Hi Guys
As you may know, I've been recently using my free time to look into online chess and how we could use it for the foreseeable future, at least until OTB is up and running again I've been helping other club set up an online presence on chess.com , setting up clubs, users, live and daily tournaments, inter-club live matches (as close as we can to resemble OTB chess) etc. I am also in direct contact with chess.com who says they will add features that i've asked for, particuarly club match PGN's and other minor features. I am also intending to set up an inter-club league for those interested. I've put together a crib sheet for anyone interested and if anyone needs help to either set something up or get organised, I'm more than happy to help. I think its absolutely essential to keep the body of local clubs active and its surprising to run into old friends online when they switched from OTB chess years ago (and they seem to be coming back) I've also set up a regional club called Lanarkshire chess League invitational , to eliminate the need for players to join loads of chess clubs, just to play matches.

As I said above, anyone needing help at all, just contact me
Ian

2nd Online Scottish Chess Tour Blitz - Friday Evening. 12 June, 7.30 start 9 rounds. Time Control 3+2
http://congress.popmalc.org.uk/congress/76/home

1st Online Scottish Chess Tour Weekend Tournament  - Saturday 13 June to Sunday 14 June.
A 5 round Premier All-Play-All and a 6 round Swiss Major
Time Control  40+20
http://congress.popmalc.org.uk/congress/77/home

Hi Guys
as you may know I've been involved (created or helped the admins) in  creating online chess clubs in Scotland, mostly on chess.com. It has come to my attention that there is possibly a need for a club to address those who may require special needs such as more time to play, have discussions etc or maybe players who wish to dip their toe into this format but are scared or unsure of either online chess or their computer.. I know of a few people who fall into this category so if there are anyone in Scotland who would like me to set up a chess club to address this, please let me know. I have also drafted up a simple guide for those who wish to set up their own club and run their own online club. 
I am hoping that with the right support , we can setup inter club tournaments either within or outside their regional league. A few clubs have already started their own interclub challenges albeit with human admins. Hopefully we will have completely automated leagues set up within Scotland within the new few weeks and months.
Anyone looking for assistance or joining these ventures only needs to ask

Ian

There is an all All female chess match between Federations taking place on Thursday 21st and Thursday 28th May.
Could someone organize it for us Scottish, please

Hi Guys
In order to relieve the boredom (i've also finished my garden) I've spent the last few weeks getting the highs and lows about online chess using playchess, Chess.com and Lichess. I think i've got the hang of using these sites for users, club and leagues. If you or your club wish to have an online presence and need a bit of help and advice, then please let me know and I will advise. More and more clubs have registered and they are now at the point of playing other clubs online and/or they want to join an established chess league. Also individuals wish to play online and want to get a bit organised. If you need any help, please contact me and I can help and/or help you contact a club. I've also heard criticism and concerns about games being available to other players but i'm afraid that's the nature of online chess. 


The chess engines are very good for improvement and the anti-cheating engines on Chess.com and Lichess to me are very good but that wont stop players trying their luck. I've been looking into this well outside the remit of Chess Scotland and is separate from Andy Howie's work on this. Nevertheless I think its the way to go even for fun chess and also for improving your game.

On both Lichess (good for team battle chess) and especially on chess.com (my own favourite at the moment) I have created clubs for anyone to join. On Chess.com I have created the Lanarkshire Chess League - invitational where there will be weekly tournaments for anyone to join. Chess.com have teams for Lanark, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Salsburgh, Pentland Hills, Stepps, Wandering Dragons and many others who are forming (I believe Bellshill is at the moment about to form one) At the moment even users with a free chess.com account can create clubs but this may change in a couple of months.

Harry Marron, the Junior Home Director is the man for local chess for juniors. If you contact him, he will help you out with loads of options , including chesskids.com and chess for schools already mentioned by Alex McFarlane. I psersonally believe Over The Board chess will resume later this year albeit in a different format with social distancing. Online chess will never be a replacement for OTB chess but possibly a welcome addition.

