I don't know who else is watching online, but a few strange games on the go today.

Tate-McKay
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6?! As White's plan is to take on c6 anyway, why on earth would Black waste a tempo on 3...a6? Birkett-Lees has also seen similar play by Black with a completely wasteful ...a6. These are all good players - what's going on??

Bryson- Muir
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 Rc8?!
Very bizarre choice of opening by Andy Muir and his 15th move has been known as very bad ever since Rowson - Burnett (!). Dougie is an opening theory specialist of sorts, so no idea what Andy is doing here. 15...b4!? was my novelty way back when and is probably the best move in the position.

A link to the Rowson-Burnett game here http://chess-db.com/public/game.jsp?id=2...2000&lan=6 which Bryson-Muir is still following.

Really enjoyed this hard-fought clash today! I think White is slightly better in the final position though.
The standard for invited players has clearly been set high on today's performance, I hope it continues in the future.
I particularly like how top GMs don't set the pieces up when they finish. It's a real mark of class.

Some good performances from Scottish juniors at the weekend in Manchester at the Northern Gigafinal of the UK Chess Challenge. Special Mention to Dietah Connolly-Sams 1st in boys under 11 and Caitlin Reid 1st= in Girls Under 17.

Under 11-Under 18....
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ukchesschallenge.com/GIGAFINALS%20RESULTS/GFNORTH_Results2016SUN_U11-U18s.pdf">http://www.ukchesschallenge.com/GIGAFIN ... 1-U18s.pdf</a><!-- m -->

Under 7-Under 10...
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ukchesschallenge.com/GIGAFINALS%20RESULTS/GFNORTH_Results2016SATU7-U10.pdf">http://www.ukchesschallenge.com/GIGAFIN ... U7-U10.pdf</a><!-- m -->

Just to remind people that there is still a few days to enter the Scottish Weekend Congress. Details can be found here

Please send your entry to the address in the link or email to the Entry Secretary <!-- e --><a href="mailto:ScottishChessChampionships@yahoo.co.uk">ScottishChessChampionships@yahoo.co.uk</a><!-- e -->

Just to remind people that there is still a few days to enter the Scottish Weekend Congress. Details can be found here

Please send your entry to the address in the link or email to the Entry Secretary

I believe that Edinburgh FIDE Congress is now the only weekender in Scotland that has a OPEN-CHALLENGERS-MAJOR-MINOR type format. The norm now seems to be OPEN-MAJOR-MINOR.

With pretty much every other event now removing the challengers, there a number of question marks resulting from this situation.

- Has this has been detrimental to Scottish Chess and weekend events?
- Has the decline trend of entrant numbers sharpened as a direct result?
- The wider grading bands are putting some off?
- Some are being forced into playing the Open or a highly rated Major when they would rather not?
- Have the Open events been weakened, and the others to a lesser extent?
- Are players going to increasingly go elsewhere for their weekend congress action? (England/abroad).

Obviously there are congress viability issues here, and one less event means one less set of prize funds. Is this the solution though? How long until the MINOR gets ditched and its just an OPEN-MAJOR format? Will it just eventually be OPEN format for all weekenders. Things look bleak for weekenders?

Would anyone like to see the original format of events that included a Challengers return?

Hi Guys
I may be looking to play in an English weekend tournament to play in next season especially since my grading has taken a huge battering this season. As I intend to drive I need somewhere where accommodation is cheap and easy access by car. Any ideas?

I also noticed when looking at the ECF calendar that the 4NCL is having a fide rated weekend congress in Birmingham this weekend which is unfortunate as it possibly clashes with the first rounds of the Scottish

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.chess-results.com/tnr229224.aspx?lan=1">http://www.chess-results.com/tnr229224.aspx?lan=1</a><!-- m -->

Event starts on 22nd July and good to see all the details up already, organisers look to be on the ball. Scotland seeded 37th of 53 teams.

Just to draw attention to this event.

The entry has increased over the last week or so (4 Gms and 4 IMs now playing).

I've had a request from a GM for accommodation during the event. Any offers?

The Scottish team got off to a great start today with a 2.5-1.5 win over the German side SF Monheim Revival in the 50+ section of the World Senior Team Championship.

Richard Jennings brought home the full point, while Phil Giulian, Rosie Giulian and Dave Findlay all drew.

England have sent along 3 teams, their A team consisting of Nunn, Speelman, Arkell and Hebden!!

Follow all the results and action here:
http://www.schachfestival.de/world-team-...rings.html
I will be visiting our team on Tuesday to give them a bit of moral support!

Andy Burnett