FIDE intend to start publishing Rapidplay and Blitz rating lists from July 2012.

They have contacted federations to indicate that all data intended for such lists will be processed free of charge during 2012. There will probably be a charge after 2012 which CS would pass on to domestic events.

CS would be happy to compile the required data for FIDE submission. There will be no additional charge apart from the normal domestic grading fee. It is entirely a decision for each individual tournament to make. CS will be happy to assist if they want events rated. To have a rapidplay event FIDE rated the event must be registered with FIDE at least two days before it takes place. Just send details of dates, likely numbers etc to grading (at) chessscotland.com

CS would envisage that only the top event in a multi section tournament would be rated - not least since games among unrated players wont count. Organisers need to do a little more work than normal in that CS needs year of birth of any player who doesn't have a FIDE pnum.

All the details are in the announcement below.

FIDE ANNOUNCEMENT
RAPID AND BLITZ RATING LISTS
The Executive Board meeting in Krakow approved the launch of “Rapid” and “Blitz” rating lists in
2012. We hope that all federations will take note of the regulations regarding these lists, and that
they will ensure that tournament organisers in their nations are informed, as well as encouraging
them to register their rapid and blitz events for FIDE rating.

It is hoped that tournaments of all standards will be submitted, not just those of a high level. It will
be possible for players without any current FIDE rating to enter the rapidplay or blitz list by playing
games against rated opponents. All FIDE rating fees for these events will be waived during 2012.
The framework of the new lists will be as follows:

Tournaments commencing on or after 1st January 2012 may be registered. This should be done as
early as possible, but not later than two days before the start.

The Laws to be followed will be as set out in the Laws of Chess, Appendices A and B. All “Rapidplay”
games will be eligible for rating. That is, each player must have at least 15 minutes, but less than 60
minutes thinking time; or the time allotted + 60 times any increment or delay is at least 15 minutes,
but less than 60 minutes for each player. Only those “blitz” games where each player has at least
five minutes, but less than 15 minutes, after adjustment for any increment or delay mode, will be
rated. Thus, the time control of 3 minutes plus 2 second increment or all the moves in 5 minutes is
acceptable. Both players must have the same allotted time.

For players with existing FIDE ratings, their initial rating on both of the new lists will be that rating.
Their rapidplay or blitz ratings will be adjusted depending on their results in those forms of chess.
The method used to calculate ratings in each list will be the same as currently used, with the
exception that the K factor used will in all cases be 20. For unrated players this has the effect their
rating, if they score higher than 50%, becomes Ra +10 for each half point above 50%, with a
maximum of 400. If any player plays 35 games or more in a period, his new rating will be based
solely on those games.

The first pair of new lists will be published at 1st July 2012. It is anticipated that there will by then
have been enough tournaments rated for the new ratings to be meaningful. Thereafter, lists will be
published on the 1st of each month. The minimum rating for these lists will be 1000, in line with the
lowered floor in the main list.

New rules will be added for players who play more than 35 games in one rating period; or for new
players who play a large number of games, to reduce the swings in Rating. Amendments may be
needed to the regulations in the light of experience in the first six months of 2012.

Decisions concerning any charges for either tournaments or players from 1st January 2013 will be
made at the FIDE Congress in Istanbul in 2012. Federations are reminded that it will be possible to
remove players from the new lists if the financial burden causes them too many problems.

Nigel Freeman Executive Director

Mikko Markkula Chairman Qualification Commission

Nick Faulks Secretary Qualification Commission

Stewart Reuben Councillor Qualification Commission

(I've sent the grading data to Douglas Bryson, so a quick note on the winners seems appropriate.)

