The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
World’s best lining up for battle at historic abbey
Prestigious Magnus Carlsen Tour event online
An international chess tournament held in an abbey where William Wallace once took refuge has been named one of the game’s new “majors” after moving online.
Twelve of the world’s finest players, with world champion Magnus Carlsen top of the bill, have lined up for the Lindores Abbey Rapid Challenge taking place from today.
The event effectively replaces the elite Lindores Chess Stars tournament which was held last year in the historic site in Fife that is also believed to be the birthplace of Scottish whisky.
However, with sport in lockdown and players unable to travel, the tournament will take place without anyone having to leave their home.
The new-look event was officially launched on Thursday when it was named part of the $1 million Magnus Carlsen Tour, the richest online chess tournament in history.
Lindores, near Newburgh, was where Wallace and his army rested after the Battle of Black Earnside in 1298 after they defeated the English.
The abbey is now a distillery and its custodians recently uncovered evidence that monks who brewed whisky at the medieval site more than 500 years ago would also play chess against each other.
The first written record of Scotch whisky distillation took place at the site in 1494.
Drew McKenzie Smith, founder and managing director of Lindores Abbey Distillery, said: “This is an exciting event building on the tournament we held last year. It is also a big honour to be named part of the Magnus Carlsen Tour.”
The event, which runs until June 3 and will be broadcast live on chess24. com, is being put on in association with the Lindores Abbey Heritage Society, which maintains the historic site.