You are here: Home Users Mark Newman 2021-2022 Ulster Championships 2022 The Ulster Championships were held over the August Bank Holiday 2022

The Ulster Championships were held over the August Bank Holiday 2022

With the excellent venue of Queens University, South Dinning Hall. Some 38 players battled to see who would be this years Ulster Champions. The top tournament in the Ulster Chess Union Calender.

Friday evening saw myself and Paddy Magee checking the setup of the tables at Queens University and organising the intelligent chess boards which we usually give about 2 hours to complete. Then early Saturday morning joined by Ross Harris we setup the chess boards ready for the tournament.

The full results can be found at : http://www.ulsterchess.net/results/2022-08-29/

The games from the intelligent boards can be found at : http://www.ulsterchess.net/2022-08-29/

room-waiting

view-fromdoor

practice-boards

Players started arriving and registering paying their UCU fees where necessary and their entrance. We had 3 sections with 12 in the top two and 18 in the junior section. Several players were offered the opportunity to play up to get more in the top section.

At 10:00 after a short introduction and a chat on the rules the clocks were started and hush fell on the room.

Round 1.

Seniors:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 0 7 Gostelow, Luke 0 1-0
2 8 McDonnell, James 0 2 Annesley, Gareth 0 1/2
3 3 Donaldson, Thomas 0 9 Woods, Yannick 0 1-0
4 10 Lavery, Robert 0 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 0 1/2
5 6 Goss, Alex 0 11 Morrow, Richard 0 1/2
0 4 Roberts, Danny 0 0.5 bye
0 12 Mallaghan, Danny 0 1 bye(PA)

The seniors started with some results that opened up the tournament. Luke Gostelow fought a good fight against Mandar Tahmankar evenytually loosing.There were 3 draws. Richard Morrow getting a good draw against Alex and James McDonnellgetting a good draw against Gareth Annesley.

Intermediate

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 7 Corr, David 0 1 Rushe, Adam 0 1-0
8 2 Thompson, Bobby 0 8 Barbals, Gatis 0 0-1
9 9 Douglas, James 0 4 Armstrong, Chris 0 1/2
10 5 Cole, Ethan 0 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 1-0
11 11 Wong, James 0 6 Todd, Andrew 0 1/2
0 3 Murphy, Cathal 0 0.5 bye
0 12 Magee, Paddy 0 1 bye(PA)

Adam Rushes hopes of a title were dented by David Corr who got a good win. James Douglas got a good draw against Chris Armstrong. James Wong got a good draw against Andrew Todd.

rd1-1rd1-2
rd`-3 rd1-4

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 8 McClean, Caleb 0 7 Thoke, Amol 0 0-1
14 2 Sawant, Sanket 0 9 Sandrey, Jade 0 0-1
15 11 Hindley, Geoff 0 3 Proctor, Richard 0 0-1
16 4 Fuchs, Louison 0 12 Huang, James 0 0-1
17 13 Murphy,Peter 0 5 Rooney, Christopher 0 0-1
18 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 0 15 Gamble, George 0 1-0
0 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0 0.5 bye
0 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0 0.5 bye

Jade Sandrey wins against Sanket Sawant. James Huang wins against Louison Fuchs. Its good to see new faces in the competition. The section is very close and the games will all be closely fought.

Round 2

Senior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 12 Mallaghan, Danny 1 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 1 1-0
2 2 Annesley, Gareth 0.5 3 Donaldson, Thomas 1 0-1
3 4 Roberts, Danny 0.5 10 Lavery, Robert 0.5 1-0
4 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 0.5 6 Goss, Alex 0.5 1/2
5 11 Morrow, Richard 0.5 8 McDonnell, James 0.5 1/2
6 7 Gostelow, Luke 0 9 Woods, Yannick 0 1-0

Richard Morrow continues with success and gets a draw against previous Ulster Champion James McDonnell.

gareth-thomaas

Thomas Donaldson continues to win. With the above position against

Gareth Annesley.

danny-mandar

Danny Mallaghan is on form with this win against Mandar Tahmankar.

Going into a Rook and Pawn ending and winning it.

Intermediate:

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 8 Barbals, Gatis 1 5 Cole, Ethan 1 0-1
8 12 Magee, Paddy 1 7 Corr, David 1 1/2
9 6 Todd, Andrew 0.5 3 Murphy, Cathal 0.5 1-0
10 4 Armstrong, Chris 0.5 11 Wong, James 0.5 1-0
11 1 Rushe, Adam 0 9 Douglas, James 0.5 1-0
12 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 2 Thompson, Bobby 0 0-1

Ethan gets a good win against Gatis and leads the Intermediate section going into round 3. Chased by 4 players on 1.5 points.

paddy-david

Paddy and David have fireworks in their opening. Ending with a draw.

rd2-1rd2-2
rd2-3 rd2-4

 

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 3 Proctor, Richard 1 7 Thoke, Amol 1 1/2
14 5 Rooney, Christopher 1 9 Sandrey, Jade 1 1/2
15 12 Huang, James 1 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 1 0-1
16 11 Hindley, Geoff 0 2 Sawant, Sanket 0 0-1
17 13 Murphy,Peter 0 4 Fuchs, Louison 0 0-1
18 15 Gamble, George 0 8 McClean, Caleb 0 0-1
0 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 0 bye
0 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 0 bye

The section gets more open with draws on thw top 2 boards. Ashish Shambharkar leads on 2 points chased by 4 players on 1.5.

