Due to the current COVID situation we cannot play over the board chess at St Peters as the church is closed for now. However we have been playing online league chess and intend to have an online winter tournament. If anyone is interested please contact Jean Chalmers on 07944221925 or Jim Anderson on 07703735350 for more information.

Last night saw the first of the New TAFCA Online League take place.  We have 4 teams in this competition 2 in div 1 and 2 in div 2. Last night saw 2 of them play each other, Dundee Centrosaurus` v Dundee Datousaurus`. This was a hard fought contest with the Centrosaurus’ coming out on top.  Final result was Dundee Centrosaurus` 2½ – 1½ Dundee Datousaurus`. Tonight sees another match this time Kirkcaldy B v Newport Knights Bells. You can watch the matches live and play through last nights games. Click here and go to the TAFCA website and click on the links. 

The first match in the New TAFCA online League is tonight at 7:30 pm its Dundee Centrosaurus` v Dundee Datousaurus`. You can find teams details and a link for each game to allow you to watch the games live at these links Click here for spreadsheet of Dundee Matches or click here for matches on this week.

TAFCA ONLINE LEAGUE 2020 (New)

Well here we go with a new chapter in TAFCA history as they start holding chess competitions “ONLINE”!

Dundee Chess Club as an affiliated TAFCA Club, will be supporting this new venture. We have 4 teams so far if you have not entered an wish to do so please (Contact Jim Anderson )

The COVID-19 pandemic was a disaster for the world and for OTB chess matches, but every cloud it seems has a silver lining as TAFCA pushed it`self to find other avenues to play matches on!

The “TAFCA League Online” will be run the same way as the OTB TAFCA League, but with a few minor changes to accommodate the fact we are playing online.

All the information you need including the rules, how to play online, and any other relevant information etc can be found on the TAFCA Website Here, under TAFCA Online! You can also download how to play Tafca league matches online on lichess Here

This is a trial run to iron out any possible problems before the start of the 2020/21 season. In the short term we might have to play the 2020/21 season online (hopefully not), but in the long term this might be a permanent “TAFCA SUMMER LEAGUE” run between June to Sept for those that like to play all year round!

We are looking for your support, but be quick as the deadline for teams is the 15th June 2020!

ENTRY 2020 (trial run)

• All team entries to be in from affiliated TAFCA Clubs by 15/06/20
  (Club secretaries will receive email for entries from Online controller)
• League start date: 1st July 2020 to end of October 2020.
• If interested in playing in league, please see your club secretary.

The AGM is this Monday 15^th June 2020 at 7:30pm. This is going to take place on Zoom. A link will be sent out on the day of the meeting to all members. Anyone not sure of using zoom please get in touch ( Jim Anderson) and I will help you. It is very important that as many of you as possible join in to discuss the future of the Club.  Any proposals should be sent to Jean Chalmers by 8th June.

Dear members and friends.

In light of the current climate, we have decided to close down the club for the present, effective immediately.

As you will be aware, things are changing day by day, and as such we will review the situation at the end of April, and monthly thereafter.

In the meantime, stay safe and healthy, and we will see each other again soon.

Take Care

A quieter night at the club, aside from our ever enthusiastic juniors! Unfortunately our E Team’s match with St Andrews was cancelled at 45 minutes notice due to exams(?)

Club Championship

E Spencer (2025)  1-0  S Mackenzie (530)

With the draw just made, only one 4th Round game was played, but it was the Board 1 encounter (honestly) between Ed and Scott, which Ed finished with a pretty mate.

Otherwise we were visited by another very strong player who will hopefully become a regular member to join our other 2000+ rated players. Along with Jacques, our recruitment policy is proving almost as good as United’s.

The results for round 3 and the draw for round 4 of the Club Championship. Round 4 must be played by the 8th April 2020.

Perth A   1-3  Dundee A

M Gourlay (1904)  0-1  D Findlay (2109)

G Le Feuvre (1714)  0-1  E Spencer (2025)

D Hall (1682)  ½–½  A Dawson (1806)

A Sutherland (1572)  ½–½  F Stevenson (1647)

Dundee A faced league leaders Perth A in a match that would go some way to decide the TAFCA league title for 2019-20 season. As expected it was a tense affair but with some unusual twists of fortune. David Findlay was white versus Martin Gourlay, Ed Spencer black against Gwenole Le Feuvre, Alastair was up against David Hall and Frank on Board 4 facing Andrew Sutherland,

First to finish was Ed. There was some ringing sound in the room. People were trying to figure out what it was but then it transpired it was the clock of Gwenole who had run out of time trying to unlock the secrets of Ed’s favorite Sicilian Kan. Next to finish was Frank who agreed a completely equal middle game position against Andrew Sutherland. The other two matches went the full distance. In the end David converted an extra pawn in a R and P endgame to a win. Shortly afterwards, Alastair who had quite a poor position throughout the game, managed to extricate a draw from the resulting R and P ending.

