Scottish Championships 2012 - Day 8 - There can be only one

Graeme Nolan to the Rescue!

Early this morning we received the worrying news that FM Donald Holmes had been taken to hospital late last night.  I am happy to say that the news we have is good and he is at home recuperating!  It is a shame as he was quite likely to get an IM norm for his performance and was the leading Scot!  I'd also like to thank Graeme Nolan for stepping in and playing to make sure that board 2 was not a dead rubber.  One of the quirky FIDE rules is when a pairing has been published you are not allowed to change it!!!

Sometimes it can be frustrating to be an arbiter.  Take today, we are at the time scrambles and I am notating one of the games as both players close to running out of time.  When I have been observing, both players are writing, one has 32 moves on their scoresheet, one 34.  I can't stop the game at that point to find out who is right, so I have to notate until the flag falls, pause the game and reconstruct.  I have 39 moves, the players have 39 and 42!  Just before that point is reached, one of the players asks me if they have reached 40 moves yet.  Frustratingly under the laws of chess I am not allowed to say. 

Iain hoping for some divine inspiration

The law in question is :-  8.5

8.5

a.

If neither player is required to keep score under Article 8.4, the arbiter or an assistant should try to be present and keep score. In this case, immediately after one flag has fallen,the arbiter shall stop the clocks. Then both players shall update their scoresheets, using the arbiter’s or the opponent’s scoresheet.

It looks here like we can until you look further down

13.6
The arbiter must not intervene in a game except in cases described by the Laws of Chess. He shall not indicate the number of moves made, except in applying Article 8.5, when at least one flag has fallen. The arbiter shall refrain from informing a player that his opponent has completed a move or that the player has not pressed his clock.

Could it be his year?

I suspected the greater moves would be correct, but it is often better to err on the side of caution.  

The battle for the championships is really hotting up.  For the overall championship we have 3 sitting on 6.5 with a further 5 ready to pounce if there are any quick draws!

For the Scottish Championship, Jacob is leading on 6 with Keti, Andrew Greet and Dougie Bryson just 1/2 point behind.  I'd love to see Dougie win again this year, his games have been really interesting.

Leaving the venue tonight was an interesting experience.  I was wearing my favourite pink shirt, blissfully unaware that there was a gay pride march on when we left!  Talk about comic timings!!

It's just been too much for some!