This is the second of our Chldrens Chess. We run a grand-prix points system across the series of tournaments.

Grand Prix Style Tournament

1. place gets 10 points
2. place gets 8 points
3. place gets 6 points
4. place gets 5 points
5. place gets 4 points
6. place gets 3 points
7. place gets 2 points
8. place gets 1 points

These are allocated to the sections : Primary School, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary. The points of players 3 best tournaments are totaled.  The top four are invited together with parents and a representative from their schools to an award ceremony usually held in June and hopefully held at Stormont. Watch this website for a news item with the current standings after two tournaments.

The puzzles were again of great interest to all the players. Who ask for one as soon as they arrive and then with concentration set down to solving them. It was also good to see enthusiastic questions on some of the harder ones. We have some brilliant young problem solvers.

The Puzzle Solving Secondary Champion: James Huang

The Puzzle Solving Primary Champion: Ethan Cole.

Heres a selection of some of the puzzles - see if you are challenged - the answers are at the bottom of the page.

We are getting used to the setup of the two rooms for chess and one for parents. Although it does take a little time to ensure students are in the correct room and paired against the correct player.

Geoff Hindley took one room and I took the other with the assistance of a couple of parents.

The first round started and as usual there was the hushed silence of concentration....

January Childrens Chess - Round 1

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning U6    [0]      1:0    Harry Stewart        F1    [0]  
 2 Michael Wright    F1    [0]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [0]  
 3 Ethan Cole        P5    [0]      1:0    Evan Butterwick      P7    [0]  
 4 Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [0]      1:0    James Huang          F3    [0]  
 5 Eoin Boyle        F3    [0]      1:0    Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [0]  
 6 Hugo Mallon       P5    [0]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon        P5    [0]  
 7 Jay Chaudhry      F4    [0]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon       F1    [0]  
 8 Aidan Butterwick  P5    [0]      0:1    Corey Hamilton       F1    [0]  
 9 Daniel Hill       U6    [0]      1:0    Owen Chan            P5    [0]  
10 Alaanah Cole      P4    [0]      0:1    Cillian Mccann       F4    [0]  
11 Daniel Monaghan   F2    [0]      0:1    Matthew Loughrey     P3    [0]  
12 Peter Riddell     P5    [0]      0:1    Henry Riddell        F1    [0]  
13 Isaac Ryan        P3    [0]      1:0    BYE                             
14 William Carson    F3    [0]     .5:.5   BYE                                                         

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

It was brilliant to see new faces. The two brothers Jay and Dev Chaudhry both won their first round games. Whilst it was a family competition on board 12 with Henry playing brother Peter Riddell the older Henry winning. But its not all about winning its about learning and solving problems and hardest of all handling defeat. To be able to loose and learn and play again and improve. Also to appreciate your opponents moves. Many a time I have sat at a chess board and pondered if my opponent would fall into a trap or make a better move - and hoping they might fall but thinking it would be a better game if they didnt!

Round 2

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Corey Hamilton       F1    [1]      0:1    Calum Glendinning U6    [1]  
 2 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [1]      1:0    Daniel Hill       U6    [1]  
 3 Cillian Mccann       F4    [1]      0:1    Ethan Cole        P5    [1]  
 4 Henry Riddell        F1    [1]      0:1    Eoin Boyle        F3    [1]  
 5 Lorcan Rippon        P5    [1]     .5:.5   Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [1]  
 6 Isaac Ryan           P3    [1]      0:1    Jay Chaudhry      F4    [1]  
 7 Matthew Loughrey     P3    [1]      1:0    William Carson    F3    [.5] 
 8 James Huang          F3    [0]      1:0    Hugo Mallon       P5    [0]  
 9 Saoirse Rippon       F1    [0]     .5:.5   Daniel Monaghan   F2    [0]  
10 Harry Stewart        F1    [0]      1:0    Aidan Butterwick  P5    [0]  
11 Owen Chan            P5    [0]     .5:.5   Michael Wright    F1    [0]  
12 Evan Butterwick      P7    [0]      1:0    Alaanah Cole      P4    [0]  
13 Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [0]      1:0    Peter Riddell     P5    [0]  

Its good to see a range of age groups. And with the two top players Calum and Ethan both playing in competitions in the Adult realm,means the whole of the tournament is lifted to an excellent standard. So who would win this Saturday!

