ABERDEEN CHESS ACADEMY     

                                          

 

NEWS
HOME NEWS EVENTS SCHOOLS LATEST GRADES IMPROVE YOUR GAME ARCHIVES ABOUT US LINKS CONTACT US

 

CFK ABERDEEN HEATS

Scottish Junior Chess held the Aberdeen heats of their “Chess for Kicks” tournament on Saturday 21st January. Eight heats take place during the season at venues across the country. The top 100 players are invited to the Grand Final being held in June at Hampden Park, Glasgow. 

The Aberdeen heats, held at Northfield Academy, attracted 56 entries, which covered 3 age groups: Primary 5 and under; Primary 6/7; and Secondary.

Text Box: The secondary event was dominated by Newtonhill player Alastair Grant, who had finished second in the Perth Minor the week before. He won with something to spare from Northfield Academy’s Sean Gordon, and Danny McKinnon (Harlaw Academy), who finished second equal. Left: Alastair in control!  

 
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary Results: 1st Alastair Grant 5/5; 2nd = Sean Gordon, Danny McKinnon 3.5

 

We’re on our way to Hampden...and so are we!! Secondary 1-2-3 and P6/7 1-2-3-4.

Top seed in the Primary 6/7 section was Nairn’s Scottish Primary International player Marc Woods. Marc had already booked his place for the Hampden final, having won the Chess for Kicks November heat at Dens Park, Dundee. However, he wasn’t feeling 100% during the tournament, and found the going tough against the fast improving players from Aberdeen Chess Academy. Three local Chess Academy players, Thomas Murray (Quarryhill), Ross Milner (Cults), and Steven Dunbar (Middlefield) finished tied, first equal, on 4/5.

 

Thomas seemed to be heading for a perfect score after some brilliant attacking play had left him in the lead after four rounds. However, Middlefield champion Steven Dunbar showed great tenacity in the final round game against Thomas to score a surprise win. All three players now head for the finals, along with Kittybrewster pupil Peter McEwan, who had qualified from an earlier heat.

P6/7 Results:

Trophy winners:

1st Thomas Murray; 2nd Ross Milner; 3rd Steven Dunbar (tiebreak, all 4/5);

4th Marc Woods (3/5)

 

Medal Winners:

Samantha George; Sarah Thomson; Emma Grant; Andrew Troup; Lewis Manson.

P5 & Under trophy winners

Text Box: As always, the P5 & under event produced the most exciting (?!) games. The newcomers tend to play all-out attacking chess, with little thought of the finer defensive aspects of the game. Cornhill’s Cameron Manson played a mature, controlled tournament, and deservedly won the heat with a score of 5/5, one point ahead of three players tied in second place: Andrew Gregor (Middlefield), Zach Milne (Quarryhill), and Dillon Davidson (Tullos Primary).  

 

                                                                               

 

                                       Chess for Kicks P5 & under section

The outcome of the P5 & under event is a remarkable coincidence – the first four youngsters had helped their respective school teams reach the Scottish Junior Chess P5 Team Finals (Dunkeld, April) when they competed in the North East Qualifiers in December.

P5 & Under Results:

Trophy Winners:

1st Cameron Manson 5/5; 2nd Andrew Gregor; 3rd Zach Milne; 4th Dillon Davidson (on tiebreak, all 4/5); 5th Alex Paterson 3½/5.

Medal Winners

Jan Goldbeck; Bobbie Hall; Marc Greig; Nathan Frail; Damien Genocchio; Caroline Barbour; Shannon Leslie; Jamie Dickson; Leighona Setchfield; Jack Greening; Stuart Davies.