moved into a flat in East Kilbride to be nearer Jim and Anne. But sadly, only two days after moving into the flat, Jim & Ann discovered him dead, in the flat.

Although I was pal's with Jim, I am sure that there will be quite a few chess players, who knew Alex better than I did and possibly served on the GCL or played chess with him at Knightswood cc and may wish to pay their respects to one of our best respected Gentlemen of Glasgow chess.

John Dykes

Entries are starting to come in for this year's 5th East Kilbride Weekly Open at the Murray Owen Centre (E.K. chess club's venue), 1 Liddell Grove, Murray, East Kilbride, G75 9AD.

The Dates - five Thursday's - 17th May, 24th May, 31st May, 7th June & 14th June 2012.

This popular tournament holds Scotland's record of having the highest entry (60) for a Weekly Open Chess Tournament, for the following reasons.

We are a 5 round Chessbase.com Scottish Grand Prix Swiss Tournament Event.

We have one of the best, if not THE best, chess club venue's in the West Of Scotland with plenty of light and space for up to 64 entrants to play in comfort.

We have two SCA registered Arbiters running the event, Andy Howie (Fide Arbiter) and Peter Devenny, who have the final say in making the Draw and in any matters of play.

There is a free council car park facing the entrance to the venue, with lighting, which two or three local private higher taxi driver's use as a waiting area, which helps to keep the car park watched.

The 18, 66 and 201 buses stop outside the venue. There is even a bus timetable calculator on the East Kilbride Chess Club website <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ekchess.org.uk/">http://www.ekchess.org.uk/</a><!-- m --> Also at travelinescotland.com/

We supply you with free tea or coffee and a biscuit on a help yourself bases. Juniors (who are not allowed in the kitchen for safety reasons), are provided with one free can of soft drink or small bottle of water, each week.

There is space and sets, in an area, outside the room for analysis. Well away to prevent noise.

A Cup shall be presented to the overall winner and a Cup to the top East Kilbride Chess Club player.
small keepsake trophies shall be given to the cup winners on return of the cups next year.

We have a Guaranteed, modest prize fund of £200 (1st 60, 2nd £40, 3rd £20, Two Grading Prizes of £20, a slow starters prize of £20 and a Junior prize of £20 open to juniors U17 and graded under 1100).

Although our prize fund is modest, we have done this to keep the entry fees, low. £15 or £13 for juniors, CS members and the unwaged.

Even if you miss out on the prizes, you can enter our original free raffle (going back to the early 90s at the E.K. Weekend Open), as a non prize winning entrant, who has stayed for the prize giving. Our friends, Peter & Anne Woods of Chess Suppliers have once again kindly donated two chess books for the free raffle.

Chess Suppliers shall have a book stall at the tournament on Thursday 14th June, where you can look over their book selection. If you need a particular chess book, you can always order it on their website chesssuppliers.co.uk for pick-up at the tournament.

The Tournament was devised in 2008 as part of the clubs 40th Anniversary Tournament, to let the club provide the best Quality and Value we could offer to both our own club players and to chess players from throughout Lanarkshire, Glasgow, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, as well as anyone else who wishes to enter. The Tournament was never intended as a profit making venture for the club, (although it is part of the club), as no money from the tournament goes outside the tournament account, which after four years of running the tournament is still close to empty.

Entry forms can be downloaded from either the CS tournament page, or the East Kilbride chess club website <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ekchess.org.uk/">http://www.ekchess.org.uk/</a><!-- m -->

Entry forms should only be sent to

John Dykes
28 Arran
St Leonards
East Kilbride
G74 2LA

or email me at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:j.dykes@blueyonder.co.uk">j.dykes@blueyonder.co.uk</a><!-- e --> (make sure you receive a reply confirming that you have entered).

or phone me on 01355 610170

The closing date is Tuesday 15th May 2012

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to your entry.

The entry list will go public once it reaches 40 entries.

To all who have already played in a previous E.K. Weekly Open, please feel free to add your feedback on this Tournament page, which will help potential chess players who are considering entering the tournament for the first time.

Kind Regards
John Dykes
Tournament Director

We are still looking for a suitable captain for the event in Istanbul in August.
Teams more or less picked, will announce when captain finalised.
Please contact me if you are interested

A reminder that we are holding the usual Polytechnic Quickplay on Thursday 19 April at 7.00pm for 7.15 start. Five round Swiss, 15 min per player per game, £5 entry fee, returned as prizes after costs.
Best way to enter is by email to me <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kstewart9@blueyonder.co.uk">kstewart9@blueyonder.co.uk</a><!-- e --> (which lets me get data on computer in advance) though entry on night is possible.

It has been confirmed today that Topalov will be giving a simul in Edinburgh on 29th April.

The venue and time have still to be confirmed.

The fee will probably be £25.

If anyone is interested please contact me at <!-- e --><a href="mailto:ahmcfarlane@yahoo.co.uk">ahmcfarlane@yahoo.co.uk</a><!-- e --> to be put on the circulation list.

Is it possible to play Fischer random on here?

book in good nick, if anyone interested in buying it let me know, bearing in mind it's an antique

Due to unexpected maintenance work being carried out at the Murray Owen Centre, we have had to put the start date of our 5th E.K. Open, back a week.

The new dates of the Tournament are Thursday - 17th May, 24th May, 31st May, 7th June & 14th June 2012

We will no longer be having round one on Thursday 10th May and the Tournament shall finish on the 14th June instead of the 7th June 2012.

I have issued updated entry forms on both <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ekchess.org.uk">http://www.ekchess.org.uk</a><!-- m --> and <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chessscotland.com">http://www.chessscotland.com</a><!-- m -->

Sorry for any inconvenience.

John Dykes
Tournament Director

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Photos

Photos will be added to over the weekend