Troon Chessblog – Thursday, 4th February 2021 – by Len Weir
(Online chess)t
3rd Feb Competition abandoned due to low entry. Only three players entered. Alice Lampard briefly joined but left when the start was postponed. Cameron Smith, John Calder and Len Weir. Eventually each player played the other once. John Calder won both his games. Cameron ran him close my own game was the chess equivalent of a bar room brawl with pieces scattered in all directions before being kicked off. John, of course won. The final game between Cameron and myself was an exciting affair and despite an early advantage Cameron fought back forcing me to settle for a stalemate
10th Feb SWISS OPEN COMPETITION
Please enter to make the competition viable
17th Feb Monthly Invitation CHAMPIONS Competition
News Update – Thursday, 23rd July 2020
New gradings published – see Players / Grading
News Update – Friday, 17th July 2020
Troon Chess Club are currently taking part in weekly online tournaments hosted by Durham City Chess Club. The two clubs have joined forces for friendly tournaments and analysis sessions during this period of club closures. See the homepage for details
News Update – Tuesday, 16th June 2020
Latest online tournament result: 1st Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha] (3.5/4); 2nd= Robin Nandi, Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (3/4)
Swiss Tournament – 4 Rounds – 15mins each + 5sec increment
Wednesday, 10th June 2020
Entrants (11) – Len Weir, Richard McMinn, John Calder, Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith] (England), Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (Scotland), Cameron Smith, Phil Thomas, Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha] (England), Robin Nandi (England), Philip D Brooks (England), Clive Baird
News Update – Thursday, 4th June 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st Ken Neat (4/4); 2nd= Len Weir, John Calder, Robin Nandi, Schulle2 (3/4)
Swiss Tournament – 4 Rounds – 15mins each + 5sec increment
Wednesday, 3rd June 2020
Entrants (12) – Len Weir, Richard McMinn, John Calder, Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith] (England), Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (Scotland), Ken Neat (England), Cameron Smith, Phil Thomas, Schulle2 (Germany), Robin Nandi (England), Philip D Brooks (England), Guest (Scotland)
News Update – Thursday, 28th May 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha] (3.5/4); 2nd= Smithds2 [Douglas Smith], Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith], Guest (3/4)
Swiss Tournament – 4 Rounds – 15mins each + 5sec increment
Wednesday, 27th May 2020
Entrants (12) – Len Weir, Richard McMinn, John Calder, Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith] (England), Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (Scotland), Ken Neat (England), Cameron Smith, Phil Thomas, Schulle2 (Germany), Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha] (England), Guest (Scotland), Guest (England)
News Update – Wednesday, 20th May 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st Ken Neat (4.5/5); 2nd Phil Thomas (4/5)
Swiss Tournament – 5 Rounds – 10mins each + 5sec increment
Wednesday, 20th May 2020
Entrants (12) – Len Weir, Richard McMinn, Clive Baird, Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith] (England), Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (Scotland), Ken Neat (England), Cameron Smith, IagoPrytherch (England), Phil Thomas, Selfisolatedpawn (England), Schulle2 (Germany), Skyrmion (Canada)
News Update – Thursday, 14th May 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st= Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha], Smithds2 [Douglas Smith], Ken Neat (3/4)
Swiss Tournament – 4 Rounds – 10mins each + 10sec increment
Wednesday, 13th May 2020
Entrants (10) – John Calder, Len Weir, Richard McMinn, Clive Baird, Edwin_Smith [Edwin Smith] (England), Smithds2 [Douglas Smith] (Scotland), Ken Neat (England), Paluchasz [Szymon Palucha] (England), Cameron Smith, Stonecircles1 [Gary Weir] (Scotland)
News Update – Wednesday, 13th May 2020
Latest online tournament result: 1st Paluchasz (5/5); 2nd= Ken Neat, IagoPrytherch (3.5/5)
Swiss Tournament – 5 Rounds – 10mins each + 5sec increment
Wednesday, 29th April 2020
Entrants (14) – John Calder, Len Weir, Phil Thomas, Richard McMinn, Clive Baird, Turner_pg (Canada), Edwin_Smith (England), Andrewprod (England), Smithds2 (Scotland), Skyrmion (Canada), Ken Neat (England), Paluchasz (England), Selfisolatedpawn (England), IagoPrytherch (England)
News Update – Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st John Calder (3/3); 2nd= Clive Baird, Len Weir (2/3)
Swiss Tournament – 3 Rounds – 20mins each
Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
Entrants (7) – John Calder, Len Weir, Phil Thomas, Guest, Cameron Smith, Richard McMinn, Clive Baird
News Update – Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
The first online junior tournament was successfully run today on the Lichess Arena platform
Result: 1st Callum McFadzean; 2nd Ben MacCorquodale
Lichess Arena Tournament
Wednesday, 22nd April 2020
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Next week’s tournament will be run at the same time next Wednesday at 3:30pm. We hope to have some more junior players joining in. Juniors from all clubs and new players are welcome. This event is free to enterTroon Junior Chess Online
News Update – Thursday, 16th April 2020
This week’s online tournament result: 1st John Calder (3/3); 2nd Kingo Bear (2/3)
Swiss Tournament – 3 Rounds – 20mins each
Wednesday, 15th April 2020
Entrants (6) – John Calder, Len Weir, Phil Thomas, Walter Zweig (Austria), Cameron Smith, Kingo Bear (England)
Troon Chessblog – Friday, 13th March 2020 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog M2
Chess Blog M2
The last over the board matches played due to Coronavirus restrictions.
