2025-2026 Season Review

Our 2025-2026 season ended with a meeting at the Cowane Centre on Monday 1st June, which included the final of the Lindsay Cup.

The Club had been in a state of shock last November following the sudden death of Dave Hewitt who had done so much for the Club. Such was Dave's contribution that this required considerable reorganisation. Thanks to all members who rallied round to help - in particular Steve who took over as Competition Secretary and kept everything to schedule as well as continuing all his other work for the Club.

Despite everything, the season turned out to be one of the most successful in the Club's history.

Stirling won the quadruple of Divisions 1 and 2 of the Central League, the Neil Giffen Cup and the Allegro League; the A, Cup and Allegro teams captained by Isaac and the C team by Nathanael.

At the recent Central League AGM, Ian Robertson presented two of the trophies to Bill (Neil Giffen Cup) and Steve (Division 1 Trophy).

Unusually, for the first time for many years, the Under 1500 Cup was not won by Stirling, the honours going to Grangemouth who beat Dunfermline in the final.

Individual competitions

The final standings in the Richardson Cup (the Club Championship) were John 5.0; Isaac and Sean 4.0; Bill and William 2.5; Brad and Richard 1.5

Toby won the Thornton Cup by beating Gordon in the Final. Richard presented the trophy to Toby and took this photograph of him with it.

Ross won against Nathanael in the final of the Lindsay Cup. After a fluctuating encounter, though with no strong winning chances either way, Nathanael was pressing in a major-piece endgame, but missed a trap which would have resulted in at least losing Queen for Rook, so he resigned.

[Event "Lindsay Cup Final"] [Site "?"] [Date "2026.06.01"] [Round "?"] [White "Warcup, Ross"] [Black "Loch, Nathanael"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "65"] [GameId "2318716860829728"] [EventDate "2025.11.28"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nge7 8. b4 Bb6 9. b5 Nb8 10. O-O a6 11. Na3 Qc7 12. Bd2 Ng6 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nc2 axb5 15. Ncd4 b4 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. Bxb5+ Nc6 18. cxb4 Be7 19. a3 O-O 20. Rfe1 Rfc8 21. Bd3 Ra7 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Qd3 Rca8 24. Qb3 Ra4 25. Bc3 Qb6 26. Bb2 Bc5 27. Rf1 Nd4 28. Nxd4 Bxd4 29. Bxd4 Qxd4 30. Rfe1 b5 31. g3 Rc8 32. Qe3 Qc3 33. Rec1 1-0

11-03-2024 Thornton Cup

Monday night saw the final of the Thornton Cup - played between Harry (with White) and Sandy.

I hope I've got these moves right...

[Event "Thornton Cup"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2024.03.11"] [Round "Final"] [White "Feather, H"] [Black "Carmichael, S"] [Result "1-0"] 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 d6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. e4 e5 6. Nge2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 Be6 9. h3 Nbd7 10. f4 exf4 11. gxf4 Nc5 12. f5 Bd7 13. d4 Na6 14. e5 dxe5 15. dxe5 Nh5 16. f6 Bxf6 17. exf6 c6 18. Qd4 Be6 19. Qh4 Kh8 20. Bh6 Re8 21. Kh1 Qd3 22. b3 Rad8 23. Rac1 a4 24. Nf4 Ng3+ 25. Kh2 Nxf1+ 26. Bxf1 Qd2+ 27. Nfe2 Qd6+ 28. Bf4 Qf8 29. Ne4 Bf5 30. Bh6 Qa3 { 30 ... Rxe4 } 31. Bg7+ Kg8 32. Ng5 Qd6+ 33. Kh1 h5 34. Ng3 Qd4 35. Nxf5 Qxh4 36. Nxh4 { 36 Nh6# } 36... axb3 37. axb3 Re3 38. Nhf3 Rxb3 39. Ne5 Rd4 40. Nexf7 Rxh3+ 41. Bxh3 Rd1+ 42. Rxd1 Nc7 43. Nh6# 1-0

Congratulations to Harry, and comiserations to Sandy.

08-05-2023 Thornton Cup Final

The final of the Thornton Cup was played last night, where Kris Dimitrov had White against Harry Feather.

This is the game.

