Tuesday 30 March 2010

Stirling B V Dunfermline C

Monday the 29th of March
Bd   Grade   Stirling B                 vs            Dunfermline C     Grade
1      1635    Tony Pitson              0 - 1           Douglas Rew      1578
2      1561     Martyn Roe             0 - 1           Bryan O'Rourke   1273
3      1519     Dave Hewitt            1 - 0           Charlie Stewart   1243
4      1256     Crawford Welsh       1 - 0           Joe Connelly        UG
5       U/G     Richard Reid           1 - 0           Steve Hawkins     UG
                                                  3 - 2

Sunday 28 March 2010

SNCL Final round 7

The final round of the SNCL took place today and what a hard fought round it was for the Central League teams involved, Kingdom Kings, Kingdom Knights, Forth Valley and Cumbernauld. The Kingdom's currently consist of players from the Glenrothes and Dunfermline chess clubs. While Forth Valley are part Stirling and part Grangemouth. Cumbernauld is just Cumbernauld with the addition of Alan Grant.

Kingdom Knights whose board one Gavin had been poached by the Kingdom Kings, fielded a slightly weaker team to face their Central League rivals Forth Valley. A very competitive match ensued and the final result only became clear after I blundered with time running out on move 38. Rybka had it fairly even until then. The rest of the games had also been well contested, with a good win for Glenrothes Stuart Blyth on board four.

We were at first mystified by the result on board two, with Garry's time running out he was offered a draw, guaranteeing them at least a drawn match with board one still to finish. Then the news came in why, dead certs for promotion Edinburgh Uni had turned up a player short and lost 3-2. As a result Forth Valley only needed to draw the match with the Kingdom Knights to be promoted to div 2. Not that it mattered as they won the match against us 3.5-1.5. I bet Forth Valley were not expecting Edinburgh Uni to lose, it was a big shock. Well done to Forth Valley on promotion!

Bd   Grade   Kingdom Knights       vs            Forth  Valley      Grade
1      1769     John McBride           0 - 1           Ian Mason           1864
2      1698     Garry Forbes         0.5 - 0.5        Kenny McGeoch   1689
3      1659     Fred Ossowski         0 - 1           Stephen Smith     1660
4      1576     Stuart Blyth             1 - 0           John Smith          1640
5      1364     Peter Horne             0 - 1           Harvey Kelly        1514
                                               1.5 - 3.5

Knights white on odd boards.


The Kingdom Kings played Dundee City A in the first division. They are a good side and from the little I saw this was another very good match, with a number of interesting games. Two players from Dunfermline took part in this match, the poached Gavin who lost on Board five and Ian Robertson who had a nice win on Board two. 




Bd  Grade      Kingdom Kings          vs       Dundee City A        Grade
1     2192      Andrew Burnett     0.5-0.5  David Patrick          2145
2     2078       Ian C Robertson     1-0      David J Findlay       2172
3     1923       George D Pyrich      0-1     Edwin A Spencer    2095
4     1853       Russell J F Kynoch   0-1     Stephen W Hogg   2013
5     1849       Gavin Saxton          0-1     Gary Weir               1838
                                                  1.5-3.5

First named team white on odd boards.


Cumbernauld have been the most successful of the Central League teams. By drawing their last match with CBOS 2.5-2.5, they win div 2 and are promoted to div 1. There is not much between div 2-4, but div 1 is a big step up. Well done to them, lets hope they can hold their own next year.


Bd   Grade      Cumbernauld         vs         CBOS                     Grade
1     2185       Alan Grant             1-0        Richard Kynoch      1869
2     1877       Ian Marks            0.5-0.5    Crawford MacNab  1829
3     1795       Stephen Kelly      0.5-0.5    Simon Bate            1752
4     1666       Jack Parkes         0.5-0.5    Findlay Murray      1721 

5     1543       George Thomson     0-1      Dave Stewart       1620  
                                                  2.5-2.5
First named team white on odd boards.

