Thanks to all who took part in the Keddie Cup - good to see everyone, hope it was enjoyable. Particular thanks to those who donated raffle prizes and foodstuffs - much appreciated.
As for the chess, there were 18 entrants, the same as in 2011. Nick Blake's defence of the title ended at the quarter-final stage, where he lost to his brother - who in turn lost to Graham Anderson in the semis. In the other half of the draw Dave Marshall - a very welcome visitor from Badgers Brook - made steady and impressive progress, beating Martyn Roe and John Blake en route to the final.
The final proved to be an exciting affair, with Dave starting a N and two minutes ahead courtesy of the handicap and for quite a while looking well placed to be the first non-Stirling member (at least that I can remember) to win the cup. Graham then uncorked a candidate for the move of the night, playing a7 when his own Q was attacked and thus threatening mate on the move. The momentum of the game seemed to shift at that point, although Dave continued to create chances which Graham carefully parried. Not sure when there was last a game of any kind played at Stirling which saw three Qs on the board in a middlegame situation for somewhere close to 20 moves. Eventually the situation simplified, and faced with a Q against pawns Dave resigned - meaning that Graham won the cup for the first time, having previously lost a couple of semis.
So congratulations to Graham - a fine achievement, all the more so because he had to play ten games (quite possibly an unprecedented number): the four actual group games, two playoff games, then the quarter-final and replay followed by the semi and the final.
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