OFP Salver Update – Friday, 27th December 2019
OFP Salver Opening for January (2020) – Alekhine Scandinavian Variation – The Spielmann Gambit
Troon Chessblog – Thursday, 19th December 2019 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog D3
Next Meeting January 8th
Christmas is near and even the Chess Club bows to the holiday season and closes its doors until Wednesday January 8th
Last evening we had 19 players in the club and starts for Hamid Michael McKean and Dean McCusker in the Salver. Happy to say all scored points and we hope they will get enjoyment from their participation
Gold Championship
A very tense game between Duncan Malcolm and Phil Thomas had the anticipated outcome in one respect – Duncan was well ahead on time and Phil had one eye on his clock but he had enough positional advantage to storm through to keep his undefeated total intact and 3 points from 3 games
Silver Championship
Things really hotted up this week with Bob Reid pressurising Frank Park for the trophy with a win over Richard McMinn this takes Bob to 3.5/5 against Frank’s 4/5. Both have interesting players in the next set of match-ups. Frank has Alex Smith in January and Bob plays David Ferguson neither is an easy passage
Games for January
Bob Reid v David Ferguson
Sandy Gibson v Ross Duffy
Alex Smith v Frank Park
Bronze Championship
Jack Barrett has designs on clinching the Bronze Championship after an impressive win over Alex Smith. Although defending champion Richard McMinn and Ross Duffy could still catch Jack he has the scores (3/6) on the board while Richard has 1/4 and Ross 1/3. Each have to complete 8 games
Jack Barrett v Richard McMinn
Coronelli Round Three
I was the beneficiary of John Shankland’s Christmas spirit when he gifted me a rook in the latter stages of the game when I was only a pawn up
Game of Groans!
Booking his place in the Semi Final alongside me is Tommy Barrett whose game against Frank Park defied belief. Commencing at 7.20p.m. there proceeded the chess equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing where steps are made but nobody leaves the floor. At 9.45 the first piece was taken and Frank was in time trouble and his position crumbled. But what a fight!
Coronelli Trophy
Round Two
Jim Wainwright v John Calder
Round Three
Bob Reid v J Wainwright or J Calder
David Ferguson v Duncan Malcolm
Motwani Quaich
Round One
Sandy Gibson v Mike Chapman
J Wainwright/J Calder v Alex Smith
HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AND SEE YOU ALL ON JANUARY 8TH
This is what we’ve got coming……
- Tuesday January 7th ‘B’ team at Stewarton
- Wed January 8th ‘A’ team at home to Ayr ‘A’
- Wed January 8th ‘C’ team at home to Ardrossan/ Largs C
- Tuesday 21st Jan ‘A’ team at Kilmarnock Dragons
- Wednesday 22nd Jan ‘B’ Team at Prestwick Falcons
- Thursday 23rd Jan ‘C’ Team at Greenwood Knights
Next Blog around 10th Jan
“Going Out” featuring article in next edition
OFP Salver Standings – Thursday, 19th December 2019
Troon Chessblog – Friday, 13th December 2019 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog D2
‘KABUL-ED!’
5000 miles is a long way to go to dish a plate of humiliation to your hosts but you may have noticed some new faces among the 21 players in the club this week. Two of them were from Afghanistan. They were Hamid and Ramapola. After Hamid had taken on and beaten young Ross Duffy I decided to see how good he was and to offer some advice. To my amazement he was incredibly quick and also very good. And yes he beat me twice before I exacted revenge. (gritted teeth.) Clive Baird played Ramapola and won both his games but Clive reports his opponent played very well. We also had Michael McKean visiting again but Ross showed how he is improving by notching up a neat win but Michael also shows promise. Welcome visitors
Club closed Dec 25th and January 1st Restarts 8.1.20
7.1.20 Troon ‘B’ @ Stewarton
Wed 8.1.20 Troon ‘A’ v Ayr ‘A’ @ Troon 7.15 p.m.
Troon ‘C’ v Ardrossan/Largs ‘C’ 7.15p.m.
Gold Championship
Tommy Barrett moved yet nearer to his target and retained his 100% record although John Shankland proved no easy nut to crack in a long game which Tommy rescued from what looked like a certain draw. Tommy now has 6 points
Games for December 18th in the Gold are:-
Duncan Malcolm v Phil Thomas
Mike Chapman v Clive Baird
John Calder v Cameron Smith * if Jim Wainwright is not available for Coronelli below
Coronelli Trophy
Round Two
Jim Wainwright v John Calder
Round Three
Tommy Barrett v Frank Park
John Shankland v Len Weir
Here is the revised draw for the Motwani First Round Please play this round in January
| White | Black | |
| 0.5 - 0.5 | Mike Chapman | |
| Mike Chapman | 1 - 0 | |
| Jack Barrett | 1 - 0 | |
| 0 w/o 1 | Ross Duffy | |
| Jim Wainwright | 1 - 0 |
The four highest graded players who have confirmed places in the Motwani Quaich – currently this is Phil Thomas, Graeme King, Clive Baird and Cameron Smith – have a bye into the next round [ edit ]
Silver Championship
Pairings for 18.12.19
| White | Black | |
| David Ferguson | vs | Sandy Gibson |
| Ross Duffy | vs | Bob Reid |
OFP Salver Standings – Thursday, 12th December 2019
Troon Chessblog – Friday, 6th December 2019 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog D1
Never mind looking in your stocking for something to make you happy. Look at the Leagues Tables. Get the full picture on troonchess.co.uk under Leagues
- Division One leader Troon ‘A’
- Division Two leader Troon ‘B’
- Division Three leader Troon ‘C’
Troon ‘C’ apparently had Alex Smith’s voice ringing in their ears as they played their last game of the year. After some ordinary results Captain Smith explained He wouldn’t take any more rubbish from them, asked them to consider their reputations and get a result. They did. 0-4 at Greenwood!