[Event "Thornton Cup"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2023.05.08"] [Round "Final"] [White "Dimitrov, K"] [Black "Feather, H"] [Result "1-0"] 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Be2 Qc7 9. b3 N8d7 10. O-O e5 11. d5 Be7 12. Nc3 a6 13. Ba3 Nc5 14. Nd2 Bg6 15. Bh5 O-O-O 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. b4 Ncd7 18. c5 dxc5 19. Nde4 Nc4 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Na4 Bd4 23. Rc1 b5 24. Nac3 Qb6 25. Rc2 Kb7 26. Qf3 f5 27. Ng5 e4 28. Qg3 Rd7 { 28 ... Be5 traps the White Queen. } 29. Ne6 Bxc3 30. Qxc3 Rc8 31. Rd1 Nd6 32. Qb2 { 32 Qxc8+ Nxc8 33 Nc5+ } 32... Rxc2 33. Qxc2 e3 34. fxe3 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 Nc4 36. a4 Qb6 37. Qc3 Qe3 38. Qb4 Rxd5 39. Qe7+ Kc6 40. Qc7# 1-0

Congratulations to Kris, seen here receiving the trophy from club president Gordon Allcock. Well done Kris!

Thornton Cup Final

Tonight, the final of the Thornton Cup was played between Gordon Allcock (left, with White) and Tom Wallace.

This is the game.

[Event "Thornton Cup"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2019.03.11"] [Round "F"] [White "Allcock, G"] [Black "Wallace, T"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. Nd2 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Nd7 9. Nf3 Qc7 10. Qa4 c4 11. O-O b5 12. Qd1 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 Qxd4 15. exd4 Be7 16. b3 O-O 17. bxc4 bxc4 18. Bd2 Bd7 19. Bf4 g5 20. Bg3 f5 21. Be5 Bf6 22. Bd6 Rfc8 23. f4 Rc6 24. fxg5 Bxg5 25. Be5 Bd2 26. Rf3 { Rab1 instead - give up the pawn to get the Rook to b7. } 26... Kf7 27. Rb1 Rcc8 28. Rb7 Ke7 29. Rh3 h6 30. Rg3 Bg5 31. Bd1 Ke8 32. h4 Be7 33. Bh5+ Kd8 34. Rg8+ Bf8 35. Bf6# 1-0

 

Congratulations to Gordon!

President Tony Pitson presents the trophy to Gordon.

28 January 2019 - Thornton Cup

In the Thornton Cup, the following game was played between Robert Togneri (White) and Gordon Allcock (Black). I'll let the moves speak for themselves...(because they have a lot to say)

[Event "Thornton Cup SF"] [Site "Stirling CC"] [Date "2019.01.28"] [Round "SF"] [White "Togneri, R"] [Black "Allcock, G"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nbd7 8. e3 Ne4 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Ndf6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Kxd2 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Ne4+ 15. Ke1 Nf6 16. Be5 Nd5 17. Bd6 Re8 18. Bb4 Qd8 19. Qd1 Qh4 { 19 ... a5! wins the Bishop. } 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Bd6 Rxe3+ 22. Kf1 { 22 Bg4 keeps the pressure up. } 22... Re6 23. Bg3 Qh6 24. f3 b6 25. Bf2 Ba6+ 26. Kg1 Rae8 27. Bg3 Re2 28. h3 Qe3+ { 28 ... Rd2. If Whites moves the Queen 39 ... Ree2 } 29. Kh2 Qxf3 30. Qf1 Qe3 { 30 ... Rxg2+ 31 Qxg2 Re2 } 31. Re1 Qd2 32. Rxe2 Bxe2 33. Qe1 Qe3 34. Bf2 Qe6 35. Qd2 Qd6+ 36. Bg3 Qxa3 37. Re1 Qe7 38. Qa2 a5 39. Qb2 b5 40. Qa2 a4 41. Bd6 { Both players have written this as the move, although it can't be correct... Qxd6+ } 41... Qe3 42. Be5 Qxc3 43. Rxe2 f6 44. Rc2 Qb3 45. Bd6 Qxa2 46. Rxa2 Re6 47. Bc5 Kf7 48. Kg3 g6 49. Ra3 h5 50. Kf3 g5 51. g3 f5 52. Kf2 Re4 53. Ra1 Kf6 { 53 ... h4 gives Black the opportunity to create a(nother) passed pawn. } 54. Kf3 g4+ 55. hxg4 hxg4+ 56. Kf2 Kg5 57. Rh1 { This seemingly innocuous move is the start... } 57... Re6 { Stockfish recommends 57 ... f4 58 gxf4 Rxf4+. After 57 ... Re6, the evaluation (previously in Black's favour) has moved to dead drawn } 58. Rh8 Kg6 59. Rc8 Kf7 60. Rc7+ Kg6 61. Rc8 Kf7 62. Rc7+ Kg6 63. Rc8 { Draw by repetition... } 63... Kg7 64. Rc7+ Kg6 65. Rc8 Kg7 66. Rc7+ Kg6 67. Rc8 Rf6 68. Rg8+ Kf7 69. Rc8 Kg7 70. Rc7+ Kg6 71. Rc8 Re6 72. Rg8+ Kf7 73. Rc8 Rf6 74. Rf8+ Kg7 75. Rc8 Kf7 76. Rc7+ Kg6 77. Rc8 Kf7 78. Rc7+ Kg6 79. Rc8 Kg7 80. Rc7+ Kg8 81. Rc8+ Kh7 82. Rc7+ Kg6 83. Rc8 Kf7 84. Rc7+ Kg8 85. Rc8+ Kh7 86. Rc7+ Kg6 87. Rc8 { Stockfish has stopped analysing this. It's adjudicated it as a draw for the last 20 moves... The game continues, although the scoresheets conflict from here. For completeness, the moves recorded as follows (from Black's scoresheet):- 87 ... Rf6 (this can't be right, because it's already on that square) 88 Rc7 Re6 89 Rc8 Kg7 90 Rc7+ Kf6 91 Rc8 Kg6 92 Rg8+ Kh7 93 Rc8 Rf6 94 Rc7+ Kg6 95 Rc8 Kf7 96 Rc7+ Ke8 97 Rh7 Rf7 98 Rh8+ Kd7 99 Rg8 Kc7 100 Ra8 Rf6 101 Rg8 Kd7 102 Rg7+ Ke8 103 Rg8+ Kf7 104 Rc8 Re6 105 Rc7+ Kg6 White's scoresheet has 87 ... Rf7 88 Rc7 (which can't be right either, because 88 ... Rxc7) 89 Rc8 Kf7. The rest of the moves concur. And here, on move 105, White claims a draw on the basis that no capture and no pawn move has been made for 50 moves (55 hxg4+). White has made 49 consecutive Rook moves. } 1/2-1/2

