Scottish Chess Championships coming to Helensburgh

12th Women's World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Latest Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

An international master of chess is hoping to become king of the game again as the Scottish Championships comes to town. Dumbarton man Andrew Muir is preparing to take part in the prestigious event, taking place at Helensburgh’s Victoria Halls from Saturday, July 6, until Sunday, July 14.

Some of the top chess players from around the world, including countries such as Argentina, Hong Kong and Serbia, will take part in the championships – but only a Scot can win. And 54-year-old Andrew, who has been playing chess since he was aged nine, hopes to repeat his success of 2007, when he lifted the national championship trophy. He said: “The Scottish Championships are usually held in bigger cities like Edinburgh or Glasgow so it is a real coup for the area and convenient for myself.

“Players from outside Scotland are ineligible to win the competition but can take part and give the Scottish players a test on their way to the title.
“When I won the competition it involved 10 Scottish players all playing against each other and it was not thought to be particularly exciting.

“This year there are around 70 players taking part, including about 20 from other parts of the world. “I am in the top 10 Scottish players so hopefully I have a good chance of winning the trophy again.” The competition will take place under a Swiss Pairs format, with winners and losers playing against each other over nine rounds. And for Andrew, who lives in Crosslet Avenue and works as an actuary, the tournament offers a chance to enjoy one of his favourite hobbies. He added: “My parents were both mathematicians and gave me a copy of the Encyclopaedia Britannica for Christmas. “I noticed chess and thought it would be interesting to play – and it certainly has been.” (Andrew Galloway/Lennox Herald)

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