by Ray Flood
Richardson Cup Semi Final
Dundee 3-5 Edinburgh
Jacques Ophoff CM 2227 0-1 Fredderick Waldhausen Gordon IM 2380
George Vayanos 2115 0-1 Keith Ruxton 2315 FM
David Findlay 2094 ½-½ Neil Berry 2257 FM
Ed Spencer 2075 ½-½ Calum McQueen 2175
Ian McDonald 2011 ½-½ Petros Walden 2176
Sven Stocklose 1994 1-0 Craig Thomson 2105 FM
Stephen Hogg 1955 ½-½ Ross Blackford 2027
Vladyslav Drabych 1803 0-1 Brian Whyte 2035
Clearly not the result we were hoping for, but a very close contest against a tremendously strong Edinburgh side. Almost all hard-fought games with little in it. One or two moves either way and we might have done it! A draw would have put us through as the lower graded side, and at 4-2 down, Ed and Ian had the unenviable task of trying to win their own games while keeping an eye on the other! In the end, we didn't quite manage it.
So congratulations to Edinburgh who go through to a final against neighbours Edinburgh West, and we wish them well. It was a fine match against fine fellows in Dundee, who were very accomodating to last-minute line-up changes due to a family ilness. The match contested in great spirit, and we look to next season.