So in the end it was a convincing 3-1 win and a small step closer to the league title.

• – A Dawson

Dundee City prepared for play in Rounds 5 and 6 knowing that the outcomes of the various matches would go a long way to determine promotions, relegations and, of course, the national championship itself. The A team faced Stepps in the morning. It proved to be successful with a hard-fought drawn match. Jacques Ophoff drew with IM Doug Bryson on top board. There followed draws for Andrew Wright and Andre Babin and a win for Ed Spencer. In Division 2 a big setback took place an hour prior to the match with the late call-off by Gary Weir as a result of sickness. With the adjustment of board order Euan Dawson assumed the role of being top board. It worked – with him gaining a nice win over John Smith, On Board 2 Alastair secured a second game point but losses on Boards 3 and 4 resulted in a 2-2 draw but a 2-3 match loss owing to a default on Board 5. In the 3^rd division, our C team was up against it. With losses on the top three boards, two wins from Ed Walton and Cameron Wilson were insufficient overall, the team losing 2-3. In Division 5, Dundee City D team gained the result of the morning. On Board 1, Max Whisson notched up a nice win and Rishabh Akula did likewise on Board 3. Krish Akula gained a comfortable draw – and this time, it was their opponents who were a player short and had to default on Board 5. The net effect was a 3.5 – 1.5 win.

In the afternoon Dundee City A faced a strong Hamilton team led by IM Andrew Muir. Once again, Jacque Ophoff excelled and gained a draw through a perpetual check sequence. There were draws also from Stephen Hogg and Andrew Wright. But the match was won on Boards 4 and 5 through victories from both Ed Spencer and Andre Babin. There was drama for our B team who faced a very strong Giffnock team led by FM Phil Giulian. Having lost in the morning, it was going to be a very tough task to get anything from this match. But then on Board 1, Euan’s game was first to finish with a remarkable win, his first against a Fide Master. Alastair drew with Neil Thomson on Board 2 and there were losses on Boards 3 and 4. On Board 5, Ray Noble arrived to replace Gary Weir for the afternoon match. Not only did he win well, but his win brought the match to a draw. So one point gained against such a strong team – an amazing result! The same was not true for our C team in Division 3 – they crashed horribly to a much stronger Wandering Dragons team – enough said! And the same was the case for Dundee City D team who also had an afternoon nightmare – a whitewash loss 0-5.

So at the end of Round 6 and with just the final round left, Dundee City A team is tied in 3^rd place with 4 game pts and 17 match pts and 8 match pts. Above them are Bon Accord A on 17.5 pts also on 8 match points and Stepps in 1^st place with the same 8 match points and 18.5 game pts. In the last round they face Edinburgh 1 – the final round will be a very tense affair! In Division 2, our B team sit in 4^th place on 4 match pts and 14 game pts. Beneath them lie Giffnock also on 4 match pts but with 12 game pts, Further below are Edinburgh 2 also on 4 match points and 12 game pts. Dumfries and District A then sit 2^nd bottom on 3 match points and 10 game pts. At the bottom Forth Valley A prop up the division with 2 match pts and 10.5 game points. Any permutation is possible from Round 7 – when the team faces Thistles led by IM Roddy Mackay – hopefully safety and steering clear of relagation can be managed – we shall see. For Dundee C there is certain relegation to Division 4 – not good but I am sure the players will live to fight another day. Lastly, in Division 5, our D team are safe on 6 match points – all our young players have performed well and have gained a lot of valuable playing experience over the course of the season – well done to you all.

For performances of the day there are two. One would be that of Ed Spencer on 2/2 who was in overdrive in Division 1 crushing opponents with apparent ease. The second was from Euan Dawson who not only scored 2/2 on top Board in Division 2 but beat an Fide Master in the process – well done Euan!

• – Alastair Dawson