Ayr Congress by David Congalton

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I hope everyone enjoyed the new venue in Ayr and at least found the introduction of an incremental time control to the proceedings interesting.

The main idea behind the time control is to try and see more contests go to endgames and have this part of the game played in a less frantic way. Endgames are a fascinating part of chess and undervalued and underplayed in most types of Scottish chess.

The congress itself seemed to run smoothly and I would like to thank the arbiters, Andy Howie, John McNicoll and Stephen Taylor and the other one or two people who helped with organising the whole event.

I would also like to thank the players for turning up and making my job easy.

Perhaps we’ll see you all again at the same venue in January. The South Ayrshire Congress is scheduled for the weekend of Burns night, so get your accommodation booked early in Rabbie’s hame toon.

For the record the prize winners were –

Open

1st – Clement Sreeves (Edinburgh & Helensburgh) 4 ½ / 5 - £150, Phyllis Anderson Cup and Gold Medal

2nd (on tie break) – Andrew Green (Edinburgh) 4/5 - £75 and Silver Medal

3rd (on tie break) – Calum MacQueen (Edinburgh and Giffnock) 4/5 - £75 and Bronze Medal

Under 2100 Grading Prize – Elliot Frew (Greenwood), David Oswald (Edinburgh),  Tom Donohue (Hamilton), Raj Bhopal (Edinburgh & Wandering Dragons), James Doyle (Shettleston) and Neil Thomson (Giffnock & Greenwood) 3/5 - £5 each.

Under 1860 Grading Prize – Ali Roy (Carrick) 2 ½ / 5 - £25

West of Scotland Champion – Clement Sreeves – West of Scotland Trophy & £50

*****

Major

1st (on tie break) – Kai Pannwitz (Inverness) 4/5 - £60, George Congalton Cup and Gold Medal

2nd (on tie break) – Andrew MacQueen (Giffnock) 4/5 - £60 and Silver Medal

3rd (on tie break) – Jim Kleboe (Kilmarnock) 4/5 - £60 and Bronze medal

4th = (on tie break) – Michael Ash (Musselburgh) and David Hall (Perth) 4/5 - £60

Under 1600 Grading Prize – Arthur McCurley (Ayr) 3 ½ / 5 - £25

1500 and Under Grading Prize – Sandy Storey (Edinburgh University) and James Watson (Polytechnic) 3 ½ / 5 - £13 each.

West of Scotland Under 1850 Champion – Joint winners Andrew MacQueen and Jim Kleboe – West of Scotland Under 1850 Trophy & £25 each.

*****

Minor

1st – John Pearston (Cumbernauld) 4 ½ / 5 – £150, Catharine Orrock Cup and Gold Medal

2nd – Billy Reid (Paisley) 4/5 - £100 and Silver Medal

3rd (on tie break) – Derek Coope (Oban) - £13 and Bronze Medal

4th = (on tie break) – Tony Clarke (Polytechnic), Roland Fraser (Paisley), Callum McGillivary (Edinburgh), Brian Millward (Ayr), David King (Musselburgh), Eddie McColm (Ardrossan) & Richard Heathwood (Pentland Hills) – All £13 each

Grading Prizes were amalgamated with 3rd prize.

West of Scotland Under 1450 Champion – John Pearston – West of Scotland Under 1450 Trophy & £50.
Iain Fraser Junior Cup

1st – Jack Stewart (Greenwood) - £75, Iain Fraser Junior Cup and Gold Medal

2nd – Colin Howie (East Kilbride) - £50 and Silver Medal

3rd – Declan Shafi (Castlehill) - £25 and Bronze Medal
Ali Roy Women’s Cup

Winner – Stuthi Hegde (George Heriots) - £50, Ali Roy Cup and Gold Medal
Giant Killer Prize

Winner – Jack Stewart - £40 (R2 Major v J. Armour, grading difference 753 points)

*****

Junior Saturday

Top Section

1st – Tom Laing (Prestwick) 6 ½ / 7

2nd = Rachel Smith (Alloway Primary) and Jordan Barr (Greenwood) 5½/7

Lower Section

1st= Jonathan McKay (North Juniors) and Nathan Lounny 4/7

3rd = Daniel Chamberlain (Prestwick) and Sarah Smith (Belmont Academy) 3 ½ / 7

Posted on: 03-06-2013
Categories: News