Last night’s Blitz Tournament at Stonehaven Chess Club had everything we could have hoped for – exciting chess, a few newcomers, and plenty of laughs along the way. Out of a potential twenty players, sixteen took part, which is fantastic for a midweek evening. Two players dropped out at the last minute, but that didn’t stop the room from being buzzing with energy.
Personal Highlights (and Painful Blunders!)
I had some nerve-racking and challenging games myself. One particularly memorable clash was against Graham McKay, where we ventured into the Caro-Kann Fantasy variation. In a moment of madness (or inspiration?), my king marched up into the centre of the board early on, before finally retreating to safety in the middlegame. Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep my composure in the time scramble and dropped my queen to a pin – my excuse is time trouble, of course!
Another thriller came against Alan Cundill. We went down the rabbit hole of a complex Sicilian that quickly spiralled into tactical chaos. I blundered towards the end, handing Alan the point, but he admitted afterwards that he hadn’t enjoyed the position he was in and was relieved when it swung his way.
New Faces, Bold Choices
We welcomed some new faces too. Vic Robertson made a brave choice (or was it foolhardy?) by picking a blitz tournament as his very first night at a chess club. It turned out to be an inspired decision – he played admirably, and a few members commented afterwards that with a little more experience and time, he’d be a real force.
We were also joined by Peter, who travelled up from Glasgow, and David from Bon Accord Chess Club. That kind of enthusiasm – travelling miles just to play a few five-minute games – sums up the spirit of our chess community.
The Results & Atmosphere
When the dust settled, Graham McKay emerged victorious with an impressive 8/9 score, followed by Alan Cundill in second and Ethan Turnbull in third. Every game was played in good spirits, with plenty of friendly banter alongside the intense concentration.
Paddy Coffield kindly acted as arbiter for the evening, and his calm and professional handling of the role ensured everything ran smoothly. Hopefully next time he’ll be able to join the action on the board too!
Looking Ahead
What stood out most wasn’t the prize money or the rating points – it was the sheer enjoyment everyone had. Most admitted they’d play again without the need for any cash incentive. That tells me all I need to know: we’ll be doing this again soon.
Thanks to everyone who came along and made it a brilliant evening. Whether you’re a seasoned club regular or it was your very first night (like Vic!), you helped make it special. If you’ve never played at a chess club before but have been thinking about it, come along next time – you might just surprise yourself.