08-05-24 Grangemouth v Stirling (Central League Cup Final)

Grangemouth		v		Stirling
Alan Bell John McLay Graham Hamilton Dougie Will David Wallace Pranav Ram Hariharan Ian Mason	1949 1948 1936 1870 1776 1743 1603	0 - 1 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 1 - 0 0 - 1 1 - 0 0 - 1	2142 1988 1852 1771 1755 1703 1632	Shubham Lakudkar Isaac Browning Sam Coates Jim Shemilt William Spiers Graham Anderson Steve Smith
		2½ - 4½

Dougie presents the trophy to Steve.

The winning team: (l-r) Shubham, Isaac, William, Graham, Steve, Jim, Sam

Thanks to the team for the games below. I hope to add Sam's game as well, once I get the final few moves.

[Event "CL Cup - Grangemouth v Stirling"] [Site "Grangemouth CC"] [Date "2024.05.08"] [Round "-"] [White "Lakudkar, S"] [Black "Bell, A"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. a4 c5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. Na3 Qxc5 11. Be3 Qh5 12. Nxc4 e5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd6 Na5 16. Qc7 Bd8 17. Qc3 Nb3 18. Rad1 f6 19. Nxb7 Rc8 20. Qb4 Qf7 21. Nxd8 Rfxd8 22. Qh4 Rd7 23. Bh3 Rcd8 24. Nxe5 Rxd1 25. Nxf7 Rxf1+ 26. Kxf1 Bxf7 27. Bf5 g6 28. Bc2 Nd2+ 29. Ke1 Kg7 30. Qb4 Nc4 31. Qe7 Rb8 32. b4 Ne5 33. Bb3 Nf3+ 34. Kd1 { Black resigns } 1-0

[Event "CL Cup - Grangemouth v Stirling"] [Site "Grangemouth CC"] [Date "2024.05.08"] [Round "-"] [White "McLay, J"] [Black "Browning, I"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 d6 6. h3 e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Be3 Nd4 9. O-O O-O 10. Qd2 Nec6 11. Bh6 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Nd4 13. Bd1 Bd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Rb1 a5 16. Ne2 Nxe2+ 17. Bxe2 Bc6 18. Rbd1 e5 19. f4 f6 20. Qe3 Qb6 21. Rd2 Rae8 22. Bd1 Qd8 23. f5 g5 24. a4 Rg8 25. b3 Kf8 26. Bh5 Re7 27. Kf2 Reg7 28. Qe2 Ke7 29. Rh1 Qb6 30. Qd1 Qb4 31. Ke2 Kd8 32. g3 Kc7 33. Rb2 Bxa4 34. Qd2 Qxd2+ 35. Kxd2 Bc6 36. Ra1 Ra8 37. Bd1 b5 38. Rba2 Kb6 39. Ke3 Rga7 40. Kd2 Rh8 41. Kc3 h5 42. Kd2 h4 43. g4 Rha8 44. Kc3 bxc4 45. bxc4 a4 46. Ra3 Kc7 47. Bc2 Rb8 48. Rb1 Rxb1 49. Bxb1 Kb6 50. Bc2 Ka5 51. Ra1 Rb7 52. Ra3 Rb4 53. Ra1 Rb8 54. Ra3 Rb4 55. Ra1 Rb8 56. Ra3 Ra8 57. Bd1 Kb6 58. Bc2 Kc7 59. Bd1 Ra7 60. Bc2 Ra8 { Draw agreed } 1/2-1/2

[Event "CL Cup - Grangemouth v Stirling"] [Site "Grangemouth CC"] [Date "2024.05.08"] [Round "-"] [White "Spiers, W"] [Black "Wallace, D"] [Result "1-0"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bb4 5. e4 O-O 6. Nge2 d6 7. h3 a5 8. d3 Nd4 9. Be3 Bc5 10. O-O h6 11. Bxd4 Bxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14. f4 Re8 15. Qd2 Rb8 16. a4 Bd7 17. b3 Bc6 18. Rae1 Qc7 19. g4 Nd7 20. Ng3 Rf8 21. h4 Rbe8 22. g5 hxg5 23. hxg5 g6 24. Bf3 f6 25. gxf6 Rxf6 26. Bg4 Ref8 27. Qh2 Kg7 28. f5 Ne5 29. fxg6 Rxg6 30. Rxf8 Kxf8 31. Qh8+ { Black's flag falls. } 1-0

