Declining entries

[John Watkins]

I agree with Andy. 

If you're good enough, you will win the event and gain rating. By avoiding these tournaments, stronger players are missing out on good opportunities to practice and are damaging Scottish Chess.

I would like international selection to require having played in a certain amount of Scottish Congresses. I think this is part of junior selection, why not for adult selection?

I would second that but would add in any congresses from "abroad" where someone has bothered to put their grading on the line. It would appear finances are in a dark place just now and the more chess profile in Scotland is lifted the better it is for the bigger picture.