Ayrshire Championship
A new champion was crowned this week at the Ayrshire Chess Championships at the Marine Hotel in Troon. After six rounds Mark Sanger of the Prestwick Chess Club scored an amazing 5.5/6 when he defeated the emerging talent of Cooper Patterson of Greenwood. This was Sanger’s first championship success in the premier Ayrshire tournament. However he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder too far to see where future challenges will come from as his son Jake shared third place. Joint runners up on 4.5 points were father and son pair Kenny and Jamie Malkin of the Kilmarnock Club. Jamie was the defending champion. Top female player Ali Roy of the Carrick Club shared third place. Troon Players Phil Thomas and Len Weir fought out a draw to share 3.5 points with club mate Cameron Smith
Coronelli
A fascinating re-match of last season’s Coronelli Final between John Calder and Tommy Barrett was achieved when the ‘Old Guard’ of Duncan Malcolm and Len Weir fell in the semi final to the top ranked players in the club. The Motwani Quaich semi final had a quality feel to it when Phil Thomas got the rub of the green as Clive Baird ran out of time in a promising position. The other Semi Final between Mike Chapman and Jim Wainwright never took place when the latter failed to show for the tie
Silver Trophy
The Silver Trophy game with David Ferguson and Sandy Gibson had Sandy with the bragging rights
Ties for Wednesday 18th March
Gold Championship
Phil Thomas v John Calder
Cameron Smith v Duncan Malcolm
Mike Chapman v Clive Baird
Len Weir v John Shankland
Silver Championship
Sandy Gibson v Alex Smith
Ross Duffy v Richard McMinn
Coronavirus !
The Ayrshire League have decided to suggest no handshaking prior to or after games. This is advised rather than obligatory
A further preventative measure was successfully introduced for the semi final games with tables being doubled to allow greater breathing distance between players
n.b. I have a cough which has been diagnosed as perrenial rhinitis a non infectious ailment of the hay fever variety. I apologise for any discomfort caused to others
OFP Salver Standings – Thursday, 12th March 2020
Chessblog Update – Tuesday, 11th March 2020
Troon Chessblog – Friday, 6th March 2020 – by Len Weir
Chess Blog M1
Hopes still alive for the title
League Div 1
Drama unfolded in Ardrossan as Troon’A’ took on the might of Ardossan/Largs A. The home team fielded three former Ayrshire champions and after wins from Duncan Malcolm, Clive Baird and myself the League one leaders were hopeful. The total was enhanced by Robin Templeton at board three with a draw against Billy Kelly. A stop was applied to the celebrations as reliable Phil Thomas succumbed to Stephen Robinson to make the score 1.5-3.5. All eyes were focussed on the top board where Tommy Barrett was facing Stephen Brown and things were looking black. Just when we thought all hope was gone Stephen, under time pressure, duffed his rook and Tommy pounced to make the score 1.5-4.5
Two nights later Kilmarnock failed to grab the lead over a depleted Prestwick side registering a 5-1 win to match Troon’s total of 42. Troon next face Prestwick
League division 3
Less fortunate was Troon ‘C’ whose excellent recent run came to an end against hosts Ardrossan/Largs ‘C’. A quality team went down 3-1 with only Jim Wainwright rising to the occasion. The teams are now separated by three points due to the win bonus point the home team earned. The gap is still not unsurmountable as the leaders have had a patchy series of results
League Division 2
Next was Troon ‘B’ who were at home to Irvine whose top board Graeme King has been enjoying playing in the Troon Gold Championship. He proved in no philanthropic mood as he dispensed with Cameron Smith. Worse was to follow as Mister Consistency Mike Chapman slipped up against Willie Birnie. John Shankland was disappointed to settle for a draw against Bob Loughran as did Frank Park. Bob Reid managed a win to make the final score Troon ‘B’ 2 Irvine 3 allowing Irvine to forge a two point lead over Troon as we reach the climax of the season [correction]
For next week
Next Week Games:- Semi Final Night
Coronelli Trophy
Duncan Malcolm v John Calder
Tommy Barrett v Len Weir
Motwani Quaich
Phil Thomas v Clive Baird
Mike Chapman v Jim Wainwright
The Coronelli looks to favour a repeat of last year’s final when John took the honours against Tommy but Tommy has yet to drop a game this season
The Motwani sees Phil Thomas return to the scene of the crime when, last year Duncan Malcolm produced some old ‘magic’ to claim the title
Silver Championship
David Ferguson v Sandy Gibson