My humblest apologies for the lack of bringing you the fun and positive atmosphere of the afternoon - my writing skills arent up to it. But hopefully the photos and smiles give some idea.

The monthly tournaments continues. With some 31 players. Familiar faces and new players. Top players Ethan Cole (Ulster Schools Champion), Ashwanth Subramanian and James Huang. Its a rich afternoon of chess. As players arrive theyre registered and offered a puzzle sheet. We have 3 rooms, 2 playing areas and one for parents. I explain to players and parents the structure of the afternoon - play starting once everyone is registered at about 1:00pm or before. Once each round is completed we immediately start the next round so that players are playing chess all afternoon. With the aim to play about 6 rounds. We have become a nut free zone due to allergies.So we check that lunches dont include nuts and also that we have permission to take photos.

With everyone arrived the first round is drawn the players are shown to their tables and play begins. A silent concentration spreads through the room.

Between rounds theres the gentle chat of friendly games and players working at the problems.

The puzzles provide an opportunity to talk chess and the one section allows for the top primary youngsters to have a challenging game against the older players and possibly score a point.

The Secondary Puzzle Champion : Aaditya Singh.

The Primary Puzzle Solving Champion: Ethan Cole.

The puzzles are little works of art. I include some of them  here for you to solve.

The solutions are at the bottom of the page. Enjoy. Also note alot of these were solved by some of the players.

Round 1

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name           Feder Total

 1 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [0]      1:0    Josh Gourley   F3    [0]  
 2 Advait Tahmankar     P4    [0]      0:1    Ethan Cole     P5    [0]  
 3 James Huang          F3    [0]      1:0    Henry Riddell  F1    [0]  
 4 Harrison Andrews     F1    [0]      0:1    Eoin Boyle     F3    [0]  
 5 Daniel Hill          L6    [0]      1:0    Nathan Beattie F1    [0]  
 6 Connor Campbell      F1    [0]      0:1    Anjali Singh   F3    [0]  
 7 Aaditya Singh        F1    [0]      1:0    Peter Murphy   F1    [0]  
 8 Jake Norris          F1    [0]      0:1    Dev Chaudhry   P6    [0]  
 9 Thomas Loughrey      F1    [0]      1:0    Zackary Todd   F2    [0]  
10 Shlok Thoke          P5    [0]      0:1    Joseph Quinn   P6    [0]  
11 Lorcan Rippon        P5    [0]      1:0    Peter Riddell  P5    [0]  
12 Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [0]      0:1    Harry Stewart  F1    [0]  
13 Andrew Campbell      F4    [0]      1:0    Hugo Mallon    P5    [0]  
14 Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [0]      0:1    Joel Davidson  F3    [0]  
15 Ronan Gallagher      F5    [0]      1:0    Owen Chan      P5    [0]  
16 Arjun Kadam          P5    [0]      1:0    BYE                       

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

I do allocate an approx rating to the players. The first round looks like it goes to rating.

Round 2

Results

No Name           Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Joseph Quinn   P6    [1]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [1]  
 2 Ethan Cole     P5    [1]      1:0    Thomas Loughrey      F1    [1]  
 3 Harry Stewart  F1    [1]      0:1    James Huang          F3    [1]  
 4 Eoin Boyle     F3    [1]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon        P5    [1]  
 5 Joel Davidson  F3    [1]      0:1    Daniel Hill          L6    [1]  
 6 Anjali Singh   F3    [1]      1:0    Andrew Campbell      F4    [1]  
 7 Arjun Kadam    P5    [1]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        F1    [1]  
 8 Dev Chaudhry   P6    [1]      1:0    Ronan Gallagher      F5    [1]  
 9 Josh Gourley   F3    [0]      1:0    Jake Norris          F1    [0]  
10 Zackary Todd   F2    [0]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar     P4    [0]  
11 Henry Riddell  F1    [0]      0:1    Shlok Thoke          P5    [0]  
12 Peter Riddell  P5    [0]      0:1    Harrison Andrews     F1    [0]  
13 Nathan Beattie F1    [0]      1:0    Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [0]  
14 Hugo Mallon    P5    [0]     .5:.5   Connor Campbell      F1    [0]  
15 Peter Murphy   F1    [0]      1:0    Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [0]  
16 Owen Chan      P5    [0]      1:0    BYE          

The young Lorcan Rippon gets a point off Eoin Boyle. The young players Advait Tahmankar and Shlok Thoke get points.

