The Lothians Allegro 2013 - Remembrances

"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you"

I suppose I have to start this blog with a sincere apology.  It had been my intention to blog from the Classic this year, but I, along with most of the staff, came down with the sickness virus.  It was hard enough to keep the live boards going, never mind writing a blog with a bucket next to me...

My resolution this year is to blog more.  There is something cathartic about putting your thoughts and musings down in print. Even more so when your own parents admit to reading your blog and complaining when one has not appeared for a while!

Today is the Lothians Allegro, the first tournament of 2013 and I am approaching it with a sense of sadness (along with a healthy dose of tiredness!).  The Lothians tournaments hold something special for me.  The Allegro was my first ever tournament.  I remember it well, scoring 3.5/5 going home pleased as anything and falling asleep where I was sitting in the living room as I was so tired!  The congress was the first ever that I won so I think it is fair to say that I have a real love of the Lothians.

The tiredness is simple, I left the house at 5:30am this morning to travel there.  I still question my I put myself through this, having just celebrated my thirty twelfth birthday (I refuse to turn 40!) the realisation that I am starting to move into middle aged (if not there already) strikes me for a minute before my brain goes into self defence mode and the child resurfaces :D

Its good to see that the barrier system is being used at Glasgow Central.  Having presented my ticket to the barrier and going through, I sit on the train.  We get about 2 minutes away from the station and the conductor comes round to check the tickets.  Isn't that what the barrier is for...

The sadness comes from the news that broke on January 1st, when the year was but in its' infancy, that the former Tournament Director, David Bond had passed away.  David was the TD when I started, he was still the TD when I practically gave up playing and concentrated on Arbiting and Politics.  David is going to be missed and will be in our thoughts today.

I will remember David fondly.  Apart from being the TD of the first ever tournamet that I played in, and being a fantastic help that day, David was the first person I ever played in an allegro league match, back in 2001.  It took place in a large pub come eaterie in the outskirts of Edinburgh and I was playing for the Livingston B team.  I was nervous but I really enjoyed the games (I liked the score even more!).  Our paths crossed a few times after then, then I became an arbiter and joined his team :D



(c) Chandler Corner.

Who is it that keeps saying that Chess in Scotland is dead???  161 entries at the tournament today.  I don't think I have ever been so busy in my life!!!  What was really pleasing was my section was fought out by a J15 and a J10.  In fact 2/3 of the top 9 were juniors!

Things are looking up again!

London Chess Classic 2012 - Day 1. The Piano

"There is a silence where hath been no sound. There is a silence where no sound may be in the cold grave under the deep deep sea."

Today is the day.  Round 1 is upon us.  The plan is Mini concert, pull piano offstage, move tables into position, pray cabling I ran last night holds and play starts.  Simples...

Malcolm thought it was hilarious that a senior Director of Chess Scotland is providing the muscle to move a piano.  Just shows you  :D

That's my pen!

Aronian arrived today without a pen, I gave him mine. Nice bit of product placement, it has a Dell Logo on it.  Wonder what marketing would make of that one...

We have a real touch of glamor this year.  Judit Polgar is playing in the tournament.  I am rooting for her as it is brilliant to see the best female ever playing here.

Behind the scenes we are having our usual day one dramas. The focus has been on providing a link to the guys in the analysis rooms to use for their shows and to keep the servers alive.  There are three severs being used and by all accounts they are currently sitting in a corner whimpering for their lives...

I have come to hate that piano, I am glad it is sitting backstage.  All I need is a chainsaw and I will feel better.  Much much better :D

Some late testing after the end of play tonight to resolve a clock issue and all will hopefully be well in the morning.

London Chess Classic 2012 - Day 0 - GOOOOD MORNING LONDON...

"Excuse me, sir. Seeing as how the V.P. is such a V.I.P., shouldn't we keep the P.C. on the Q.T.? 'Cause if it leaks to the V.C. he could end up M.I.A., and then we'd all be put out in K.P." 


Quote of the day has to be Nigel Short who in the middle of a bounce game with Aronian, came out with the classic, "Oh no, what a boring move", four moves prior to being checkmated!

Honestly, exciting chess wins...

Yep it is that crazy time where I spend a week in London doing about a million hours work and chewing the ends of my fingers in nerves!

Another Arbiter gets into the "McFarlane" Admonishing routine...

