Stirling Wallace 7 Dunfermline Sharks 9 - 27/03/17

The wooden spoon contest went narrowly in favour of the visitors. 

Wallace took an early lead, but round 3 turned the match when Wallace

failed to use the advantage with white and Sharks consolidated in round

4.

Round 1

Tom Wallace 1/2 Michael Roy

Jim Shemilt 1/2 Stuart Black

Craig Manson 1/2 Stewart Brisbane

Steve Smith 1-0 Peter Horne

Round 2

S Smith 1/2 M Roy

T Wallace 0-1 S Black

J Shemilt 1-0 S Brisbane

C Manson 1/2 P Horne

Round 3

C Manson 0-1 M Roy

S Smith 0-1 S Black

T Wallace 0-1 S Brisbane

J Shemilt 1-0 P Horne

Round 4

J Shemilt 0-1 M Roy

C Manson 0-1 S Black

S Smith 1-0 S Brisbane

T Wallace 1/2 P Horne

Good for Sharks particularly as they did not realise they were due to play this match on Monday but fortunately Steve mentioned it to Peter at SNCL and everybody was contacted in time.

Badgers Brook 4-1 Dunfermline - 20/03/17

Dunfermline had 3 whites and lost the lot.  However a strong and determined Badgers outfit fully deserved their victory particularly as 2 of the wins (boards 1 and 4) came after the Badgers players declined taking a draw in level positions but where shortage of time for the Dunfermline players proved crucial.     

Result is as follows. Dunfermline had white on boards 1, 2 & 4.

Badgers Brook					Grangemouth
Grade	Surname	Forename	Pnum	Result	Grade	Surname	Forename	Pnum
2060	McGeoch	Kenny	14326	1-0	2024	Robertson	Ian	5811
1949	Cooke	Mark	20648	1-0	1788	McBride	John	16813
1879	Biancalana	Fabio	24346	0.5-0.5	1756	Webster	Jim	6428
1812	MacConnell	David	4756	1-0	1662	Roy	Michael	7867
1742	Ward	Stuart	23079	0.5-0.5	1647	Black	Stuart	14823
			Total	4-1

Grangemouth B v Dunfermline B - 15/03/17

Ian Mason 0 - 1 Jamie O'Connor
Bill Gray 0 - 1 Calum Smith
Crawford Welsh 1 - 0 Stewart Brisbane
David Fowler 1/2 - 1/2 Glynis Grant
Scott Dickson 0 - 1 Matt Harris

Grangemouth B 1.5 - Dunfermline B 3.5

Grangemouth had white on boards 3 and 5

The home team were discombobulated by being locked out of the chess equipment cupboard for the first time in 24 years. Bill Gray's role as Acting Janitor unfortunately didn't extend to keeper of the keys so there was an anxious time before a Council employee could be found. Meanwhile the visiting team had a mix-up in transport arrangements which saw Ian Robertson kindly take our Board 1 to the venue.

Once we got underway, there was vigorous play by Ian Mason who deployed a 1...e5 2...f5 line against Jamie's English Opening. Jamie held on and a blunder by Ian eventually decided the game.

On board 2, Calum v Bill, it would be quicker to show the moves than describe the game:
1.b4 e5
2.Bb2 Bxb4
3.Bxe5 Nc6
4.Bxg7 d5
5.Bxh8 Nf6
6.e3 Bf5
7.Qf3 resigns

I've resigned a game in six moves before. What you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.

Stewart sacrificed a rook to stave off defeat but an unstoppable mate threat by Crawford decided things anyway. A good win by Crawford.

Glynis played a Vienna Gambit against David, and at one point could chase Black's bishop with pawns, disconnect it from the queen and win it, but unfortunately Glynis didn't see this. Glynis offered a draw which was declined; later on David reciprocated the offer and a draw was agreed.

Having gone the exchange up in a sequence of swaps against Scott's London System-type set up, Matt faced a mobile queenside pawn majority. By way of counterplay he advanced his kingside pawns. The threats of check from pawns on the kingside, backed up by Matt's rooks and queen then scored the point for Dunfermline.

Calum

Dunfermline 2½-4½ Grangemouth 6/3/17

A gallant effort by a heavily out-graded Dunfermline who were down on nearly every board by between 100 and 250 grading points.  Congratulations to Grangemough who made their extra strength count by playing pretty solidly throughout.

On board 1 an utter blunder in a level position gave Uby a fortunate win after I had been better for much of the game.  Sadly he is quite good at setting sneaky little problems but in this case I just assumed I would take a pawn (and I was already the exchange ahead) but only after he moved did I realise my queen was on the wrong diagonal!   

On board 2 John looked at least level for much of the time against an isolated queen pawn structure but a few aimless moves invited Alan to attack and then John’s pawns started to fall.  

Board 3 was first finished with Michael quite adventurous but once the ambitious attack was refuted his game collapsed.  

Stuart played very well to hold a minor piece ending a pawn down.  Having the 2 bishops gave him just enough control over the dark squares to prevent Doug making meaningful progress.  

Jamie looked a little cramped but with a sound position.  However Dave had the initiative and was able to swop down to the better ending after which the odd pawn or 2 became indefensible.  

Calum had a lucky escape.  Ian saw a ghost and failed to simply take Calum’s kingside apart.  After that good fortune Calum reacted strongly by coordinating his pieces very well and won with a convincing counterattack.  

Stewart was given a bit of a gift after Bill played some iffy and unnecessary defensive moves. One silly move gave away a pawn and when his next move lost 2 more it was time to resign.

1. Ian Robertson (w) 0-1 Uby Archibong
2. John McBride (w) 0-1 Alan Bell
3. Michael Roy (B) 0-1 Graeme Hamilton
4. Stuart Black (w) ½ - ½ Dougie Will
5. Jamie O’Connor (B) 0-1 David Wallace
6. Calum Smith (B) 1-0 Ian Mason
7. Stewart Brisbane (B) 1-0 Bill Gray