Round 3

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name           Feder Total

 1 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [2]      1:0    Anjali Singh   F3    [2]  
 2 Aaditya Singh        F1    [2]      0:1    Ethan Cole     P5    [2]  
 3 James Huang          F3    [2]      1:0    Dev Chaudhry   P6    [2]  
 4 Daniel Hill          L6    [2]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon  P5    [2]  
 5 Advait Tahmankar     P4    [1]      0:1    Eoin Boyle     F3    [1]  
 6 Thomas Loughrey      F1    [1]      1:0    Josh Gourley   F3    [1]  
 7 Harrison Andrews     F1    [1]      1:0    Joseph Quinn   P6    [1]  
 8 Shlok Thoke          P5    [1]     .5:.5   Harry Stewart  F1    [1]  
 9 Andrew Campbell      F4    [1]      1:0    Nathan Beattie F1    [1]  
10 Owen Chan            P5    [1]      0:1    Joel Davidson  F3    [1]  
11 Ronan Gallagher      F5    [1]      1:0    Arjun Kadam    P5    [1]  
12 Connor Campbell      F1    [.5]     0:1    Peter Murphy   F1    [1]  
13 Henry Riddell        F1    [0]      1:0    Hugo Mallon    P5    [.5] 
14 Jake Norris          F1    [0]      0:1    Peter Riddell  P5    [0]  
15 Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [0]      1:0    Zackary Todd   F2    [0]  
16 Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [0]      1:0    BYE           

Ethan, Ashwanth and James continue to win their games. We await the eventual meeting of the leaders. Lorcan is also playing brilliantly and is on top points.

Round 4

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Lorcan Rippon    P5    [3]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [3]  
 2 Ethan Cole       P5    [3]      1:0    James Huang          F3    [3]  
 3 Eoin Boyle       F3    [2]     .5:.5   Thomas Loughrey      F1    [2]  
 4 Peter Murphy     F1    [2]      0:1    Daniel Hill          L6    [2]  
 5 Anjali Singh     F3    [2]      1:0    Ronan Gallagher      F5    [2]  
 6 Joel Davidson    F3    [2]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        F1    [2]  
 7 Dev Chaudhry     P6    [2]      0:1    Andrew Campbell      F4    [2]  
 8 Harry Stewart    F1    [1.5]    0:1    Harrison Andrews     F1    [2]  
 9 Josh Gourley     F3    [1]      1:0    Shlok Thoke          P5    [1.5]
10 Joseph Quinn     P6    [1]      1:0    Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [1]  
11 Peter Riddell    P5    [1]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar     P4    [1]  
12 Ezekiel Gavaghan P5    [1]      1:0    Henry Riddell        F1    [1]  
13 Nathan Beattie   F1    [1]      1:0    Owen Chan            P5    [1]  
14 Arjun Kadam      P5    [1]      1:0    Connor Campbell      F1    [.5] 
15 Hugo Mallon      P5    [.5]    .5:.5   Jake Norris          F1    [0]  
16 Zackary Todd     F2    [0]      1:0    BYE              

The top players meet. Ashwanth beats Lorcan and Ethan beats James. Some brilliant chess.

Round 5

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [4]     .5:.5   Ethan Cole       P5    [4]  
 2 James Huang          F3    [3]      1:0    Lorcan Rippon    P5    [3]  
 3 Daniel Hill          L6    [3]      0:1    Aaditya Singh    F1    [3]  
 4 Harrison Andrews     F1    [3]      0:1    Anjali Singh     F3    [3]  
 5 Andrew Campbell      F4    [3]      1:0    Eoin Boyle       F3    [2.5]
 6 Thomas Loughrey      F1    [2.5]    0:1    Dev Chaudhry     P6    [2]  
 7 Advait Tahmankar     P4    [2]      0:1    Joseph Quinn     P6    [2]  
 8 Peter Murphy         F1    [2]      1:0    Joel Davidson    F3    [2]  
 9 Ronan Gallagher      F5    [2]      0:1    Ezekiel Gavaghan P5    [2]  
10 Josh Gourley         F3    [2]      1:0    Arjun Kadam      P5    [2]  
11 Shlok Thoke          P5    [1.5]    0:1    Nathan Beattie   F1    [2]  
12 Zackary Todd         F2    [1]      0:1    Harry Stewart    F1    [1.5]
13 Henry Riddell        F1    [1]     .5:.5   Peter Riddell    P5    [1]  
14 Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [1]      0:1    Hugo Mallon      P5    [1]  
15 Owen Chan            P5    [1]      0:1    Connor Campbell  F1    [.5] 
16 Jake Norris          F1    [.5]     1:0    BYE         

The top players draw and the competition opens up a small bit. James Huang and Aaditya Singh and Anjali Singh and Andrew Campbell giving chase on 4 points.

