Hello Everyone,

Once again it's time to look ahead to the Scottish Open Draughts Championships.

We are bringing this event back to Stonehaven for the ninth time. It's a popular Scottish seaside town.

I would very much like it if you would pass on a copy of this brochure to anybody you feel might be interested.

Entry fee is £30 plus £20 Scottish Draughts Association membership. The prize fund will be £2,000.

I am happy to provide more information to those who require it and I am looking forward to welcoming you to Scotland and Stonehaven soon.

Kind Regards,
Donald Oliphant, Secretary/Treasurer Scottish Draughts Association 07917132789

Previous Winners

 

1893	W. Bryden	1935	L. Claxton
1894	R. Stewart	1937	R. J. Allen
1895	R. Stewart	1939	J. MacFarlane
1896	R. Jordan	1947	J. Marshall
1897	J. Ferrie	1950	D. E. Oldbury
1898	H. Freedman	1951	J. Marshall
1899	H. Freedman	1953	J. Marshall
1900	R. Stewart	1955	J. Scott
1901	R. Stewart	1961	J. Marshall
1902	R. Stewart	1963	J. McGill
1903	J. Ferrie	1965	J. McGill
1904	J. Ferrie	1967	J. McGill
1905	G. Buchanan	1969	E. Gibson
1906	G. Buchanan	1971	J. McGill
1907	G. Buchanan	1973	W. Edwards
1908	J. Ferrie	1975	W. Edwards
1909	G. M. Bonar	1977	J. McGill
1911	J. Ferrie	1979	J. McGill
1912	A. Jordan	1981	P. McCarthy
1913	J. Ferrie	1983	J. Grant
1914	A. B. Scott	1985	P. McCarthy
1915	M. Boyle	1987	T. Watson
1916	G. O’Conner	1989	T. Watson
1917	L. Collingwood	1991	T. Watson
1918	A. B. Scott	1993	W. Edwards
1919	G. O’Conner	1995	J. Grant
1920	A. B. Scott	1997	H. Devlin
1922	G. O’Conner	1999	P. McCarthy
1923	A. B. Scott	2001	T. Watson
1924	G. O’Conner	2003	T. Watson
1925	J. Campbell	2005	T. Watson
1926	J. Campbell	2007	T. Watson
1927	J. Campbell	2009	B. Docherty
1929	A. Inglis	2011	T. Watson
1930	M. Boyle	2013	T. Watson
1931	R. Scobie	2015	T. Watson
1933	A. Inglis	2017	S McCosker
1934	H. French	2019	S McCosker
		2021	Cancelled
		2023	R. King
		2025	???????????

---

                                                                                 Scottish Draughts Association

                                                            Welcome to the

Scottish Open Draughts Championship

September 8^th to 12^th 2025

Royal British Legion Hall, Stonehaven

Looking North down onto Stonehaven

Welcome to Stonehaven

On behalf of the Scottish Draughts Association, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all players and friends to the 2025 Scottish Open Draughts Championships here in Stonehaven.

This will be the ninth time the Scottish Open has been held in Stonehaven.

We acknowledge the help and co-operation we have received from the Royal British Legion management and staff ensuring the smooth running of the competitions.

I hope you all enjoy your stay in this lovely part of Scotland.

Lamont Inkster (SDA President)
18 George Street
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1PW  

---

The Scottish Draughts Association has since 1893, worked tirelessly to promote the game of Draughts, not just in Scotland but throughout the world.

Organising and running a prestigious national open championship takes many hours and substantial amounts of money and this can only be achieved with the continued help and support from members, players and the outside community.

The Scottish Draughts Association has a close band of loyal supporters whose generosity makes the committee’s task of fundraising easier and we wish to acknowledge them here.

Thank you to all the following for their donations and support throughout the year:

 The Aberdeen Draughts Club, Royal British Legion Management and Staff, John McGill, Tom Watson, Donald Oliphant, Lamont Inkster, Graham Young, The Competitors.

 If we have omitted anyone then we apologise in advance.

Donald Oliphant (SDA Secretary/Treasurer)
16 Columbus Place
Great Sankey
Warrington
WA5 8DY

---

Rules

Swiss System

The purpose of the Swiss system is to determine that every player shall ultimately be placed logically and easily in ranking order of merit. After the first round the pairings will be determined by the number of aggregate points scored by each player. The Chess Arbiter programme used by the referee will determine each player’s opponent in all rounds.  

1.       Time Limit – 30 moves per hour, then 15 per half hour.

2.       Points Awarded – 2 per win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss.

3.       Players can only meet each other once.

4.       No adjudication of games.

5.       156 openings will be included in the ballot. The player drawing the Black side will draw the opening. Both players are to record the gamest then submit them to the referee. 

6.       If there is an uneven number of players, the last drawn will get a bye – 4 points. This will be considered to be 2 wins; only 1 bye can be given per player.

7.       Tie breaking will be done by Sonneborn-Berger points. If Sonneborn-Berger points are equal, then least losses count next, followed by results when players met. All rounds to be counted by Sonneborn-Berger points.

8.       Any player arriving late will have the clock started against them unless prior agreement has been made between players and the referee.

9.       The committee will have the power to make whatever arrangements are considered necessary to facilitate the running of the tournament and any decision they reach will be final.

10.   All mobile phones to be switched off when rounds are being played. If a player’s phone rings whilst playing they will forfeit the game.

---

Contacts And Useful Information

Lamont Inkster:                    07759491971

Donald Oliphant:                  07917132789

Email:                             Doliphant16@googlemail.com

Referee: Graham Young     07946239284

 

We show some hotels and guest houses below

Belvedere Guest House     https://www.belvederestonehaven.co.uk/

A single room not En-suite for 6 nights is advertised at £250 B & B

Marine Hotel                         https://marinehotel.squarespace.com/

Station Hotel                     https://www.stationhotelstonehaven.co.uk/

A single room not En-suite for 6 nights is advertised at £330 B & B on Booking.com

Number 44 Hotel & Bar                        enquiries@number44.net

Currently rooms from £540 are advertised for 6 nights

Bayview Bed & Breakfast      http://www.bayviewbandb.co.uk/

 

 

---

The Royal British Legion, Stonehaven is highlighted here in the above map. There are a number of hotels and Bed and Breakfast establishments in Stonehaven. Stonehaven is a small town located in the North East of Scotland approximately 16 miles south of Aberdeen.

For those flying to Scotland then Aberdeen is probably the best choice although one can consider Glasgow or Edinburgh and then travel by either train or bus to Stonehaven.  

There are many places to eat in Stonehaven with several hotels in the harbour area alone. Around the main square there are a few cafes and pubs and other places to eat also.

Stonehaven harbour also has a couple of restaurants with rooms.

The train station is about a mile out of the town centre but there are plenty of taxis available.

 

 

Programme

Monday, 8^th Sept              9.30a.m.           Registration and Opening Ceremony

                                        10.00a.m.           Draw and Round One

                                          2.30p.m.           Round Two

Tuesday, 9^th Sept           10.00a.m.           Round Three

                                          2.30p.m.           Round Four

Wednesday, 10^th Sept    10.00a.m.          Round Five

                                          2.30p.m.          Round Six

                                          5.30p.m.          Scottish Draughts Association AGM

Thursday, 11^th Sept        10.00a.m.          Round Seven

                                          2.30p.m.          Round Eight

Friday, 12^th Sept               9.30a.m.          Round Nine

                                          2.00p.m.          Round Ten

                                          5.00p.m.          Prize Giving Ceremony

Established 1893

---

2025 Tournament Dates