Chess Scotland Club Tournament Finals

Grangemouth - April 17, 2004

report by Ken Stewart

The finals of the Chess Scotland team competitions were played at Grangemouth on Saturday 17 April.

For the third successive year the Richardson Cup final was contested by Edinburgh West and Glasgow Polytechnic, but this year the former had a strengthened team and a significant grading advantage.

At first Edinburgh West seemed to have an overall edge with three of their players with White having a large opening advantage and little was changed when Perez and Roberts drew a game which became rather sterile. However, Polytechnic came back into things despite losses on Board 2, where Swan's attempt to free a very cramped position allowed a decisive attack by Muir and Board 8 where Farrell's opening grip proved conclusive.

The remaining games all began to favour Poly as Byrne escaped his opening problems to beat Grant. Soon Watt edged out Henderson by a tempo in a rook ending and Kirk's bishops became decisive against Neave as a blocked position became opened up. Davis had a small edge which grew much bigger as Pritchett perhaps took some risks and the rook ending became a clear win. Shaw's attack had won the exchange but Arakhamia had compensation in an advanced passed a-pawn and active bishops. After much difficult manouevring the time situation forced a burst of rapid activity resulting in a draw where both flags were hanging and Arakhamia had B+2P v B+P but no way to win.

This gives Polytechnic a sixth successive victory, a feat never before achieved in the competition and their twelfth win overall (still well behind Glasgow and Edinburgh). Captain Larry Kirk of Polytechnic receives the Richardson Cup from Ken Stewart (photo by JBH).

The Spens Cup final was difficult to predict as Glenrothes had a grading advantage on the higher boards but Edinburgh Civil Service were stronger lower down. Civil Service took the lead through their veteran Austin, then gained a crucial victory on Board 1 when Prince beat Jenkins. Further wins confirmed victory before Pyrich scored consolation for Glenrothes on Board 2. Civil Service had previously won the Spens ... in 1926.

The Jack Campbell Rosebowl trophy was retained by Dunfermline whose stronger team always looked sure to beat Lanark, the latter making a second Rosebowl final having lost to Ferranti in 1992. (Match photos by Sam Collins)

 

Grading Data to follow

Chessbase Game File

Richardson Finals

Spens Finals

 

Richardson Cup Final

Board No Edinburgh West Glasgow Polytechnic Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  B  K Arakhamia-Grant 2406 ½  J K Shaw 2486 ½ 2    A Muir 2379 1  I Swan 2201 0 3    C Pritchett 2312 0  E Davis 2142 1 4    J Grant 2232 0  D Byrne 2131 1 5    P Roberts 2228 ½  M Perez 2057 ½ 6    G Neave 2080 0  L Kirk 2057 1 7    J B Henderson 2058 0  D A Watt 2052 1 8    N Farrell 2036 1  G Lyons 2020 0       Total 3   Total 5

Spens Cup Final

Board No Edinburgh Civil Service Glenrothes Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  B  A Prince 1800 1  B Jenkins 1982 0 2    D Stewart 1702 0  G Pyrich 1946 1 3    D Heatlie 1658 1  T Thomson 1820 0 4    S Bate 1560 ½  S Blyth 1542 ½ 5    G Brown 1537 1  P Selbie 1322 0 6    R Austin 1492 1  N Taylor 1291 0       Total 4½   Total 1½

Jack Campbell Rosebowl

Board No Lanark Dunfermline Colour Name Grade Score Name Grade Score 1  B  I McLachlan 1692 0  I Roberston 2078 1 2    J Smalls 1655 0  G Saxton 1794 1 3    T Brown 1643 1  L Madzinga ung 0 4    G R Brown 1473 0  W Pearson 1658 1 5    M Benyon 1460 ½  W S Brisbane 1626 ½ 6    N Donohue 1016 0  C Smith 1484 1       Total 1½   Total 4½