Friday 26 March 2010

Previous Central League winners

1st DIVISION WINNERS
2009-10 - DUNFERMLINE
2008-09 - DUNFERMLINE
2007-08 - GRANGEMOUTH
2006-07 - DUNFERMLINE
2005-06 - STIRLING
2004-05 - STIRLING
2003-04 - WANDERING DRAGONS
2002-03 - WANDERING DRAGONS
2001-02 - WANDERING DRAGONS
2000-01 - GRANGEMOUTH
1999-00 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1998-99 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1997-98 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1996-97 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1995-96 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1994-95 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1993-94 - GRANGEMOUTH
1992-93 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1991-92 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1990-91 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1989-90 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1988-89 - CUMBERNAULD
1987-88 - FALKIRK
1986-87 - FALKIRK
1985-86 - FALKIRK
1984-85 - HILLFOOTS A
1983-84 - HILLFOOTS A
1982-83 - WANDERING DRAGONS
1981-82 - FALKIRK
1980-81 - CLACKMANNAN COUNTY
1979-80 - FALKIRK
1978-79 - FALKIRK
1977-78 - FALKIRK
1976-77 - STIRLING A
1975-76 - DUNFERMLINE A
1974-75 - CUMBERNAULD A
1973-74 - CLACKMANNAN COUNTY
1972-73 - STIRLING A
1971-72 - CUMBERNAULD A
1970-71 - STIRLING A
1969-70 - STIRLING A
1968-69 - DUNFERMLINE A
1967-68 - STIRLING A
1966-67 - FALKIRK
1965-66 - STIRLING
1964-65 - CLACKMANNAN COUNTY
1963-64 - CLACKMANNAN COUNTY
1962-63 - FALKIRK

CENTRAL LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP WINNERS

Neil Giffen Central League KO Cup Winners
(Knockout)
2009/10 DUNFERMLINE
2008/09 DUNFERMLINE
2007/08 GRANGEMOUTH
2006/07 CUMBERNAULD
2005/06 STIRLING
2004/05 GRANGEMOUTH
200304 GRANGEMOUTH
2002/03 STIRLING
2001/02 WANDERING DRAGONS
2000/01 GRANGEMOUTH
1999/00 WANDERING DRAGONS
1998/99 WANDERING DRAGONS
1997/98 WANDERING DRAGONS
1996/97 WANDERING DRAGONS
1995/96 WANDERING DRAGONS
1994/95 WANDERING DRAGONS
1993/94 GRANGEMOUTH
1992/93 WANDERING DRAGONS
1991/92 WANDERING DRAGONS
1990/91 WANDERING DRAGONS
1989/90 CUMBERNAULD
1988/89 CUMBERNAULD
1987/88 WANDERING DRAGONS
1986/87 HILLFOOTS
1985/86 GRANGEMOUTH
1984/85 FALKIRK
1983/84 FALKIRK
1982/83 FALKIRK
1981/82 FALKIRK
1980/81 CLACKMANNAN C.C.
1979/80 
1978/79 FALKIRK
1977/78 FALKIRK
1976/77 FALKIRK
1975/76 FALKIRK 

Dunfermline Chess Club Knockout History

I would be grateful if anyone can fill in the blank years.
2010 - ?
2009 - Ian Robertson
2008 - Calum Smith
2007 - John McBride
2006 - Stewart Brisbane
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001 - Ian Robertson
2000 - Ian Robertson
1999 - Ian Robertson
1998 - Ian Robertson
1997 - Ian Robertson
1996 - Ian Robertson
1995 - Ian Robertson
1994 - Ian Robertson
1993 - Ian Robertson
1992 - Ian Robertson
1991 - Ian Robertson
1990 - Ian Robertson
1989 - Ian Robertson
1988 - Ian Robertson
1987 - Ian Robertson
1986 - Ian Robertson
1985 - Ian Robertson
1984 - Ian Robertson
1983 - Ian Robertson
1982 - Ian Robertson
1981 - Ian Robertson
1980 - Ian Robertson
1979 - Ian Robertson
1978 - Ian Robertson
1977 - Ian Robertson
1976 - Ian Robertson
1975 - Andy Hughes
1974 - Ian Robertson