Round 6

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Aaditya Singh        F1    [4]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian U6    [4.5]
 2 Ethan Cole           P5    [4.5]   .5:.5   Andrew Campbell      F4    [4]  
 3 Anjali Singh         F3    [4]      0:1    James Huang          F3    [4]  
 4 Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    [3]      0:1    Daniel Hill          L6    [3]  
 5 Dev Chaudhry         P6    [3]      1:0    Josh Gourley         F3    [3]  
 6 Joseph Quinn         P6    [3]      0:1    Peter Murphy         F1    [3]  
 7 Lorcan Rippon        P5    [3]      1:0    Harrison Andrews     F1    [3]  
 8 Nathan Beattie       F1    [3]      0:1    Thomas Loughrey      F1    [2.5]
 9 Eoin Boyle           F3    [2.5]    1:0    Harry Stewart        F1    [2.5]
10 Hugo Mallon          P5    [2]     .5:.5   Ronan Gallagher      F5    [2]  
11 Arjun Kadam          P5    [2]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar     P4    [2]  
12 Joel Davidson        F3    [2]      0:1    Henry Riddell        F1    [1.5]
13 Connor Campbell      F1    [1.5]    0:1    Peter Riddell        P5    [1.5]
14 Jake Norris          F1    [1.5]    0:1    Shlok Thoke          P5    [1.5]
15 Owen Chan            P5    [1]      0:1    Zackary Todd         F2    [1]  
16 Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    [1]      1:0    BYE               

The final round. We collect the puzzle at approx 3:00pm so with the marking of the puzzles I sometimes miss taking photos of the chess.

Can any player challenge the two leaders. Yes, Andrew Campbell takes Ethan Cole to a draw whilst Ashwanth wins against Aadtiya to top the tournament.

Standings

Place Name                 Feder Score

  1   Ashwanth Subramanian U6    5.5  
 2-3  Ethan Cole           P5    5    
      James Huang          F3    5    
  4   Andrew Campbell      F4    4.5  
5-10  Lorcan Rippon        P5    4    
      Anjali Singh         F3    4    
      Aaditya Singh        F1    4    
      Daniel Hill          L6    4    
      Dev Chaudhry         P6    4    
      Peter Murphy         F1    4    
11-12 Eoin Boyle           F3    3.5  
      Thomas Loughrey      F1    3.5  
13-18 Harrison Andrews     F1    3    
      Joseph Quinn         P6    3    
      Ezekiel Gavaghan     P5    3    
      Josh Gourley         F3    3    
      Nathan Beattie       F1    3    
      Advait Tahmankar     P4    3    
19-24 Shlok Thoke          P5    2.5  
      Harry Stewart        F1    2.5  
      Ronan Gallagher      F5    2.5  
      Henry Riddell        F1    2.5  
      Peter Riddell        P5    2.5  
      Hugo Mallon          P5    2.5  
25-28 Joel Davidson        F3    2    
      Arjun Kadam          P5    2    
      Saoirse-Maria Barnes P5    2    
      Zack Todd            F2    2    
29-30 Jake Norris          F1    1.5  
      Connor Campbell      F1    1.5  
 31   Owen Chan            P5    1    

Ashwanth Subramanian wins outright with 5.5 out of 6 followed by Ethan Cole (P5) and James Huang(F3) on 5. With 4.5 we have Andrew Campbell. A bunch of players follow on 4: Lorcan Rippon (P5), Anjali Singh, Aaditya Singh, Daniel Hill, Dev Chaudhry (P6), Peter Murphy.

Form 4 and above

Champion: Ashwanth Subramanian

Second: Andrew Campbell

Third: Daniel Hill

Form 3

Champion: James Huang

Second: Anjali Singh

Third: Eoin Boyle

Form 2

Champion: Zach Todd

Form 1

Champion: Aaditya SIngh, Peter Murphy

Second: Thomas Loughrey

Third: Harrison Andrews, Nathan Beattie

P6

Champion: Dev Chaudhry

Second: Joseph Quinn

P5

Champion: Ethan Cole

Second: Lorcan Rippon

Third: Ezekiel Gavaghan

P4 and below

Champion: Advait Tahmankar

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

Thanks also to Methodist College.

Puzzle Solutions