Round 3

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning U6    [2]      1:0    Eoin Boyle           F3    [2]  
 2 Jay Chaudhry      F4    [2]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [2]  
 3 Ethan Cole        P5    [2]      1:0    Matthew Loughrey     P3    [2]  
 4 James Huang       F3    [1]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon        P5    [1.5]
 5 Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [1.5]    1:0    Corey Hamilton       F1    [1]  
 6 Daniel Hill       U6    [1]      1:0    Harry Stewart        F1    [1]  
 7 Evan Butterwick   P7    [1]      0:1    Cillian Mccann       F4    [1]  
 8 Henry Riddell     F1    [1]     .5:.5   Isaac Ryan           P3    [1]  
 9 Daniel Monaghan   F2    [.5]     1:0    Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [1]  
10 William Carson    F3    [.5]     1:0    Owen Chan            P5    [.5] 
11 Michael Wright    F1    [.5]     0:1    Saoirse Rippon       F1    [.5] 
12 Hugo Mallon       P5    [0]      1:0    Alaanah Cole         P4    [0]  
13 Aidan Butterwick  P5    [0]     .5:.5   Peter Riddell        P5    [0]  

Its so good to see youngsters as young as P3 playing chess. Matthew Loughrey on 2 points comes up against Ethan (who recently won the Ulster Schools Championship - and must be one of the youngest players ever to win this) and loses. While Isaac Ryan P3 gets a draw against Henry Riddell.

Round 4

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [3]     .5:.5   Calum Glendinning U6    [3]  
 2 Lorcan Rippon        P5    [2.5]    0:1    Ethan Cole        P5    [3]  
 3 Eoin Boyle           F3    [2]      1:0    Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [2.5]
 4 Cillian Mccann       F4    [2]      0:1    Jay Chaudhry      F4    [2]  
 5 Matthew Loughrey     P3    [2]      0:1    Daniel Hill       U6    [2]  
 6 Saoirse Rippon       F1    [1.5]    1:0    William Carson    F3    [1.5]
 7 Isaac Ryan           P3    [1.5]   .5:.5   Daniel Monaghan   F2    [1.5]
 8 Harry Stewart        F1    [1]     .5:.5   Henry Riddell     F1    [1.5]
 9 Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [1]      0:1    James Huang       F3    [1]  
10 Corey Hamilton       F1    [1]      0:1    Evan Butterwick   P7    [1]  
11 Owen Chan            P5    [.5]     0:1    Hugo Mallon       P5    [1]  
12 Peter Riddell        P5    [.5]    .5:.5   Michael Wright    F1    [.5] 
13 Alaanah Cole         P4    [0]      0:1    Aidan Butterwick  P5    [.5] 

At the top we have a battle that ends in a draw. Ashwanth Subramanian is one of the top players and gives Calum a good game to get a draw. Whilst this allows Ethan to end the round in the overall lead with 4 out of 4.

Round 5

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole        P5    [4]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [3.5]
 2 Calum Glendinning U6    [3.5]    1:0    Jay Chaudhry         F4    [3]  
 3 Daniel Hill       U6    [3]     .5:.5   Eoin Boyle           F3    [3]  
 4 Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [2.5]    1:0    Saoirse Rippon       F1    [2.5]
 5 Henry Riddell     F1    [2]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon        P5    [2.5]
 6 James Huang       F3    [2]      1:0    Matthew Loughrey     P3    [2]  
 7 Hugo Mallon       P5    [2]      0:1    Cillian Mccann       F4    [2]  
 8 Evan Butterwick   P7    [2]     .5:.5   Isaac Ryan           P3    [2]  
 9 Daniel Monaghan   F2    [2]      1:0    Aidan Butterwick     P5    [1.5]
10 William Carson    F3    [1.5]   .5:.5   Harry Stewart        F1    [1.5]
11 Peter Riddell     P5    [1]     .5:.5   Corey Hamilton       F1    [1]  
12 Michael Wright    F1    [1]      1:0    Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [1]  
13 Alaanah Cole      P4    [0]      1:0    Owen Chan            P5    [.5] 

Ethan plays Ashwanth and Ashwanth wins taking joint lead with Calum on 4.5. It goes to show there is no easy game and the calbre of the top boards is good. Alaanah Cole gets a point of Owen Chan.

