History

A History of Scottish Correspondence Chess

Correspondence chess in Scotland was very prominent as long ago as the early part of the last century, and in 1824, the world famous match took place between Edinburgh and London. It lasted for the same length of time as the Scottish Centenary Tournament some 160 years later, taking over 4 years to complete (but this was for five successive games by stagecoach!) In the fifth and deciding game, Edinburgh adopted the famous Scotch Opening, with a successful outcome to clinch victory:

Landmark Games - The Scotch Opening

Edinburgh v London

In 1884, the Scottish Chess Association (SCA) was founded, and included in its constitution was an objective to organise correspondence tournaments. It did this within Scotland in 1885 and again in 1889. The SCA also beat the Irish Chess Association 37-28 in a correspondence match in 1886. During the period up to and after the Second World War, interest in correspondence chess in Scotland was limited. However, under the auspices of the SCA, it was regenerated by Bernard Partridge and for several years in the 1960s, he ran popular events for teams and individuals, and a Scottish Correspondence Chess Championship was inaugurated.

Bernard developed an interest in correspondence chess during his RAF service, then studied at Glasgow University before becoming a teacher at Glasgow High School. He was the prime mover in the establishment of the Scottish Correspondence Chess Association in 1977 and became its first Honorary Life Member, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to CC in Scotland. Sadly, Bernard died in 1993, but Scottish CC will ever be indebted to his efforts in the formation years. The SCCA ran an open tournament in his memory for players from countries bordering the North Sea which completed in 2002.

The Scottish CCA has been fortunate to have the services of many excellent and long serving officials. Alan Borwell, honorary ICCF President, was SCCA President from 1977-97. George Livie served as a committee member for 15 years from the SCCA’s foundation, firstly as Grading Officer and then as Vice President until 1992, and again as committee member from 2002. Alan Hind was Secretary from 1983-98, with responsibility for all domestic tournaments, whilst George Pyrich became a Council member in 1985, subsequently being Treasurer and then International Secretary and ICCF Delegate. Philip Giulian served for 10 years as International Secretary and Vice President between 1986-96.

Many other members have played significant roles in the development of the SCCA into a thriving and forward looking organisation. Founder member Allan Hislop supported Bernard's early initiative and ran the Handicap tournament for many years. Richard Beecham designed the SCCA logo which is still in use today, and also ensured that the Association produced its own distinctive scorecards. Alan Shaw set up the basis for recording and auditing sound finances. Val Nye penned the first set of SCCA playing rules which have been revised over the years to incorporate technology developments such as telephone, fax, email and now webserver modes of play. George Livie developed the SCCA grading system and the award of the Scottish Master title.

In January 1980, the Scottish CCA published its first News Bulletin courtesy of Glasgow High School and with Bernard Partridge and Val Nye operating somewhat dated typewriter and Gestetner equipment. This early effort has developed into an attractive and well-regarded Magazine with an international circulation.

To celebrate the Magazine's 10th anniversary, the Association organised three international invitation tournaments, the one for ladies being the first and only one organised by any national association since the introduction of the ICCF rating system.

Under Alan Borwell's editorship, the SCCA Magazine reached 72 printed editions. An international invitation tournament was held over 2001-03 to celebrate the Magazine's 21st anniversary. From edition 73 in Spring 2001, the magazine has been edited by Iain Mackintosh, and is published quarterly in both internet and printed formats. The 100th edition was issued in Winter 2007.

The SCCA website was developed in 1998 by Iain Mackintosh with assistance from Jim Falconer. It celebrated its 10th anniversary with a makeover, and now contains a huge repository of reference material for use by our members and chessplayers in general.

The SCCA organises a wide range of domestic tournaments each year, with Scottish Championships, Candidates, Premiers, Majors and Minor sections, Quartets, and Openings events, a Challenge tournament for all-comers and a League of 2 divisions, each with 6 teams. Email quartets tournaments have recently become a popular addition to the established events. The current Scottish champion, Richard Beecham, achieved an outstanding 100% score in both the 2000-01 and 2001-02 championships!

Landmark Games - Richard Beecham

Beecham v Mackintosh

Beecham v Kilgour

Scotland and ICCF

In the UK, there has been a confusing history of English chess being represented by "British" organisations. FIDE recognised England as the "British Chess Federation" (BCF) for some time before the separate admission of Scotland (as the Scottish Chess Association or SCA) in 1932.

Similarly, ICCF recognised the "British Postal Chess Federation", an affiliate of the BCF, as the body with responsibility for all British correspondence chess. Scotland had not been consulted, but, in 1978, an amicable agreement was reached between the BPCF, Scottish CCA and the Welsh CCA, whereby the BPCF agreed to support the direct ICCF membership of Scotland and Wales. In 1981, an important step forward was taken by ICCF which enabled Scotland's players to represent their own country in official international postal chess competitions, including team tournaments. A Scotland team began playing in CC Olympiad Preliminaries in 1982 and European Team Tournament Preliminaries in 1983, as did teams representing England and Wales.

Eventually, ten years later in 1991, ICCF found a way to enable the full membership of Scotland and it now has its rightful place in international CC circles, as it has had for OTB chess and many other cultural, sporting and recreational activities for decades. Particular thanks were due to the then ICCF President, Henk Mostert, and the late BPCF President, Reg Gillman, for helping in this achievment.

In 1985, the SCCA had the privilege of hosting the ICCF Congress in Peebles, and was again pleased to host the ICCF Congress in Perth in 1994, when the new ICCF Statutes were approved and the first ICCF Fax Tournaments were inaugurated.

