TAFCA END OF YEAR REPORT: Chess is all around us, OTB & ONLINE!
TAFCA – 2022-23
(Castlehill perspective!)
Below is the end of year summary of how Castlehill teams and players are doing in TAFCA 22-23 season so far. It’s good to have OTB chess back again and also good to now have another avenue withTAFCA chess online events!
TAFCA LEAGUE OTB
Division One
Castlehill have an amazing 6 teams out of 10 in division one. Of course this comes with its own problems, but nice problems to have! The strength in depth between the six teams and our past standards was a bit lower this year, but still strong and competitive!
Dundee A & St.Andrews Uni A lead the way at the top on 8 points each, with Dundee ahead on boards. Castlehill A is in 3rd place on 7 points after drawing a match. It will be a tough ask, but they are still in contention with 5 matches to go!
Castlehill D has had a fantastic start sitting in 4th place on 6 points. Keep it going lads! Castlehill B has struggled a little bit but in their defence they have played some of the top teams! They sit in 5th place on 4 points and in striking distance of the top.
As for our last 3 teams, Castlehill C, E & F, they have yet to get of the mark after 4 games each. It’s going to be a tough ask, especially for Castlehill F who are full of juniors and new adult members just starting their chess apprenticeship! Given the strength of the other teams I would think it’s likely to be 2 Castlehill teams that get relegated this season, but you never know?
Division Two
Castlehill have no teams in this division for the 2022-23 season, St.Andrews B and Newport Knights A lead the way on 6 points, but St.Andrews B have a game in hand on Newport Knights A. These are looking like the teams for the promotion places but I am sure the rest, especially Perth A will have other ideas!
TAFCA KNOCKOUT
A mixed bag of fortunes for Castlehill teams. In the 1st round, Castlehill D lost out to Newport Knights B, while Castlehill A drew with St.Andrews Uni A, but lost on board count!
Plus & Minus: On the plus side, Castlehill B won to reach the semi-finals! On the minus side it was at Castlehill C`s expense! So, one team left for Castlehill, Dundee in the Knockout. They will face either Newport Knights A or St.Andrews Uni A!
J.R.CHALMERS GRAND PRIX MEMORIAL
Alexandre Kings (St.Andrews) leads the way on 7 points. On his heals is Vladislav Drabych (Castlehill) on 6 points. Alastair Dawson (Dundee) is also on 6 points! Amazingly Graham Atkins (Castlehill) is in equal 5th place on 5½ points. Just goes to show you are never too old to play chess!
GEORGE PYRICH OTB ALLEGRO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Unfortunately due to bad weather, there has only been one event so far and that was at Perth Chess Club and what a night that was! After this one event, leading the way is Alistair McLeod (Castlehill) and James Anderson (Dundee & Castlehill) on 5½ points each. Also congratulations to both players for becoming the TAFCA Perth Allegro champions 2022-23! Chasing them down are Rishi Vijayakumar J11 (Castlehill) and Alastair Dawson (Dundee & Castlehill) in equal 3rd place on 3½ points!
TAFCA ONLINE ALLEGRO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Two of the five online events have been played and Ed Spencer (Dundee) leads the way on 8 points. In equal 3rd place from Castlehill Chess Club are Richard Kynoch and Euan Murray on 4½ points. With 3 events left, still all to play for!
TAFCA ONLINE SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIPS 22-23
This is a new event and only one round has been completed so far. We have an 11 way tie for 1st place on 2 points with 4 Castlehill players in the mix. I am sure there will be plenty of twists and turns before we find out who will be the first ever TAFCA Online Singles Champion!
Please checkout the TAFCA website (link below) for all the up to date details on all TAFCA competitions.
Plenty still to play for in 2023 for Castlehill teams and players. I hope you all had a “Merry Christmas” and I wish you all well for 2023 and a “Happy New Year”!