Round 6

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole           P5    [4]      0:1    Calum Glendinning U6    [4.5]
 2 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [4.5]    1:0    Dev Chaudhry.     P6    [3.5]
 3 Lorcan Rippon        P5    [3.5]    0:1    Daniel Hill       U6    [3.5]
 4 Eoin Boyle           F3    [3.5]    0:1    James Huang       F3    [3]  
 5 Jay Chaudhry         F4    [3]      1:0    Daniel Monaghan   F2    [3]  
 6 Cillian Mccann       F4    [3]      1:0    Isaac Ryan        P3    [2.5]
 7 Saoirse Rippon       F1    [2.5]    1:0    Evan Butterwick   P7    [2.5]
 8 William Carson       F3    [2]      1:0    Michael Wright    F1    [2]  
 9 Matthew Loughrey     P3    [2]      1:0    Henry Riddell     F1    [2]  
10 Harry Stewart        F1    [2]      1:0    Hugo Mallon       P5    [2]  
11 Corey Hamilton       F1    [1.5]   .5:.5   Alaanah Cole      P4    [1]  
12 Aidan Butterwick     P5    [1.5]    0:1    Ezekiel Gavaghan  P5    [1]  
13 Owen Chan            P5    [.5]     1:0    Peter Riddell     P5    [1.5]

The final round. I find I am not good at describing the fun and excitement at that these competitions. The atmosphere is very friendly. Young Ethans talent seems to be well known as I gathered from overhearing a group who were discussing the possibility of playing this 'Chess genius' with considerable  enthusasm. Calum wins against Ethan and togethr with Ashwanth lead the tournament.

Standings

Place Name                 Feder Score

 1-2  Ashwanth Subramanian U6    5.5  
      Calum Glendinning    U6    5.5  
  3   Daniel Hill          U6    4.5  
 4-7  Ethan Cole           P5    4    
      Jay Chaudhry         F4    4    
      James Huang          F3    4    
      Cillian Mccann       F4    4    
8-11  Dev Chaudhry         P6    3.5  
      Eoin Boyle           F3    3.5  
      Lorcan Rippon        P5    3.5  
      Saoirse Rippon       F1    3.5  
12-15 Matthew Loughrey     P3    3    
      Harry Stewart        F1    3    
      William Carson       F3    3    
      Daniel Monaghan      F2    3    
16-17 Isaac Ryan           P3    2.5  
      Evan Butterwick      P7    2.5  
18-22 Hugo Mallon          P5    2    
      Henry Riddell        F1    2    
      Michael Wright       F1    2    
      Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    2    
      Corey Hamilton       F1    2    
23-26 Owen Chan            P5    1.5  
      Aidan Butterwick     P5    1.5  
      Alaanah Cole         P4    1.5  
      Peter Riddell        P5    1.5  
27-28 Beth Lillie          U6    0    
      Emily Maguire        U6    0  

Ashwanth and Calum win the tournament followed closely by Daniel Hill,then Ethan Cole in fourth place.

Thanks to Eimear a great help doing the certificates and calculating the positions.

Form 4 and above

Champion:  Ashwanth Subramanian, Calum Glendinning

Second: Daniel Hill

Third: Jay Chaudhry, Cillian Mccann

Form 3

Champion: James Huang

Second: Eoin Boyle

Third: William Carson

Form 2

Champion: Daniel Monaghan

Form 1

Champion: Saoirse Rippon

Second: Harry Stewart

Third: Henry Riddell, Micheal Wright, Corey Hamilton

P7

Champion: Evan Butterwick

P6

Champion: Dev Chaudhry

P5

Champion: Ethan Cole

Second: Lorcan Rippon

Third: Hugo Mallon, Ezekiel Gavaghan

P4 and below

Champion: Matthew Loughrey

Second: Isaac Ryan

Third: Alaanah Cole

Thanks to all the chess players for a brilliant afternoon of chess.

Our next tournament is at Methodist College 12:30pm on 12th February.