11-03-2024 Stirling v Badgers Brook

Stirling		v		Badgers Brook
Isaac Browning Steve Smith Leyla Kim Sean Flanagan Dave Hewitt Nathanael Loch David McAlister	1988 1632 1588 1557 1513 1504 1476	0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 1 - 0 1 - 0	2039 1298       962	Kenny McGeoch Colin Matthews Dayle Angus David James David Lawrence Peter Woollven Connor George
		5 - 2

15-05-2023 Central League Cup Stirling v Grangemouth

Stirling		v		Grangemouth
Shubham Lakudkar Isaac Browning William Spiers Graham Anderson Steve Smith Brad Duthie Sean Flanagan	2040 1934 1722 1670 1621 1523 1487	1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 0 - 1 ½ - ½	2066 1979 1953 1833 1727 1711 1626	John McLay Graham Hamilton Alan Bell Dougie Will David Wallace Alan Petrie Ian Mason
		2½ - 4½

Congratulations to Grangemouth!

Thanks to Shubham and Sean for providing the games below.

[Event "CL Cup Stirling v Grangemouth"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2023.05.15"] [Round "F"] [White "McLay, J"] [Black "Lakudkar, S"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. h3 e6 8. Bg5 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. a4 b4 12. Ne4 Qd7 13. Re1 h6 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Bf4 O-O-O 16. c3 Kb8 17. Qe2 e5 18. Be3 exd4 19. cxd4 Rhg8 20. Bxa6 Rxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Rg8+ 22. Kh2 Bd6+ 23. Ne5 fxe5 24. Qb5 e4+ { White resigns } 0-1

[Event "CL Cup Stirling v Grangemouth"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2023.05.15"] [Round "F"] [White "Anderson, G"] [Black "Will, D"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 h6 5. Be3 d6 6. c3 g6 7. Nbd2 Ng4 8. h3 Nxe3 9. fxe3 Bg7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Qf2 Na5 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. d4 c5 15. O-O Qb5 16. Rab1 Rac8 17. d5 Nc4 18. Qe2 Na3 19. c4 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 Qa5 21. Qc3 Qd8 22. a4 f5 23. Qc2 a6 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Nh2 e4 26. Nxe4 fxe4 27. Qxe4 Re8 28. Qg6 Qg5 29. Qxg5 hxg5 30. Ng4 c4 31. Nf6+ Bxf6 32. Rxf6 Rxe3 33. Rg6+ Kh7 34. Rxg5 Rb3 35. Re1 { Draw agreed. I am very short of time, and have no ideas on how to win this. All I can think is Re6 which gives perpetual check. } 1/2-1/2