Open

1= Calum MacQueen (Edinburgh) & Andrew McClement (Oban) 4/5
(Andrew wins the trophy on tie-break)
3= Donald Holmes (Oban), Clement Sreeves (Edinburgh) & Mark Page (Coventry) 3½/5
(Mark wants to be described as a "cross-border raider")
U2000 Grading Prize = Richard Birkett (Inverness) and Sai Kong Tsang (Cathcart) 3/5

Challengers

1= David Grant (Stonehaven), Alex Gillies (Shettleston) & Joe Parks (Kilmarnock) 4/5
(Joe wins the trophy on tie-break)
U1740 Grading Prize = Andrew MacQueen (Giffnock & Clarkston), Keith Emery (Stonehaven), Keith Aitchison (Edinburgh), William Clinton (Livingston), George Livie (Cathcart), Hugh Flockhart (Lasswade) & James Cunningham (Ardrossan) 2½/5

Major

1= Thomas Tait (Dalmuir) & Matthew Thomas (East Kilbride) 4/5
(Thomas Tait wins the trophy on tie-break)
3= Colin Heathcote (Newmachar) and David Potts (Bellshill) 3½/5
U1400 Grading Prize: Bryan McClement (Oban) 3½/5

Minor

1= Stuart Crosbie (Edinburgh West) & David Brodie (Stirling) 4½/5
(Stuart wins the trophy on tie-break)
3= Chris Tait (Gorgie/Dalry) & Edward Gillespie (Bank of Scotland) 4/5
U1050 Grading Prize: Robbie Mcleod (Castlehill) 3½/5

Honestly this time I am seething

http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3693

So I now have a new and novel way of getting rid of Directors and helpers. I get Mike to wear a controversial tshirt to the Scottish. Get him to go screaming to the press and voilla I can get rid of people....

GM Colin McNab - master games
Glasgow Polytechnic Chess Club
17/11/2011

I would like to offer a big thank you to Glasgow Polytechnic Chess Club (and Colin) for their invitation to members from other clubs being able to attend last night's Colin McNab - master games lecture.

Colin's clarity in presentation (not to mention patience with the "technical issues" involving blu-tak and a demo board) made it both an interesting and entertaining night throughout.

It would be great if we could have this type of event more often - enjoyed every minute of it!!

COme on folks you've got just over a week to the next round. Make sure you have a full team please.

See you there

GG

(Keep SNCL Tidy!!)

Thanks to Keith Rose for 185 games from the recent Dundee & Angus Chess Congress 2011.
Also added in the games from 2010, 2009 & 2008 to the CS downloads page.

Also, all those games can be replayed on screen from the excellant Dundee & Angus Chess Congress website: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.dundee-congress.co.uk/games.htm">http://www.dundee-congress.co.uk/games.htm</a><!-- m -->

…of my updates for the year, not the Congress, but while I have your attention…

Games are now available to play over and/or download from the website:
http://www.dundee-congress.co.uk/games.htm

Feedback has been compiled and can be seen at:
http://www.dundee-congress.co.uk/feedback.htm
I have commented on some of the comments/suggestions -

Expensive food/facilities, time to serve food
Longer games
Four tournaments instead of three, higher grading limits for Major
Shorter lunch break/lunchtime activity
Analysis room
Spring allegro
FIDE rate

- on the web page. I would be pleased to receive any further comments either on the feedback or on my replies – there is a comment form on the feedback page.

If you played in the congress, thank you. If you didn’t then perhaps next year? Date is set at 12-14 October, same venue.

I'll be in Oban when this starts so I'll wish all of our juniors taking part in the event the best of luck. Having had the pleasure of playing Colin and Anna during the year, watching Cristina's games at the British Championships and in Scotland throughout last season and chatting to Ali at events during the season, I'm delighted to see them taking part in this years world youth championships.

I hope you all enjoy the Championships, which is important and get results that you are happy with, which I'm sure is more important to you. Keep us up to date, if you can, with how things are going.

Best Wishes

David

Ps It would be nice to see a report on the event by one of our participants in the next Chess Scotland magazine.

Pps Championship website is here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wycc2011.com/">http://www.wycc2011.com/</a><!-- m --> Our juniors can be found here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://chess-results.com/tnr58159.aspx?art=25&fedb=SCO&lan=10&turdet=YES&flag=30">http://chess-results.com/tnr58159.aspx? ... ES&flag=30</a><!-- m -->

Good luck to our two representatives in this prestigious event. It will be tough, but I hope they both achieve their goals.

It might be nice to have some sort of updating scale on the home page to show how the Sensory Board Fund is progressing. Not sure how easy it is to do, or if our hardworking Webmaster has the time to do it.

This sort of visual may possibly then entice others to donate.