Perth 800 International Chess Festival

Perth Airport, Scone

Friday 29 to 31 January, 2010

by IA Steve Mannion (Snr)

Some 215 players competed in the 8 tournaments from Primary Championship to the International Open. Players who finished in the top three positions in each event have been invited to play three times British Champion Jonathan Rowson in a simul at the Perth Concert Hall on 20 March 2010.

The Open attracted no fewer than 8 masters, including GMs Alexander Baburin (Russia), now living in Ireland, Jacob Aagaard (Denmark), Sabino Brunello (Italy), Andrew Greet (England), Colin MacNab (Dundee), John Shaw (Kilmarnock), Craig Pritchett (Dunbar) and Steve Mannion (Paisley). 

In a tense finish the Russian Baburin defeated Italian Brunello to tie for first prize of £500 with Scotland's John Shaw, in the International Open.

The prize winners were as follows.

International Open: 1st= GM Alexander Baburin and GM John Shaw 4.5/5, 3rd Craig Pritchett, Dunbar 4/5, Grading prize: Walter Burnett (Wandering Dragons), 3.5/5, Junior: Clement Sreeves (Dalmuir) 3/5;

Challengers: 1st Stuart Hayes (Edinburgh University) 4.5/5. 2nd= Sam Gregory (Tiger Cubs) and Paul MacDonald (Glasgow Montrose) 4/5, Grading: John Smith, 3.5/5, Junior: David P Gillespie (Ayr) 3/5;

Major: 1st= David Gillespie (Greenwood), Randhir Koli (Castlhill) and David Hewitt (Stirling) 4/5 Grading: Bill Platts, 3.5/5, Junior: Ben He, Tiger Cubs and Daniel Thomas (East Kilbride) 3.5/5;

Minor: 1st Matthew Thomas (East Kilbride) 4.5/5; 2nd= Darren Rank (Giffnock), John Reid (Peterhead) and Adam Shannon, 4/5. Grading: Ecsher Mills (Sciennes) 3.5/5, Junior: Mark Woods (Nairn) 3/5;

Primary Championships

Saturday: Reuben Green (Balloch Primary, Inverness) 6/7; 2nd Jamie Underwood (Sciennes), 5.5/7;

Sunday:  Murad Abdulla (Aberdeen) 6/7; 2nd Greg Burnett (Kirkhill) 5.5/7;

Funday Saturday: Christopher Tweedie (Hamilton) 7/7;

Funday Sunday:  Mike Scott (Edinburgh) 6.5/7.