Dunfermline Chess Club Past Champions

2010 - ?
2009 - Gavin Saxton
2008 - Stuart Black
2007 - John McBride
2006 - Calum Smith
2005 - Calum Smith
2004 - Gavin Saxton
2003 - Gavin Saxton
2002 - G Saxton/A Forbes
2001 - A Forbes/S Brisbane
2000 - Ian Robertson
1999 - Ian Robertson
1998 - Ian Robertson
1997 - Ian Robertson
1996 - Ian Robertson
1995 - Ian Robertson
1994 - Ian Robertson
1993 - Ian Robertson
1992 - Ian Robertson
1991 - M J Williams
1990 - Ian Robertson
1989 - John McArthur
1988 - Peter Wynn
1987 - Jim O'Neil
1986 - Dave A Gibb
1985 - Ian Robertson
1984 - Ian Robertson
1983 - Ian Robertson
1982 - Jim O'Neil
1981 - Ian Robertson
1980 - Ian Robertson
1979 - Ian Robertson
1978 - Ian Robertson
1977 - Ian Robertson
1976 - Bob Watson
1975 - Ian Robertson
1974 - Andy Hughes
1973 - Sid Goulding
1972 - Sid Goulding
1971 - Sid Goulding
1970 - Sid Goulding
1969 - Sid Goulding
1968 - R Roxburgh
1967 - R Roxburgh
1966 - J A Ward
1965 - J M Allan
1964 - J Latimer
1963 - J A Ward
1962 - J A Ward
1961 -
1960 - Dr J L Chrighton
1959 - D Scott
1948 - A B Duthie
1947 - W M Mitchell

Thursday 25 March 2010

2009-2010 1st Division Title

To start off this blog, there is good news for the Dunfermline club 1st team, who have retained their 1st division title with one match to spare.

As is usually the case, the road to the title has not been an easy one, with a number of close matches along the way. The title deciding match played away at Grangemouth on the 24th of March 2010 was no different and a draw, or even the scores reversed looked likely for the 1st half of the match.

First game to finish was on board 2. This ended a draw, even though everybody had written this game off, as Gavin was 3 pawns down with a lost position very early in the game. Board 3 was not looking much better either, after making up the opening John M had a cramped but stubbornly defended position. This changed after he broke chess rules and moved a knight to the side of the board. Black then had a good advantage, but humans are not computers and the position was still stubbornly defended, leading to a draw offer. Ian R on board 1 was collecting small advantages throughout his game and was winning easily by the time Ian M's flag fell.

With the score at 2-1 to Dunfermline, the match was very much in the balance. Garry on board 5 was a piece and a passed pawn down and Michael on board 3 had played a very good game to be winning easily, but was very short of time in a complicated position. Michael managed to pick his way through the difficulties set for him by John S and sealed the match for Dunfermline with checkmate. Then the shock of the night, with time running out Garry managed to bamboozle his opponent into offering him a draw, even though William had a completely won position. Dunfermline therefore won the match by the score 1.5 - 3.5.


Bd     Grade   Grangemouth           vs            Dunfermline      Grade
1        1864     Ian Mason                0 - 1          Ian Robertson     2078
2        1858     Douglas Will          0.5 - 0.5      Gavin Saxton       1849
3        1649     Mark Monaghan     0.5 - 0.5      John McBride      1769
4        1640     John Smith               0 - 1         Michael Roy        1731
5        1506    William Gray          0.5 - 0.5       Garry Forbes      1689
                                                  1.5 - 3.5
Dunfermline white on boards 2, 3 and 4.

Six of the 7 players who played for the winning A team this season. 

Left to right: Gavin, Michael, John, Garry, Jim and the team captain Ian.

Welcome to this blog about chess in the Central League

Three of the Central League clubs already have excellent websites Cumbernauld, Dunfermline and Stirling. These websites already provide plenty of information about the clubs and their matches in the league.

However, I felt that what is needed is somewhere for this information and pictures can be pulled together on one site. Which could then be viewed in a historical timeline. Normal websites and forums would struggle to properly and clearly display that amount of data. Therefore, a blog is the obvious answer and should prove an excellent historical tool for all the clubs in the Central League. Also, it might also be useful in advertising the clubs to potential new members.

To make this blog useful, I would be grateful for any of the following information that can be provided, match scores, players, results, reports and pictures. Even if it is about hammering Dunfermline!

Thanks