2026-09-15 Neil Giffen Cup Semi-Final

A closely-fought match in the 7-board Central League Knock-out Cup ended with the match score equal, with Dunfermline going through on board count.

Dunfermline                 3½-3½ Stirling         
                                               
1 Volodymyr Tushynskyi 2116  1-0  Leo Gardner      1889
2 Ian Robertson        2008  ½-½  William Spiers   1766
3 John McBride         1721  0-1  Jim Shemilt      1675
4 Euan Bell            1543  1-0  Brad Duthie      1562
5 Gordon Grieg         1571  ½-½  Bill Cook        1552
6 Gonzalo Forero       1553  ½-½  Kenny MacPherson 1525
7 George Webb          1283  0-1  Toby Geyer       1491
                              
Dunfermline had White on boards 2. 4 and 6

2026-09-14 Stirling -v- Grangemouth Under 1500 Cup

The Central League season started with the opening Under 1500 Cup Match. The League Committee decided to begin the 2026-2027 season with the Cup competitions, whereas previously they had been played in the Spring.

Stirling             3½-1½ Grangemouth

Harry Feather   1471  1-0  Bill Gray      1411
Steve Smith     1460  1-0  William Walker 1453
Douglas Heatlie 1377  ½-½  Sean Gray      1311
Tom Nimmo       1169  1-0  Jim Stallard   1293
Mick Bloor      1143  0-1  Crawford Welsh 1281

Stirling had White on boards 2 and 4

Stirling captain Steve provided this report:

Tom was first to finish [when his kingside attack led to checkmate]. He was followed by board 1 when Harry won a piece. Grangemouth pulled one back when Crawford found a winning fork.

I blundered a piece at move 8. I was fortunate that William worried too much about me getting a wheen of pawns for it and his lack of development allowed me to regain the piece with a much better position.

That left board 3 where Doug was in trouble for a while but got back to being a pawn down in an opposite coloured bishop ending which was a clear draw.

The result means that Stirling will visit Clackmannanshire next Wednesday 23rd for the semi-final.

2026-09-07 Season Opening Blitz

After the conclusion of the club's Annual General Meeting, there was time for the traditional Blitz tournament to be held over five rounds. The time-limit was 3 minutes per player plus a 2 second increment. We are grateful to Steve taking on the task of doing the pairings, without computer assistance but still with at a speed consistent with the fast playing format.

Just as happened last year, 16 players took part and Isaac won with a perfect score. William and Nathanael finished as joint runners-up and everyone got at least victory on the scoreboard.

Final Crosstable

No Name               Total    1    2    3    4    5  

1  Isaac Browning       5      8:W  4:W 10:W  2:W  6:W
2  William Spiers       4     14:W  3:W  9:W  1:L  4:W
3  Nathanael Loch       4     12:W  2:L  5:W 10:W  9:W
4  Kenny MacPherson     3      7:W  1:L 14:W 11:W  2:L
5  Graham Anderson      3     13:W  9:L  3:L  7:W 11:W
6  Sean Flanagan        3     15:W 10:L 16:W  9:W  1:L
7  Brad Duthie          2.5    4:L  8:D 15:W  5:L 12:W
8  Steve Smith          2.5    1:L  7:D 11:L 14:W 10:W
9  Harry Feather        2     16:W  5:W  2:L  6:L  3:L
10 Bill Cook            2     11:W  6:W  1:L  3:L  8:L
11 Ian Macrury          2     10:L 15:W  8:W  4:L  5:L
12 Leith Macrury        2      3:L 14:L 13:W 16:W  7:L
13 Claire Donald        2      5:L 16:L 12:L 15:W 14:W
14 Mick Bloor           1      2:L 12:W  4:L  8:L 13:L
15 Andy Hoehne          1      6:L 11:L  7:L 13:L 16:W
16 Jim Shemilt          1      9:L 13:W  6:L 12:L 15:L

Annual General Meeting 2026

The Stirling Chess Club AGM will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday 7 September at the Park Church.

Agenda

1. President’s welcome

2. Minutes of previous AGM

3. Minutes of Special General Meeting

4. Matters arising

5. Officers’ reports

5. Election of Office Bearers

6. Any other business

7. Date of next AGM

The AGM will be followed by the opening night lightning tournament. Last year we had time for five rounds at a time rate of three minutes, plus 2 seconds increment and 16 played.