Scotland surprised most pundits by qualifying for the XI Olympiad Final and then concluded its games with the excellent score of 40/72 points, achieving equal 3rd place with Canada, with both countries being awarded bronze medals, and thereby securing places in the next Olympiad Final. This outcome was not really expected by anyone, especially by the members of the Scottish team! Scotland's performance in the XII and XIII Olympiads has followed the formbook more closely.

In the first ICCF Email Team Tournament, for groups of four players, a Scotland team again upset the odds by reaching the Final, where they finished in second place, behind a strong Russian team - another fine international achievement!

Landmark Games - Email Team Final

Leko v Craig

Scottish Correspondence Grandmasters

Douglas Bryson

Douglas Bryson's outstanding achievement in winning the Scottish Centenary International Tournament and the Norwegian CC 40th Anniversary Tournament, saw him become Scotland's first CC Grandmaster in 1986. Douglas had previously been SCCA Champion in 1980-81, and British CC Champion in 1982-83 and 1983-84.

Bryson v Webb

Sagarowski v Bryson

Andy Muir

Andy Muir became Scotland's second CC grandmaster in 1995, following his outstanding score of 9/12 (no losses) on board 2 of the Scottish team in the XI ICCF Olympiad Final. Andy had previously gained a whirlwind FIDE IM title during the period 1989-91.

Muir v Peretjatkowicz

David Kilgour

David Kilgour became Scotland's first qualifier for a World CC Final by winning his Semi-Final by 3 clear points and then performing impressively in the 3/4 Finals. He achieved his GM title in 1996 by scoring 9/12 in the Algerian Invitation Tournament. David was also unbeaten on Board 4 of the Olympiad X Final, scoring an impressive 9/12. In 1997, David succeeded Alan Borwell as SCCA President.

Kilgour v Lecroq

Fabri v Kilgour

SCCA International Tournaments

Scottish Centenary International 1988

1. D M Bryson (SCO) 10½, 2= V-M Anton (GER) 9½, N E Povah (ENG) 9½, S Webb (ENG) 9½, 5= E Hintikka (FIN) 9, H Sørensen (DEN) 9; 7= V Sagorowsky (RUS) 8, B Vukcevic (YUG) 8, 9= J Földi (HUN) 7, K W Strand (NOR) 7, 11= M Berta (YUG) 5½, E Sterud (NOR) 5½, 13. J Bohak (SLO) 4, 14. P Diaconescu (ROM) 3, 15. M Napolitano (ITA) 0.

SCCA Magazine Invitation - Men Section A 1993

1. F Fabri (HUN) 11½, 2. M Bauer (GER) 9, 3. J Hartung-Nielsen (DEN) 8½, 4. D A Kilgour (SCO) 8, 5. P M Giulian (SCO) 7½, 6= A P Borwell (SCO) 7, C Chandler (ENG) 7, 8. A Prystenski (CAN) 6½, 9= T de Ruiter (NLD) 5½, J Kristinsson (ISD) 5½, 11. R Callaghan Jnr (USA) 5, 12= D M Jenkins (SCO) 3½, R Wikman (FIN) 3½, 14. O Rennemo (NOR) 3, 15. G den Broeder (NLD) w/d.

SCCA Magazine Invitation - Men Section B 1994

1= A Ros (DEN) 10, S Teichmeister (OST) 10, 3 G Rickers (GER) 9, 4. G D Pyrich (SCO) 8½, 5= T Greiner (USA) 7½, A Nosko Koivisto (FIN) 7½, Dr J Vandorffy (HUN) 7½, 8= Dr V Karlsson (ISD) 7, B Martin (SCO) 7, 10. C R Beecham (SCO) 6½, 11= T J Craig (SCO) 5½, K Koistinen (FIN) 5½, 13. L Patterson (CAN) 5, 14. I S Campbell (SCO) 4½, 15. P Wagg, (AUS) 4.

SCCA Magazine Invitation - Ladies 1997

1. E Mozna (CZE) 11½, 2. N D Krasikova (RUS) 10, 3. M Ljubicic (CRO) 9½, 4. R I Newednitschaja (MOL) 9, 5. Dr C Rosenfield (USA) 8½, 6= E Csom-Nemethne (HUN) 8, 6= Dr T Hargitay (HUN) 8, 8= M Horvath (HUN) 7, A Schol-Grin (NLD) 7, 10. E A Hartford (SCO) 4½, 11= E C Bognarne (HUN) 3, 11= C Henri (AUS) 3, 13. D M Cooper (WLS) 2, 14. R A Guilian (SCO) 1, 15. S Djuric (YUG) w/d.

Alan Shaw Memorial 1997

1. D Olofson (SVE) 11, 2= H Prokopp (GER) 9½, Dr E H Sprenger (NLD) 9½, 4. T K Romsdal (NOR) 9, 5. T J Craig (SCO) 8½, 6. J Roose (BEL) 7½, 7= D W Anderton (ENG) 7, K Rhode-Jensen (DEN) 7, 9= S-A Bessis (FRA) 6½, 9= C F Boyle (SCO) 6½, 11. D J Stewart (SCO) 6, 12. I A Marks (SCO) 5, 13 D M Livie (SCO) 4½, 14. T Thomson (SCO) 4½, 15. B Magnusson (ISD) 3.

Bernard Partridge Memorial

Tournament Cross-Table

Bulletin 21st Anniversary

Tournament Cross-Table

Douglas Livie Memorial

Tournament Cross-Table