[Event "CL Cup Stirling v Grangemouth"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Date "2023.05.15"] [White "Mason, I"] [Black "Flanagan, S"] [ECO "D16"] [Opening "Slav Defense: Soultanbeieff Variation"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. e3 Bb4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qe2?! { Inaccuracy. Ne5 was best. } (12. Ne5 Nd7 13. f4 Nxe5 14. fxe5 Qg5 15. Rf3 Bd7 16. Rg3 Qh4 17. Qd3 Bc6 18. Rf1 Be4) 12... cxd4 13. cxd4 b6 14. Ne5?! { Inaccuracy. Rfc1 was best. } (14. Rfc1 Nd7 15. Bb5 Qd8 16. Bc6 Rb8 17. Rc2 Bb7 18. Rac1 Bxc6 19. Rxc6 Nf6 20. Ne5 Nd5) 14... Nd7 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Bb5 Qe7 17. h3 Bc8 18. Ba6 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Rfb1 Rab8 21. Rb2 Rfc8 22. Rab1 Rc6 23. a5 Qc7 24. g3 Rc1+ 25. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 26. Kh2 Qc3 27. axb6 axb6 28. Qb5 Qc7 29. Qe2 Qd7 30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. Rxb5 Kf8 32. Kg2 Ke7 33. Kf3 Kd6 34. Ke4 Kc6 35. Rb2 b5 36. Kd3 f5 37. Rc2+ Kd6 38. Rb2 Kc6 39. Rc2+ Kb6 40. Rc5 Rb7? { Mistake. Ra8 was best. } 41. Kc3? { Mistake. Re5 was best. } 41... Ka5 42. Kb3 h5?! { Inaccuracy. g5 was best. } 43. h4 g6 44. Rc6 Rb6?? { Blunder. Re7 was best. } (44... Re7 45. Rc5) 45. Rc8?? { Blunder. Rxb6 was best. } (45. Rxb6 Kxb6 46. Kb4 Ka6 47. f3 Kb6 48. e4 Kc6 49. Ka5 Kd6 50. Kxb5 e5 51. Kc4 f4) 45... Rb7? { Mistake. Rd6 was best. } (45... Rd6 46. Rg8 e5 47. dxe5 Re6 48. Rg7 Rxe5 49. Rxg6 Re4 50. Rg5 Rb4+ 51. Kc3 Rc4+ 52. Kd3) 46. Ra8+ 46... Kb6 47. Rd8?? { Blunder. Re8 was best. } 47... Rc7?! (47... Kc6 48. Rg8 Kd5 49. Rxg6 Re7 50. Rh6 Ke4 51. Rf6 Kd5 52. Rf8 Rh7 53. Kb4 Ra7 54. Rd8+) 48. Rd6+ Ka5 49. Rxe6 b4?? { Blunder. Rc1 was best. } (49... Rc1 50. Rxg6 Rf1 51. f4 b4 52. Rg5 Rb1+ 53. Kc2 Rg1 54. Rxf5+ Ka4 55. Rf8 b3+ 56. Kb2) 50. Kb2? { Mistake. Re5+ was best. } (50. Re5+ Kb6 51. Kxb4 Rc6 52. Rc5 Rd6 53. Kc4 Kb7 54. d5 Ra6 55. Kd4 Ra2 56. Rc6 Rxf2) 50... Rc3 51. Rxg6 Rd3 52. Rg5? { Mistake. Rg8 was best. } (52. Rg8 Kb5 53. Rb8+ Ka4 54. Ra8+ Kb5 55. Kc2 Rc3+ 56. Kd2 Rc6 57. Rb8+ Kc4 58. Kc2 Rc7) 52... Ka4? { Mistake. Rd2+ was best. } (52... Rd2+ 53. Kb3) 53. Kc2 Rc3+ 54. Kb2 Rb3+ 55. Kc2 Rc3+ 56. Kb2 Rb3+ 57. Kc2?? { Blunder. Kc1 was best. } 57... Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

03-04-2023 Central League Cup Stirling v Badgers Brook

Stirling		v		Badgers Brook
Shubham Lakudkar Sam Coates William Spiers Steve Smith Dave Hewitt Nathanael Loch Sean Flanagan	2040 1843 1722 1621 1562 1513 1487	1 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0	2007 1998 1841 1689 1666 1292 894	Andrew Newton Kenny McGeoch Andrew McHarg Steven McHarg John Smith Gordon Walker Peter Woollven
		4 - 3

Thanks to Dave for providing the game below, where he was Black against John Smith.

[Event "Neil Giffen Cup, Stirling vs Badgers Brook"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2023.04.03"] [White "John Smith"] [Black "Dave Hewitt"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1666"] [BlackElo "1562"] [ECO "C01"] [Opening "French Defense: Exchange Variation"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. h3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Re1 c5 9. c3 Re8 10. Bf4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Bb4 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Qc2 f5 15. c4 Ndf6 16. Rab1 b6 17. Be5 Bb7 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. Nf1 dxc4 20. Bxc4+ Bd5 21. Bxd5+ Nxd5 22. Qb3 Kh8 23. Qf3 Qg5 24. Rb5 Rc3 25. Ne3 Nxe3 26. Rxe3 Rec8 27. Rxc3 Rxc3 28. Qf4 Qg6 29. Rd5 Rc8 30. Rd7 Nf6 31. Rxa7 Nh5 32. Qf3 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 h6 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. Qd5 Nf6 36. Qd8 Qg5 37. g3 Qd2 38. Kg2 Rc2 0-1

Dave writes: I picked a good time to win my first game in a Stirling match in 11 attempts this season. Was lucky - was in proper trouble early on, then got back levellish before missing a win at move 26: I was getting short of time but thought there was something good, and rather than doubling Rs I should have played 26 ...Rc1+ followed by Nd2 and Nf1+, winning the Q. However I missed this, and John then played a whole series of good moves to be well on top again. I thought he probably shouldn't have grabbed the pawn with 31 Rxa7, but the computer likes this and he was winning all the way to move 37, when Qh8+ followed by the hard to spot 38 Ra3 wins. John's actual 37 g3 allows a forced mate for black - fortunate, as I was down inside my last minute for the final four or five moves, and clinging on.