As mentioned above if anyone has any questions or needs any help, then please let me know

I've been asked by a player abroad if I know how Jim Macrae is.

It has been some time since I've seen Jim.

Can anyone provide some info that I can pass on?

Thanks.

Sadly Hugh Flockhart has passed away today.

Hugh was a stalwart of the local Edinburgh and Scottish chess scene for many years. Hugh was a formidable organiser, leader and persuader forming the Lasswade chess team in 1985. He managed to take that team from the lower leagues of the Edinburgh and Lothians chess league to the Premier division in successive seasons, winning the odd title on the way and securing the services of many new stronger team players as well.  Some seasons saw Lasswade challenging for the Premier title and in others avoiding the drop.

Not content with that achievement, Hugh is credited with getting the Scottish seniors team up and running to participate in international tournaments.

With every challenge he faced in life, he brought his dignity to the fore.

He will be greatly missed.

Rest in peace Hugh.

John Watkins

Good evening everyone, 

We are thinking of running a series of online Chess Tournaments as Official Chess Scotland events and allowing  the grading of the online games from the tournaments on the Allegro grading list.  By doing this we can link to the Grand Prix next year and keep that relevant and has the benefit of money coming into Chess Scotland as we are losing income from Grading Fees.  The events would take place on Lichess as from an arbiting point of view it is easier to view games.  The draws would be done offline using Swiss Manager or Vega.

We would really like to hear your views on this as there is no point doing it if no one actually wants to play.


All tournaments will award prizes and prizes will not be released until the Anti cheating checks are done. I will outline the Anti cheating measures in a separate post.

We are running some test tournaments with the SCT and will work with them so we are not competing over dates and have things spread out.  Depending how it works with the experimental tournaments we are doing, we are considering holding some competitions with prizes. and using the allegro grading so they can count towards the Grand Prix.    

In all events, 50% of the Entry fee goes to prize fund  47% goes to Chess Scotland 3% are Paypal fees.  Nothing goes to the Organisers or arbiters, we are giving our time free here.


The plan would be for Chess Scotland Members only, however the first non titled tournament would be open.  We are having discussions about membership at the moment but I will hold off for now until we have agreement on it.

Events I am thinking of at the moment are (the events and entry fees are not set in stone!)

June 

Scottish Online Rapidplay Championships - Entry £10, 5 Rounds in a day., CS members only Time control 25+5

Scottish Online Lightning Championships - Entry £5, 9 Rounds in a day, CS members only Time control 5+3

July

Scottish Online Championship - Entry £15, - 9 round championship played in the evening 

Played from Sat to Sunday.  U1500,  U1800 and Weekend Open events as well - CS Members only,  Time control 60+15     

August

Scottish Triathlon Chess Event - Entry £10 - 3 Round Normal, 3 Rounds rapid, 3 rounds Time  Lightning, over 3 days each
day has 1 of each, open to all    , Time controls 45+15, 25+5, 5+3

Starting August / September

Monthly Online Grand Prix Weekend congress - Entry £15 5 rounds as normal weekend congress or 5 evenings,First Open to all then members only, Time control 60+15 or 45+15

Monthly Online Rapidplay Grand prix event - Entry £10, 5 rounds alternating Saturdays and Sundays so people can play.  First open to all then members only Time control 25+5  

Here is a rough idea of how the prizes would break down.

A blitz this Friday, enter here.

A 2nd Allegro here.

A 6 round event here.

Hopefully you'll find something for you. 

Hi everyone,

hope you are doing ok.

We are running a blitz event on lichess this evening - 3mins +.2sec / move increment  It's quite informal, and you can sign up through the link below:

https://lichess.org/tournament/wLryjahs

Password is 1822.  We had 39 players last week - was a lot of fun.

Edinburgh are also involved in a UK Team Blitz competition - up to 10 teams can sign up, and individuals then join the event through their team.  You get paired against players only from team members, and the top 5 point scorers contribute to your club total.  Would be interesting to do something similar with Scottish clubs if there was interest?