Gold Championship
For the second week in a row Clive Baird fell within sight of the finish line. The beneficiary was Graeme King whose steady performance sees him hot on the heels of defending champion Tommy Barrett. Graeme has 4.5/5 against Tommy’s 5/5. Other players waiting for a slip are Phil Thomas and John Calder. Meanwhile I had to consult the Houdini Escape techniques book to wrestle a draw from a pawn down against resolute Mike Chapman
Games for December in the Gold are:-
| White | Black | |
| Tommy Barrett | vs | Graeme King |
| Cameron Smith | vs | Phil Thomas |
Coronelli Trophy Round Three
| White | Black | |
| Tommy Barrett | 1 - 0 | |
| Bob Reid | vs | John Calder |
| 0 - 1 | Len Weir | |
| 0 - 1 | Duncan Malcolm |
Coronelli Trophy Round Two
| White | Black | |
| 0 - 1 | Duncan Malcolm | |
| Bob Reid | 0.5 - 0.5 | |
| 0 - 1 | Bob Reid | |
| John Shankland | 0.5 - 0.5 | |
| 0.5 - 0.5 | John Shankland | |
| John Shankland | 1 - 0 | |
| 0 - 1 | Tommy Barrett | |
| Frank Park | 1 - 0 | |
| 0 - 1 | John Calder | |
| 0 - 1 | David Ferguson | |
| Len Weir | 1 - 0 |
Here is the revised draw for the Motwani First Round
| White | Black | |
| 0.5 - 0.5 | Mike Chapman | |
| Mike Chapman | 1 - 0 | |
| Jack Barrett | 1 - 0 | |
| 0 w/o 1 | Ross Duffy | |
| Jim Wainwright | 1 - 0 |
The highest four graded players – Phil Thomas, Graeme King, Clive Baird, Cameron Smith – have a bye into the next round [ edit ]
Please play this round in January
Silver Championship
Pairings for 11.12.19
| White | Black | |
| David Ferguson | vs | Sandy Gibson |
| Ross Duffy | vs | Bob Reid |
OFP Salver Standings – Friday, 6th December 2019
Troon Chessblog – Monday, 2nd December 2019 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog N4
Gold Championship
Tommy Barrett was given no easy passage against the resilient Mike Chapman in their Gold Championship face off but the quality of the defending Champion shone through to protect his 100% score at 5/5. The chasing pack has naturally got John Calder who overcame Duncan Malcolm so John sits on 2.5/5. I was faced by Graeme King whose start in this competition was three impressive wins so I was pleased with a draw
Games for December in the Gold are:-
Clive Baird v Graeme King
Duncan Malcolm v Phil Thomas
Len Weir v Mike Chapman
John Calder v Cameron Smith
John Shankland v Tommy Barrett
Silver Championship
The maths don’t quite crown Frank Park winner of the Silver after his success against Alex Smith but with one game to go, against young Andrew, he only needs that to make him uncatchable. His score a resounding 6/7 proves he is in fine form as he tackles the might of European chess on a holiday with his mate John Shankland. Frank’s prize for winning will be playing in the Gold next season
Coronelli Trophy
There was a major shock after Bob Reid had offered Clive Baird a draw which had been turned down. After Clive had queened a pawn he inexplicably surrendered it to a totally innocent pawn and Bob danced a jig of delight into the next round
Here is the draw for the next round:-
| White | Black | |
| Tommy Barrett | 1 - 0 | |
| Bob Reid | vs | John Calder |
| 0 - 1 | Len Weir | |
| 0 - 1 | Duncan Malcolm |
Motwani Quaich
Please note I found it impossible to get the 12 players down to 8 in one round. So the draw done on Wednesday evening stands and in the next round 4 players will be reduced to two when they will be matched with 2 players who have had a bye over that round. That will make a semi final of 4
Here is round 1 draw:-
| White | Black | |
| 0.5 - 0.5 | Mike Chapman | |
| Mike Chapman | 1 - 0 | |
| Jack Barrett | 1 - 0 | |
| 0 w/o 1 | Ross Duffy | |
| Jim Wainwright | 1 - 0 |
Ayrshire Chess League Division Three
Troon ‘C’ took on Greenwood Gambits. I still don’t have news on this result
Ayrshire Individual Championship Round Three
Round Three
Troon results;
John Calder 0-1 Jamie Malkin
Phil Thomas p Jake Sanger
Ian Brownlee 0-1 Cameron Smith
Mike Chapman 0-1 Len Weir
Andy Smith 0-1 Bob Reid
Wednesday 4th December Pairings
Coronelli Trophy
Jim Wainwright v John Calder
Sandy Gibson v David Ferguson
Gold Championship
Silver Championship
| White | Black | |
| David Ferguson | vs | Sandy Gibson |
| Ross Duffy | vs | Bob Reid |
OFP Salver Update – Monday, 2nd December 2019
The Tennison Gambit will remain the OFP Salver Opening for December (2019)