9 May 2022 - Central League Cup

Stirling 'A'		v		Stirling 'B'
Steve Smith William Spiers Graham Anderson Bill Cook Brad Duthie Sandy Carmichael Harley Lang	1722 1657 1657 1542 1486	0 - 1 1 - 0 ½ - ½ ½ - ½ 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1	1497 1372 1531   1477	Isaac Browning Kenny MacPherson Dave Hewitt Nathanel Loch Richard Warcup Ruaridh Simpson Sean Flanagan
		2 - 5

Congratulations to the nominal 'B' team! Although I hear FIDE are taking an interest in this match, due to one of main laws of chess being broken ie I had White against Dave...

Many thanks to Alan Bell of Grangemouth for these photos of the night.

27 April 2022 - Central League Cup

What was presumably the second semi-final in the seven-board cup was played at the neutral venue of Grangemouth and saw an experimental Stirling B team, including several new recruits, beat an experienced Dunfermline line-up in a close match. While normally players would be in grading order, allowance has been made for player improvements that are not yet reflected in their grade. Many thanks to Harry and Alan at Grangemouth for hosting.

Stirling		v		Dunfermline
Isaac Browning Sam Cook Richard Warcup Kenny MacPherson Dave Hewitt Nathanael Loch Ruaridh Simpson	1497 852 1477 1372 1531	1 - 0 ½ - ½ 0 - 1 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0	1563 1566 1555 1243 1412 1215 1315	Gordon Greig Fred Ossowski Gonzalo Ferero Mark McLintock Doug Rew Glynis Grant Peter Horne
		5½ - 1½

Thanks to Ruaridh for this game, where he had Black against Peter Horne.

[Event "Central League Cup - Stirling v Dunfermline"] [Site "https://lichess.org/CP90JoYa"] [Date "2022.04.27"] [White "Horne, P"] [Black "Simpson, R"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A01"] [Opening "Nimzo-Larsen Attack: Indian Variation"] 1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 d5 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Bf5 6. O-O Qd7 7. d3 Bh3 8. Nbd2 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 O-O-O 10. c4 d4 11. a3 e5 12. Ne4 Be7 13. Nfg5 Rdf8 14. Nh3 h6 15. Bc1 Nh7 16. f4 f5 17. Nd2 g5 18. fxe5 Nxe5 19. Nf3 Ng6 20. Nhg1 Nf6 21. e3 g4 22. exd4 gxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Rhg8 24. Qxf5 Nh4+ 0-1

Many thanks to Alan Bell of Grangemouth for these photos of the night.

20 April 2022 - Central League Cup

The first action in the Central League Cup - a seven board knock-out - in three years. It's still unclear exactly what form this competition will take, and even who else will enter it, but this was the first match played in it. While normally players would be in grading order, allowance has been made for player improvements that are not yet reflected in their grade.

Grangemouth		v		Stirling
Alan Bell John McLay Dougie Will Ian Mason Daniel Kitaev David Fowler Harry Leishman	1926   1823 1625 879 1153 622	1 - 0 1 - 0 1 - 0 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1 0 - 1	1580 1795 1722 1657 1657 1542 1486	Sam Coates Jim Shemilt Steve Smith William Spiers Graham Anderson Bill Cook Brad Duthie
		3 - 4

Thanks to William for this game, where he had White against Ian Mason.

[Event "7 board KO Grangemouth v Stirling"] [Site "Grangemouth CC"] [Date "2022.04.20"] [Round "-"] [White "Spiers, W"] [Black "Mason, I"] [Result "1-0"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 f5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. e3 Be7 6. d4 e4 7. Nge2 c6 8. d5 O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. f3 exf3 11. Bxf3 c5 12. Nf4 Nc7 13. a4 Rb8 14. Qc2 a6 15. e4 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Ng4 17. h3 Ne5 18. Bg2 Bd7 19. b3 Bf5 20. Bb2 Nd7 21. g4 Bxe4 22. Bxe4 Nf6 23. Bf5 Re8 24. g5 Nd7 25. Bxh7+ Kh8 26. Ng6+ Kxh7 27. Nf8+ { Black resigns. 27 ... Kh8 28 Qh7# } 1-0

3 April 2019 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Grangemouth
Uby Archibong   Alan Bell   Graham Hamilton   Dougie Will   David Wallace   Ian Mason   Alasdair Sandham	2194   1991   1976   1914   1756   1620   1308	1 - 0   1 - 0   1 - 0   1 - 0   0 - 1   1 - 0   1 - 0	1771   1712   1667   1634   1576   1456   1226	Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   David McAlister   Bill Cook   Tony Pitson   Gordon Allcock
		6 - 1

Thankfully Bill spared us a whitewash with a game that went right down to the last minute, when David blundered in time trouble to hand Bill a rook and the game. The match was already well beyond Stirling - I finished first, with probably my worst game ever, which is presented below in the hope that someone learns something from it. Tony may have had some chances to win had he not lost on time.

[Event "CL Cup - Grangemouth v Stirling"] [Site "Grangemouth CC"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "SF"] [White "Hamilton, G"] [Black "Anderson, G"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. Nc3 d5 5. e3 a6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Ne5 cxd4 9. exd4 Qc7 10. Re1 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. Bxe5 Qxe5 13. Bb5+ { Black resigns. } 1-0

I had considered castling on move 10 before the big exchange on e5, but I was worried I would lose my opportunity to exchange anything. It's not often, as Black against d4, that I emerge with d and e pawns intact and White has no central pawns. Of course, Stockfish recommends it. A good player always makes his King safe. My thoughts on Graham's reply had all been around 13 Bxa6 and where to put my Queen after that - d6 seems OK, but I would have to be careful of Nb5 and keep my eye on c7. Or maybe not. The lucky underpants have had their day, and I'll be shopping this weekend for a new pair.

7 May 2018 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Grangemouth
Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Bill Cook   Graham Anderson   Dave Hewitt   Tony Pitson   Brad Duthie	1767   1704   1663   1622   1584   1469   1428	½ - ½   0 - 1   0 - 1   0 - 1   ½ - ½   0 - 1   1 - 0	1990   1962   1894   1757   1601   1499   978	Alan Bell   Graham Hamilton   Dougie Will   David Wallace   Ian Mason   Bill Gray   Alistair Sandham
		2 - 5

Congratulations to Grangemouth on winning the Central League Cup!

l-r: Graham Hamilton, Dougie Will, Alastair Sandham, Ian Mason, Alan Bell, David Wallace

24 April 2018 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Badgers Brook
Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   Dave Hewitt   Craig Manson   Richard Warcup   Gordon Allcock	1767   1704   1622   1584   1455       1284	½ - ½   0 - 1   1 - 0   ½ - ½   0 - 1   1 - 0   1 - 0	2054   2012   1782   1562   1430   1375   1175	Kenny McGeoch   Mark Cooke   Fabio Biancalana   Graham Kerr   Dave McGilvray   Derek Raffan   Gordon Walker
		4 - 3

This re-arranged fixture was played in Broxburn, although it was technically a home tie for Stirling. Can chess get any more exciting than this? After an hour and a half, all of the games seemed to my inexpert eye very even. Gordon then won on board 7, followed by a draw on top board for Jim (showing how to blockade pawns) to put Stirling 1½-½ up. Steve then lost, bringing Badgers Brook right back into it. Craig got mated having run out of time a couple of minutes beforehand, swiftly followed by Richard mating Derek. 2½-2½, with Dave and me still playing. Dave then agreed a draw to make it 3-3. My game against Fabio had been a topsy-turvy affair - White (Fabio) castled Queen side, Black castled King side, and the pawn storm against the castled Kings began. Fabio sacrificed a Bishop with check to get in at my King, although I couldn't see how he could win. A few moves later, I saw exactly how he could win, but fortunately for me Fabio didn't (thanks, lucky underpants!). A Bishop up, I continued but made heavy weather of it, and Fabio constantly found mating threats against my exposed King. In the end, Fabio's clock ran down and he lost on time. A very hard-fought match, but Stirling progress to the final on 7 May against Grangemouth.

29 March 2018 - Central League Cup

Cumbernauld v Stirling
Stephen Kelly   Mark Monaghan   Ralph Stirrat   George Thomson   Derek McAteer   Steven Monaghan	1836   1764   1748   1547   1404   1219	½ - ½   0 - 1   ½ - ½   ½ - ½   1 - 0   0 - 1   0d - 1d	1767   1704   1663   1584   1469   1428   1284	Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Bill Cook   Dave Hewitt   Tony Pitson   Brad Duthie   Gordon Allcock
		2½ - 4½

15 May 2017 - Central League Cup

Badgers Brook v Stirling
Kenny McGeoch   Mark Cooke   David McConnell   Stuart Ward   Graham Kerr   Dave McGilvray   Gordon Walker	2060   1949   1812   1742   1617   1493   1188	1 - 0   ½ - ½   ½ - ½   1 - 0   0 - 1   0 - 1   0 - 1	1910   1845   1756   1692   1676   1657   1474	Shivan Murdochy   Neil Irving   Jim Shemilt   Graham Anderson   Steven Smith   Bill Cook   Dave Hewitt
		3 - 4

This is Stirling's first win in this competition since 2005/06. Bill won first after Dave resigned when his phone went off during the game. Shortly afterward Dave made it 2-0. Jim agreed a draw with David, then I lost. Steve finished shortly afterward with a win, leaving just the top two boards playing and Stirling needing just a half point to win. Shivan lost when Kenny's Queenside pawns marched through. Neil's game against Mark was down to Queen and Rooks with 7 pawns each in quite a closed position. Time ran down, and with about two minutes left each, Mark accepted Neil's draw offer.

L to R: Jim Shemilt, Dave Hewitt, Steve Smith, Bill Cook, Neil Irving, Graham Anderson (missing: Shivan Murdochy)

Thanks to Steve for providing the game and analysis below, where Steve was Black against Graham Kerr.

[Event "Badgers Brook v Stirling"] [Site "Badgers Brook CC"] [Date "2017.05.15"] [Round "F"] [White "Kerr, G"] [Black "Smith, S"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 Qc7 { the most aggressive reply. Black's king side pawns disappear, but he gets one back plus active chances on the queen side. } 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 Bd7 12. Qd3 dxc3 13. Rb1 Nf5 14. Nxc3 a6 15. g3 Rc8 { leaving the king in the centre, but if 0-0-0 white can play 16 Qxa6 since if 16 .. bxa6 17 Bxa6 forces Qb7 and white has gained two pawns } 16. Bd2 Na5 { Everything is fairly standard so far. I'm doubtful about white's next couple of moves. } 17. Bh3 { the bishop never gets into the game } 17... Ne7 18. Kd1 Nc4 19. Rb3 b5 20. Ne2 Nc6 21. Re1 Rh8 22. g4 { Black should now play N6xe5 23 dxe5 Rxh3 similar to the game } 22... N6a5 23. Rb1 { now white loses decisive material. He had to play Bxa5, but after Qxa5 my computer gradually increases black's advantage as it looks futher ahead } 23... Nxd2 24. Kxd2 Rxh3 25. Qxh3 Qxc2+ 26. Ke3 Rc3+ { White resigns. } 0-1

3 April 2017 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Cumbernauld
Jim Shemilt   Graham Anderson   Steve Smith   Bill Cook   Dave Hewitt   Gordon Allcock   Tony Pitson	1756   1692   1676   1657   1474   1454   1553	½ - ½   ½ - ½   ½ - ½   1 - 0   1 - 0   0 - 1   1 - 0	1729   1624   1556   1330   1284	Ralph Stirrat   Mark Monaghan   George Thomson   Derek McAteer   Steven Monaghan   Daniel McAteer   Steven Gentleman
		4½ - 2½

The position below is from my game on board 2, where I was Black. Can you find the correct defense to the mate threat on g7?

I played 37 ... Ng4+ 38 hxg4 Qf6. This should just lose for Black - White swaps Queens, takes the pawn on c7, gets the Knight to a2, and plays the pawn majority down the king-side. In the time-scramble at the end, I managed to capture all of White's pawns to steal the draw.

The correct defense is 37 ... Qd6+ 38 g3 Nh5. Not exactly intuitive. If White captures the Knight on h5, his own Knight on e6 is en prise. Moving the King to break the pin on the g3 pawn leads to checks until the King has to return to h2, and Black just plays Qd6. Easy when you know how...

6 April 2016 - Central League Cup

Knowing that Grangemouth would be at pretty much full strength, and missing our top board Shivan, it seemed before the game that Stirling's best hope of victory lay in hoping that the janny wouldn't turn up.

