The day saw us setup at our usual venue the Methodist College in Belfast. We had been moved to three class rooms. This allowed for a room for the Under12s - the group that needs to qualify for the LJCC. A room for the U18's and one for the Parents. Our first tournament since lock-down meant we had to have covid rules including masks and plenty of handgel, in advance registration, ventilation and where possible social distancing.

With volunteers Adrian Dornford-Smith, Geoff Hindley, Chris Dorrian and Micheal Sheerin the setup was smooth - a team setup the Arrows to direct players to the rooms whilst another group setup the boards and the Rooms.

We split the Rooms between us. Micheal Sheerin and Geoff Hindley took the Under 18s, whilst myself and Adrian Dornford-Smith took the U12's.

The youngsters and parents appeared were registered and given the timetable and the usual puzzle sheets for the puzzle competition.

The games started at 10:00pm with a hushed silence of players focused on the great game.

Some of the puzzles that were challenges for the players- have a go at solving them - answers at the bottom of the article.

I think the puzzles is one of the key items during the tournament - an opportunity to solve difficult positions and chat about the possible solutions. We allow questions on the puzzles and will point to possible ideas (without giving away the whole solution) allowing the players the excitement of finding the solution for themselves.

Under 12 - Round 1

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name          Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole         U10   [0]      1:0    Josh Kelly    U12   [0]  
 2 Saoirse Rippon     U12   [0]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon U10   [0]  
 3 Thanav Kartikrajan U10   [0]      0:1    Aadhi Sooraj  U10   [0]  
 4 Alannah Cole       U8    [0]      1:0    BYE                      

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

It was good to see new faces and some regulars. The young top player Ethan Cole has been playing in the Bangor and GreenIsland Rapid plays and doing exceptionally well. Would any of the players challenge Ethan? Also new to Childrens Chess the siblings Lorcan and Saoirse Rippon. With an odd number of players Alannah got the bye and was played a friendly against our Adrian Dornford-Smith. We also welcomed new players Thanav Kartikrajan, Aadhi Sooraj and Josh Kelly.

The first round ended quite quickly and we started the next round as soon as the results were in. Giving some time for puzzle solving we continued this starting each round after the next round had completed. Allowing us to complete this section a little early.

Under 12 - Round 2

Results

No Name           Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Aadhi Sooraj   U10   [1]      0:1    Ethan Cole         U10   [1]  
 2 Lorcan Rippon  U10   [1]      1:0    Alannah Cole       U8    [1]  
 3 Josh Kelly     U1

Round 2 and Ethan continues to win. Lorcan beats the younger Alannah and Josh Kelly gets to play Adrian.

Under 12 - Round 3

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name           Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole         U10   [2]      1:0    Lorcan Rippon  U10   [2]  
 2 Aadhi Sooraj       U10   [1]      1:0    Josh Kelly     U12   [1]  
 3 Alannah Cole       U8    [1]      0:1    Saoirse Rippon U12   [1]  
 4 Thanav Kartikrajan U10   [0]      1:0    BYE           

A decider to see who goes forward on full points, Ethan wins against Lorcan to lead the field with 3 out of 3 points. Chased by Aadhi, Saoirse and Lorcan on 2 points.

Under 12 - Round 4

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name         Feder Total

 1 Saoirse Rippon     U12   [2]      0:1    Ethan Cole   U10   [3]  
 2 Lorcan Rippon      U10   [2]      1:0    Aadhi Sooraj U10   [2]  
 3 Thanav Kartikrajan U10   [1]      1:0    Alannah Cole U8    [1]  
 4 Josh Kelly         U12   [1]      1:0    BYE          

It takes 4 points to qualifier for the LJCC - after round 4 we have Ethan as qualified and Lorcan with 3 is close.

Under 12 - Round 5

Results

No Name          Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Alannah Cole  U8    [1]      0:1    Ethan Cole         U10   [4]  
 2 Lorcan Rippon U10   [3]      0:1    Thanav Kartikrajan U10   [2]  
 3 Josh Kelly    U12   [2]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon     U12   [2]  
 4 Aadhi Sooraj  U10   [2]      1:0    BYE    

Ging into round 6 the final round we have several players on 3 points within a point of qualification - Thanav Kartikrajan, Josh Kelly. Lorcan Rippon and Josh Kelly.

Ethan continues to win all his games.

Under 12 - Round 6

Results

No Name           Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole     U10   [5]      1:0    Thanav Kartikrajan U10   [3]  
 2 Saoirse Rippon U12   [2]      0:1    Aadhi Sooraj       U10   [3]  
 3 Alannah Cole   U8    [1]      0:1    Josh Kelly         U12   [3]  
 4 Lorcan Rippon  U10   [3]      1:0    BYE      

While we worked out the standings and who qualified Adrian organised an all-play-all Battle Chess competition. The winners of which are shown below.

I should mention that Battle Chess is an excellent game where each player has 4 Pawns and a King. They place these on the board whilst a board or sheet is setup in the middle of the board so that they cant see their opponents side. The King can only be placed on ranks 1 to 3 (so cant be in Check) and the Pawns on ranks 2 to 4. When both players are happy setting their pieces on the board, the separator is removed and the game starts. Normal Chess rules and play to a finish. These games are quick and a fun way of practicing end games. (I got the idea from a Chess coaching book).

We have 4 qualifiers for the very prestigious tournament the London Junior Chess Championship. Ethan Cole who won the tournament on full points and Aadhi Sooraj, Lorcan Rippon and Josh Kelly. The championships will be held in December for more details go to : https://www.ljcc.co.uk/ . We wish these players well in the competition and will report on their progress.