 The start up was delayed this year by a PC, not a computer but a Press Conference.  It was 30 mins late due to Judit and Magnus having a trip up the London Eye for a press shoot.  Traffic was a problem...

 The rest of the world took on the combined grandmasters in a "Come and have a go if you think you are hard enough" match.  Predictably the rest of the world lost horribly giving up a piece within 20 moves and the king not long after.

It was a long day yesterday and I was grateful to pour myself into my bed.  Tomorrow has its challenges, the first being and "Andy v Piano" challenge as I have to move a piano off stage so we can get play started

Is this for when the players get bored???

Scottish Championship 2012 - And the Winners are...

The 2012 Scottish Champion

GM Jacob Aagaard

2012 Player of the Year

Calum MacQueen

Winners of the Scottish Open

GM Nikolov Momchil, GM Vitaly Teterev, GM Jacob Aagaard, IM Jonathan Hawkins, IM Bragi Thorfinsson

Top Girl (Open)

Ali Roy

U1750 /  Seniors Winners

 

 

William Clinton and George Murphy

U1450 Winner

 

 

David Potts

Weekend Open Winner

Alex Gillies

 Weekend Major Winner

John Smith

Weekend Minor Winner

Stuart Wynne

Well done everyone

Scottish Championships 2012 - Day 9 - Are we nearly there yet?

Get Well soon!

Today can best be described as a strange day.  This year has been pretty awful for things happening at congresses, firstly we had Paul at Prestwick now we have Donald Holmes taken ill during the tournament and today we are given the shocking news that Alex had a heart attack in the street last night just after leaving the venue!

Thankfully the news we have been given is good and he was well enough to send his apologies to his opponents for letting them down!  Alex is a true gent and I think I can safely say we all wish him a speedy recovery!

Interesting game today, WFM Dr Elaine Bamber v up and coming Ali Roy.  Ali is representing Scotland at the Olympiad, and Elaine has represented us in the past.   Really hopeful that Ali and Alice can become our next titled players!

Was caught out by Jonathan today, normally he wears a back and white top.  Today he had a suit and tie!  Snappy dressing indeed!

Remeber the juniors I warned you about?  Well Round 5 in the minor featured a battle royal between two of them

Stuart and Liam agreed a draw, there was nothing GM about it either.  Stuart came first and Liam 2nd.  Liam has had an incredible season and I don't think it will be long before he is terrorising the Majors...

Top games were interesting today.  Quite a few draws which meant a 5 way split for 1st.  Who was the Scottish winner I hear you ask?

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!

Scottish Championships 2012 - Day 7 - The Longest Day

Apologies for the blog only getting published today, it was a bit manic yesterday.

Today is the longest day.  We start here at 11am setting up and with a little bit of fortune we get out at 11pm :D  Factoring in travel etc and it is easily 14 hours.  Forgive me for my ramblings today

The tournament has gone really well and I am hoping that our mystery benefactor is also as impressed with the event as we are.  The field has been no trouble at all which has made Donalds, Alex's and my job really simple

The first of the events are over and we have our first winners!

 Starting with the U1750 / Seniors

The winners were ....

William Clinton & George Murphy

Despite my best efforts I could not get a picture of the winner of the U1750 Boys trophy, here he is in a group shot

Back right, Carl Milton, Boys U1750 winner

 In the U1500, no-one seemed to want to win as the leaders either drew or lost!  The overall winner was...

David Potts

And finally we have the U1500 Girls Trophy winner, making it a family double for the second year running...

Anna Milton

 Well done everyone.

The main tournament is hotting up with GM Nonchil Bikolov and IM Bragi Thorfinnsson both leading on 6/7.  Top Scot is FM Donald Holmes who is having a superb tournament and is on track for an IM norm!  Donald is sitting on 5.5 / 6 and has been playing some fabulous chess.

The weekenders have started and if the results tonight are anything to go by, I pity everyone tomorrow.  Watch out for Kai, Liam, Craig and Kirsty, they have no fear of adults nor grade as the four of them showed tonight.  You have been warned!

I will finish todays blog with a funny.  On the way home from the event tonight, I was stopped by the police just after I had got off the bus.  The reason for it, I was drinking out of a 500ml bottle of Barrs Cherryade.

The police officer demanded to know what I was drinking and was embarrassed when I showed him the bottle.  Wasn't too impressed when I suggested he went and found some real crimes to solve...  Fair to say he left with his tail between his legs!

Its a funny old world!