Grangemouth v Stirling
Uby Archibong   Alan Bell   Graham Hamilton   Dougie Will   John Smith   Ian Mason   Bill Gray	2224   1956   1944   1946   1737   1719   1460	0 - 1   ½ - ½   ½ - ½   1 - 0   0 - 1   1 - 0   1 - 0	1778   1702   1671   1666   1583   1562   1486	Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   Bill Cook   John Blake   Tony Pitson   Dave Hewitt
		4 - 3

As it turned out, it was a very close match, and had it been a league match Stirling would have won. I think John finished first, winning against John Smith. This was followed by two wins for Grangemouth on the bottom two boards, putting the score at 2-1. Steve and I agreed draws at pretty much the same time, after which Bill lost to Dougie. This gave Grangemouth the victory, before all attention turned to the game on board 1. Jim got two passed pawns to the 7th and 6th, before Queening one, and, after checking that Jim had enough to mate him, Uby resigned. Grangemouth go on to play Badgers Brook in the final.

The game below is from board 3, where I had White against Graham Hamilton.

Anderson - Hamilton

The game blow is from board 5, where John Blake had White against John Smith.

Blake - Smith

7 March 2016 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Cumbernauld
Shivan Murdochy   Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   Bill Cook   Tony Pitson   Dave Hewitt	1912   1778   1702   1671   1666   1562   1486	1 - 0   ½ - ½   0 - 1   1 - 0   1 - 0   1 - 0   1 - 0	1738   1630   1570   1543   1336   1181   1097	Mark Monaghan   Ralph Stirrat   David Johnstone   George Thomson   Derek McAteer   Steven Monaghan   David Flaherty
		5½ - 1½

It's been 10 years since Stirling won a match in the Central League Cup, and I believe it's the first time I personally have got a result in this competition - my game below.

Anderson - Thomson

23 March 2015 - Central League Cup

Stirling v Dunfermline
Shivan Murdochy   Jim Shemilt   Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   Robin Hayles   John Blake   Bill Cook	1907   1787   1782   1727   1584   1573   1556	0 - 1   ½ - ½   ½ - ½   0 - 1   ½ - ½   1 - 0   1 - 0	2115   1631   1598   1570   1549   1487   1382	Ian Robertson   Fred Ossowski   Jim Webster   Stuart Black   Stewart Brisbane   Bryan O'Rourke   Peter Horne
		3½ - 3½

Dunfermline win on board difference.

Stirling's dismal record in the Central League Cup continues, falling at the first hurdle for, I believe, the ninth year in a row. I didn't really see many of the other games, but in my game I gave up a pawn for an attack that was much less convincing than I thought it was. After getting to the end game with a Bishop and Knight for Rook and a pawn, I missed a couple of chances to win, and my poor endgame technique gave Stuart the victory.

31 March 2014 - Central League Cup

Badgers Brook v Stirling
Mark Cooke   Fabio Biancalana   Martin Clancy   Andrew McHarg   Kenny McGeoch   Stuart Ward   Graham Kerr	1942   1927   1904   1792   1776   1630   1629	½ - ½   ½ - ½   1 - 0   1 - 0   ½ - ½   1 - 0   ½ - ½	1750   1670   1660   1657   1616   1559   1458	Steve Smith   Graham Anderson   Robin Hayles   Neil Irving   Bill Cook   John Blake   Martyn Roe
		5 - 2

It would have been a big surprise if Stirling had managed to progress against such a strong team. My lucky underpants were worked overtime on board 2, after I missed a very strong reply to my attempt to get rid of an isolated d pawn. Fabio won two pawns, then in a time scramble to get to 30 moves lost a bishop. His three queenside pawns still looked to be very strong against my lonely-looking b pawn. Further analysis suggested he should probably have won.

15 April 2013 - Central League Cup (7 board knockout)

Stirling v Badgers Brook
Douglas Bain   Steve Smith   Robin Hayles   Dave Hewitt   Bill Cook   Graham Anderson   Martyn Roe	2019   1708   1625   1589   1575   1574   1465	1 - 0   ½ - ½   0 - 1   0 - 1   1 - 0   0 - 1   1 - 0	1927   1839   1726   1645   1546   1366   1281	Mark Cooke   Kenny McGeoch   Andrew McHarg   Stuart Ward   Graham Kerr   Steven McHarg   Derek Raffan
		3½ - 3½

The board count for victories is the same. Badgers Brook progress to the Final after the result from the bottom board is eliminated.