Search found 379 matches

by Alistair Campbell
Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:24 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Opponents who "helpfully" write their name on your scoresheet
Replies: 32
Views: 2110

Re: Opponents who "helpfully" write their name on your scoresheet

I experienced a variation on this theme last night when my opponent "borrowed" my pen between me writing my name on my scoresheet in advance of the game and returning to my seat to start. I'm used to being baffled at the board, but not normally that early.
by Alistair Campbell
Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:47 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar
Replies: 32
Views: 3989

Re: Christmas Eve incident in a rock bar

I recall being in attendance at an evening league match in the early 80s between an Edinburgh University team and UDS (I think Mark Condie was playing) in the Student Union whilst Uriah Heep (a popular, if loud, beat combo of the time) were playing downstairs. Pieces were trembling on the board.
by Alistair Campbell
Thu Dec 21, 2023 5:15 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Media comments on chess
Replies: 5968
Views: 737731

Re: Media comments on chess

Geoff Chandler wrote:
Wed Dec 20, 2023 10:43 pm
A long feature about Bodhana Sivanandan on the news at ten tonight. All this covered better in another thread.
Was it said that she could be "the first female to become a grandmaster in the United Kingdom"??
by Alistair Campbell
Tue Oct 17, 2023 3:23 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Chess and Pension Fraud - allegation
Replies: 218
Views: 46252

Re: Chess and Pension Fraud - allegation

When Gary Quillan says that he will take “full responsibility” for failings in the advice and guidance given to Simon Williams, does that include giving him c£700k?
by Alistair Campbell
Sun Oct 01, 2023 9:05 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Chess and Pension Fraud - allegation
Replies: 218
Views: 46252

Re: Chess and Pension Fraud - allegation

So what are we saying here? The GM didn't know what he was doing, but didn't know that he didn't know what he was doing? And his friends didn't help? And having been done for not knowing what he was doing, he did it all over again? Have I got that right? Who would ever have thought that a tax dodge ...
by Alistair Campbell
Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:58 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: European Team Championship November 2023
Replies: 290
Views: 15230

Re: European Team Championship November 2023

David played for Scotland in the Skopje Olympiad in 1972 according to Wikipedia but the page starts by saying he is English so probably best to take the rest of the page with a very large pinch of salt. I meant to say " last picked" and should have clarified I meant the open team, but I believe he ...
by Alistair Campbell
Wed Sep 13, 2023 4:15 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: European Team Championship November 2023
Replies: 290
Views: 15230

Re: European Team Championship November 2023

I note the Scottish team has been announced as: Andrew Muir David Levy Graham Morrison Martin Mitchell Jonathan Grant (Board order and captain to be decided). Offhand I can't remember when David was picked for the national team, or whether Martin has previously had that honour. {edit - yes, 2011 for...
by Alistair Campbell
Thu Aug 31, 2023 8:55 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Accusation against Alejandro Ramirez
Replies: 509
Views: 46536

Re: Accusation against Alejandro Ramirez

It’s good she hasn’t named any of the three. Should any of them eventually get charged by the police we can all unleash the dogs of war on them. That would be the go point for the media to name names too. And hopefully it may encourage other victims to come forward, if they haven’t already. I'm no ...
by Alistair Campbell
Wed Aug 23, 2023 1:36 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Major investment to transform future of English chess announced
Replies: 134
Views: 12408

Re: Major investment to transform future of English chess announced

Some of it seemingly is to be spent at the primary school level. In my view it's a major weakness, not present in my youth and for a couple of decades afterwards that the numerous numbers of players at the age of 10 doesn't translate into the same numbers at the age of 18 a few years later. Presuma...
by Alistair Campbell
Wed Aug 02, 2023 2:52 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Media comments on chess
Replies: 5968
Views: 737731

Re: Media comments on chess

I see that Bloomberg is reporting (via Ellen (not Helen) Milligan that Rishi Sunak is soon to announce funding to support the "national (chess) team" with plans being unveiled with a giant chess set in Downing Street.

It's behind a paywall so I have no idea what the details are.
by Alistair Campbell
Thu Dec 22, 2022 12:48 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Media comments on chess
Replies: 5968
Views: 737731

Re: Media comments on chess

I note that the professional golfer Louise Duncan recently qualified for her Ladies European Tour playing card. Her management company has tweeted a picture of her celebrating with a glass of pink champagne, sponsors' logos prominently displayed, and...a chess board and pieces. I'm not aware of her ...
by Alistair Campbell
Mon Dec 19, 2022 3:47 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Ian Hamilton 1925-2022 (BBC 'Last Word')
Replies: 1
Views: 1673

Re: Ian Hamilton 1925-2022 (BBC 'Last Word')

There was a time when Ian Hamilton would have been one of the most famous citizens in Scotland, chiefly for his one exploit, which read like something out of a John Buchan thriller, but in later years he seemed to be largely forgotten. Perhaps the return of an Lia Fàil to Edinburgh Castle reduced an...
by Alistair Campbell
Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:31 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Congratulations to Alex McFarlane
Replies: 12
Views: 1789

Congratulations to Alex McFarlane

I'm not sure if this has been widely reported elsewhere, or even if this is the correct forum to record such a development, but I note that Alex has been elected as President of Chess Scotland.
by Alistair Campbell
Thu Oct 06, 2022 3:11 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: Carlsen resigns on move 2
Replies: 1113
Views: 82123

Re: Carlsen resigns on move 2

The actual answers may depend on the motivation to cheat in the first place. At a much lower level, what were we seeing in some of the online 4NCL tournaments? You had veteran players making what appeared a lifetime best performance, only to have their results anulled. Other than future opponents a...
by Alistair Campbell
Tue Oct 04, 2022 8:55 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: Carlsen resigns on move 2
Replies: 1113
Views: 82123

Re: Carlsen resigns on move 2

I think Justin’s questions are interesting – it’s a shame I can’t just flick to the back of the book to look up the answers :evil: . – but I’ll have a go. The actual answers may depend on the motivation to cheat in the first place. There could be several reasons, including: • Reasons of (Self) estee...