Under 12 - Standings

Standings

Place Name               Feder Score

  1   Ethan Cole         U10   6    U10 1st : U10 Major Qualifier
 2-4  Aadhi Sooraj       U10   4    U10 2nd : U10 Minor Qualifier
      Lorcan Rippon      U10   4    U10 2nd : U10 Minor Qualifier
      Josh Kelly         U12   4    U12 1st : U12 Minor Qualifier
  5   Thanav Kartikrajan U10   3    U10 3rd
  6   Saoirse Rippon     U12   2    U12 2nd
  7   Alannah Cole       U8    1    U8 1st

The Primary Puzzle solving Competition. Ethane Cole winning with a brilliant score of 17 points. Thanks to Michael Sheerin for marking both the primary and secondary puzzles.

U18 - Round 1

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning    U18   [0]      1:0    Eoin Boyle        U16   [0]  
 2 James Huang          U14   [0]     .5:.5   Robert Napier     U14   [0]  
 3 Ben Toogood          U16   [0]      1:0    Bradley Macdonald U14   [0]  
 4 Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [0]     .5:.5   Matthew Moreland  U18   [0]  
 5 Zach Williamson      U16   [0]      1:0    BYE                          

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The Under 18 age groups played in a second room this was run by volunteers Micheal Sheerin and Geof Hindley. With an odd no of players Geoff played the players having the bye in each rounds. This age group played slower. It was not uncommon for the round to last the full 1 hour. We were lucky to have the regular players Calum Glendinning, Ben Toogood, Matthew Moreland., James Huang, Zach Williamson and Eoin Boyle. Its good to see familiar faces after the break of play over the last year. Calum has played well in the UCU Summer Tournament and is a regular at Childrens Chess and would be the favourite going into this competition.

U18 - Round 2

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Zach Williamson   U16   [1]      0:1    Calum Glendinning    U18   [1]  
 2 Robert Napier     U14   [.5]     0:1    Ben Toogood          U16   [1]  
 3 Matthew Moreland  U18   [.5]     1:0    James Huang          U14   [.5] 
 4 Eoin Boyle        U16   [0]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [.5] 
 5 Bradley Macdonald U14   [0]      1:0    BYE     

Calum and Ben take the joint lead with 2 full points. They should meet in the next round.

U18 - Round 3

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning    U18   [2]      1:0    Ben Toogood     U16   [2]  
 2 Matthew Moreland     U18   [1.5]   .5:.5   Zach Williamson U16   [1]  
 3 Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [1.5]    1:0    James Huang     U14   [.5] 
 4 Bradley Macdonald    U14   [1]      0:1    Robert Napier   U14   [.5] 
 5 Eoin Boyle           U16   [0]      1:0    BYE             

Calum takes the overall lead with a win against Ben Toogood. Matthew and Zach draw. Ashwanth wins against James. I chatted to the Geoff and Michael who looked after this room and they enjoyed watching the games and seeing a high level of chess being played. Geoff was in playing the players with the byes challenged to some very enjoyable and hard games.

U18 - Round 4

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [2.5]   .5:.5   Calum Glendinning U18   [3]  
 2 Ben Toogood          U16   [2]      1:0    Matthew Moreland  U18   [2]  
 3 Robert Napier        U14   [1.5]    1:0    Zach Williamson   U16   [1.5]
 4 Bradley Macdonald    U14   [1]      0:1    Eoin Boyle        U16   [1]  
 5 James Huang          U14   [.5]    1:0    BYE 

Ashwanth challenges Calum's trail of wins. With an excellent draw - Ashwanth could be a player to watch. Ben beats Matthew and Robert wins against Zach. This is a very touch section.

U18 - Round 5

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning U18   [3.5]    1:0    Robert Napier        U14   [2.5]
 2 Ben Toogood       U16   [3]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [3]  
 3 James Huang       U14   [1.5]   .5:.5   Eoin Boyle           U16   [2]  
 4 Zach Williamson   U16   [1.5]    1:0    Bradley Macdonald    U14   [1]  
 5 Matthew Moreland  U18   [2]      1:0    BYE                       

The second to last round and Ashwanth beats Ben and goes to second place on 4 points whilst Calum continues to lead on 4.5 points.

U18 - Round 6

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Matthew Moreland  U18   [3]      0:1    Calum Glendinning    U18   [4.5]
 2 Zach Williamson   U16   [2.5]    0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U18   [4]  
 3 Eoin Boyle        U16   [2.5]    0:1    Ben Toogood          U16   [3]  
 4 Bradley Macdonald U14   [1]      0:1    James Huang          U14   [2]  
 5 Robert Napier     U14   [2.5]    1:0    BYE           

U18 - Standings

Place Name                 Feder Score

  1   Calum Glendinning    U18   5.5  
  2   Ashwanth Subramanian U18   5    
  3   Ben Toogood          U16   4    
  4   Robert Napier        U14   3.5  
 5-6  Matthew Moreland     U18   3    
      James Huang          U14   3    
 7-8  Eoin Boyle           U16   2.5  
      Zach Williamson      U16   2.5  
  9   Bradley Macdonald    U14   1  

U18 1st place - Calum Glendinning

U18 2nd place - Ashwanth Subramanian

U18 3rd place - Matthew Moreland

U16 1st place - Ben Toogood

U16 2nd place - Eoin Boyle, Zach Williamson

U14 1st place - James Huang

U14 2nd place - Bradley Macdonald

The Secondary Schools Puzzle Competition. Won by Calum Glendinning with a fantastic score of 17 and havng solved some very difficult problems.

Looking forward to seeing you at our next tournament on November 6th again at Methodist College which will be an afternoon of chess and puzzles.

Please pre-register by emailing mark.chris.newman@googlemail.com. Details at: https://www.ulsterchess.org/Members/ucu00450/childrens-chess-2021-22/nov-2021/childrens-chess-november-6rd

Solutions to the 6 puzzles: