I have been playing chess since the age of 6, and I started playing chess competitively from the age of 15, winning the West of Scotland Junior Championship in 1990. After a long break from competitive tournament chess to focus on work and other commitments, I returned to serious tournament and club chess in 2012. Thereafter, I won the Metropolitan Club Championship in London in 2014 and 2018, and came equal first in the July 2014 Hampstead U2200 International FIDE tournament. My best individual result to date was to beat a 217 ECF graded player in November 2012, to gain second place in the November 2012 U2200 International FIDE tournament, and I drew against a 208 ECF player in the London League 2014. This proves that I can both win and lose to players over a wide scope of ratings!

I had some success in the 2016 Scottish Championship where I came 19th out of a field of 60 or so players, with a +1 record and some good wins against >2000 ELO opposition, including a CM.

My natural chess style is aggressive, so I like playing the King's Gambit as white, and the Sicilian and King's Indian as black. However, I have been trying to play more positionally in recent OTB matches and to vary my openings somewhat. I also try to work more on my endgames than on opening preparation.

I re-joined Paisley Chess Club in Scotland, and I received a warm welcome from the club members there. I will try to play for them whenever I am on holiday visiting family in my hometown, if they happen to need a player to help out.

Cimon