Hopefully the replay will be an easier game to transcribe.

29 January 2018 - Thornton Cup

Congratulations to Alex Scott, seen above on the left, who defeated Robert Togneri in the final of the Thornton Cup last night. This came hot on the heels of Alex's win in the under 1400 section of the Renfrew congress, with an impressive 3½/5. Well done Alex!

Alex being presented the trophy by Tom Wallace.

30 May 2016 - Finals night on the final night

Two finals were contested on the final night of this season. On the far board, Bill Cook (left) had White against Tony Pitson for the Lindsay Cup. On the near board, Craig Manson had White against Robert Togneri for the Thornton Cup. This game played out as follows...

Togneri - Manson

Congratulations to Craig! I did take a photo of him being presented the trophy, but it's too blurry to use.

In the other game, Tony triumphed over Bill. I don't have a note of that game, but I do have a photo of Tony presented his trophy. Well done Tony!

The club is now closed for the summer - we reconvene with the AGM on the first Monday in September.

11 May 2015 - Dave Hewitt wins the Thornton Cup!

Congratulations to Dave Hewitt, winner of this seasons Thornton Cup! The final game, where Dave had White against Gordon Allcock, is below, with analysis provided by Dave.

Hewitt - Allcock

29 September 2014 - Thornton Cup

After much negotiation over the summer, we managed to complete our first Portuguese signing, from CC Porto, of Paolo Ferreira. Unfortunately he arrived injured, and was unable to make his competitive debut until last Monday night. He faced, as White, Craig Manson in the Thornton Cup.

Ferreira - Manson

15 September 2014 - Thornton Cup

As well as the allegro match between the two Stirling teams, there was the battle of the Roberts - Mr Leckie v Mr Togneri - in the Thornton Cup. The game played as below, with analysis from Mr Leckie.

Leckie - Togneri

Thornton Cup - 8 September 2014

The first competitive game of the season was played at the club last Monday, a prelimnary round match of the Thornton Cup. Dave Hewitt had White against 10 year old James Warwick. The game is notable as James' first ever competitive game (when James is a GM in 15 years time, Dave will happily claim "Ach, beaten him."), and a discovered checkmate from a pawn promotion.

Hewitt - Warwick

Thornton Cup winner - Robert Leckie

Congratulations to Robert Leckie, who beat David Brodie in the final of the Thornton Cup on Monday night. Well done, Robert!

Comiserations to David Brodie, who has been runner-up in this competition for four seasons in a row...

4 November 2013 - Thornton Cup

As well as the Allegro match on Monday night, the Thornton Cup saw the battle of the Roberts - Mr Togneri against Mr Leckie. The game is below, with Mr Togneri as White.