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The 2007 Perth and Kinross Chess Festival shall commence from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th January. We expect a large turnout once again with some of Scotlands top players present.
Previous Winners of Perth and Kinross Chess Festival
Jacob Aagard (GM)
2005 5/5
Hamilton
Craig Pritchett (IM)
2006 4.5/5
Dumbarton
Neil Berry (FM)
2004 4.5/5
Edinburgh
Jacob Aagaard (5/5)
Current British Champion
Hamilton
The story so far ...
For some eighteen years Chess Congresses, consisting of many tournaments, adult and junior, have been held in Perth under the name Perth Chess Congress. Although planned as an annual event the Congress failed to appear on a number of years and was last held 2001. Nonetheless when held it was a very popular event and attracted players from Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.
During 2003 members of the Perth Chess Club were discussing if the Congress could be resurrected. The chairman, Steve Mannion, who had been running the successful Glasgow Congress for the best part of 42 years, and Mike Roth along with others decided to start again. It was agreed that a number of conditions should be laid down for the future Congresses; that the Congress was to be more inclusive, cater for all ages, develop into a Festival of Chess and be held at a comfortable venue. The result was the successful staging of the new event at the Station Hotel, Perth, in January 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Festival attracts over 200 competitors including International Masters and other top players.
The event has been covered by local and national press. The chess press heralded the event a great success and players in a survey voted rated it highly in all respects. The aim of putting Perth on the international chess map is being achieved.
A number of local organisations have been most helpful. The Thomson Trust made a donation to help get the first of the events off to a flying start, Perth and Kinross Council have provided a grant and a local company Spectraglass Ltd has sponsored the event by providing glass trophies free of charge.
It is anticipated that the Festival, attracting as it will players from all over the UK and some from Europe, will bring an estimated £250,000 worth of spending into the area.
The committee that has planned and organised the Festival has grown from three to five and includes Steve Mannion who is an International Arbiter of Chess, Michael Roth, Scottish Arbiter, Mrs Donna Officer, Junior Chess Organiser for Chess Scotland, Douglas Harvey, Secretary of Perth Chess Club, Geoffrey Hall, local junior league organiser, and Lynsey Shovlin who runs the acclaimed Dalguise Activity Chess Weekend, all live in Perthshire.
The Festival is not an end in itself; Steve Mannion plans that it becomes a focal point for school/junior and adult chess in Perth and Kinross. Two players Amy Officer and Lynsey Shovlin, have already had tremendous success at International level.
By careful development and support, Perth could become a centre of Chess excellence in UK and Europe attracting hundreds of visitors.
