The final round of the 2024/25 Scottish National Chess League (SNCL) season saw the Stonehaven Chess Club finish in 12th place after nine rounds of competitive play. Despite a challenging season, the team showed resilience throughout, ending with 2 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses from their 8 matches played. Our final round was unfortunately a bye, as our scheduled opponents were unable to field a full team — a disappointing end to the campaign, but not one to dampen our spirits.
Instead of letting the day go to waste, we travelled to Dunfermline to take part in the Ken Stewart Cup, a fun and fast-paced 3+2 blitz event. The tournament consisted of nine lightning rounds, with teams of four players competing in rapid-fire action. Representing Stonehaven were:
- Board 1: Keith Emery
- Board 2: Lewis Matheson
- Board 3: Alex Matheson
- Board 4: Jamie Smith
The competition was fierce, featuring strong teams from across the country. We finished 20th out of 24 teams — a result that doesn’t reflect the fighting spirit and enthusiasm of the squad. Special mention goes to Alex, who had an excellent showing with 6 wins out of 9. Jamie and Lewis both secured 3.5 points, while Keith battled through some very tough matchups and finished with 3 points.
It was a fantastic day of chess, full of camaraderie, quick tactics, and learning opportunities. Our players enjoyed the atmosphere and the challenge, and we’re already looking forward to returning next season with renewed energy and determination.
Thank you to all who supported the team throughout the SNCL season — here’s to building on this experience and coming back stronger in 2025/26!
From small acorns!!! The Team has done really well considering that it’s only just re-emerging.