Round 3

Senior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 3 Donaldson, Thomas 2 4 Roberts, Danny 1.5 1-0
2 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 1 11 Morrow, Richard 1 1-0
3 8 McDonnell, James 1 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 1 1/2
4 6 Goss, Alex 1 7 Gostelow, Luke 1 0-1
5 9 Woods, Yannick 0 2 Annesley, Gareth 0.5 0-1
0 10 Lavery, Robert 0.5 0.5 bye
0 12 Mallaghan, Danny 2 0.5 bye

 

thomas-danny

Danny opens up the White King with a pawn sacrifice but Thomas defends well and Danny looses a Bishop. Thomas leds the Seniors unbeaten. Followed by Danny Mallaghan on 1.5.

Intermediate:

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 5 Cole, Ethan 2 12 Magee, Paddy 1.5 1-0
8 7 Corr, David 1.5 4 Armstrong, Chris 1.5 1/2
9 2 Thompson, Bobby 1 6 Todd, Andrew 1.5 0-1
10 8 Barbals, Gatis 1 1 Rushe, Adam 1 1-0
11 3 Murphy, Cathal 0.5 9 Douglas, James 0.5 1-0
12 11 Wong, James 0.5 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 1-0

Ethan Cole continues to led with a win against Paddy Magee. But its still very close. With  Andrew Todd on 2.5 and 3  players in 2.

rd3-1rd3-2
rd3-3 rd3-4

 

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 2 3 Proctor, Richard 1.5 0-1
14 7 Thoke, Amol 1.5 5 Rooney, Christopher 1.5 1-0
15 9 Sandrey, Jade 1.5 4 Fuchs, Louison 1 1-0
16 2 Sawant, Sanket 1 12 Huang, James 1 0-1
17 8 McClean, Caleb 1 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 1-0
18 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 11 Hindley, Geoff 0 0-1
19 15 Gamble, George 0 13 Murphy,Peter 0 1/2

Richard Proctor stops the leader Ahish Shambharkar.Whilst Jade Sandrey and Amol Thoke both win to become joint leaders with Richard. Chased closely by 3 players 1/2 point behind on 2 points.

Round 4

Senior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 12 Mallaghan, Danny 2.5 3 Donaldson, Thomas 3 0-1
2 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 1.5 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 2 0-1
3 7 Gostelow, Luke 2 8 McDonnell, James 1.5 0-1
4 2 Annesley, Gareth 1.5 4 Roberts, Danny 1.5 1-0
5 10 Lavery, Robert 1 6 Goss, Alex 1 0-1
6 11 Morrow, Richard 1 9 Woods, Yannick 0 1-0

Thomas Donaldson continues to win. Yannick Woods is having a good tournament - all his games are keenly fought and sometimes the result doesnt reflect how close the game was.

Intermediate:

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 6 Todd, Andrew 2.5 5 Cole, Ethan 3 1-0
8 4 Armstrong, Chris 2 8 Barbals, Gatis 2 0-1
9 3 Murphy, Cathal 1.5 7 Corr, David 2 1-0
10 12 Magee, Paddy 1.5 11 Wong, James 1.5 0-1
11 1 Rushe, Adam 1 2 Thompson, Bobby 1 1/2
12 9 Douglas, James 0.5 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 1-0

Andrew Todd takes the lead by beating Ethan Cole. Chasing close behind is Gatis Barbals.

chris-gatis

Chris Armstrong goes for the attack sacrificing his Bishop for2 pawns and  opening up the Black King. Gatis defends well and wins.

 

rd4-1rd4-2
rd4-3 r4-4

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 3 Proctor, Richard 2.5 9 Sandrey, Jade 2.5 0-1
14 7 Thoke, Amol 2.5 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 2 1-0
15 12 Huang, James 2 8 McClean, Caleb 2 0-1
16 4 Fuchs, Louison 1 2 Sawant, Sanket 1 1-0
17 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 11 Hindley, Geoff 1 0-1
18 13 Murphy,Peter 0.5 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 1-0
0 5 Rooney, Christopher 1.5 0.5 bye
0 15 Gamble, George 0.5 1 bye(PA)

Jade and Amol go into the lead on 3.5 points and have yet to play each other. Caleb McClean is chasing on 3 points.

richard-jade

Jade opens the centre and goes on to win a Rook and the game.

Round 5

Senior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 3 Donaldson, Thomas 4 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 3 0-1
2 8 McDonnell, James 2.5 12 Mallaghan, Danny 2.5 0-1
3 6 Goss, Alex 2 2 Annesley, Gareth 2.5 1-0
4 11 Morrow, Richard 2 7 Gostelow, Luke 2 0-1
5 4 Roberts, Danny 1.5 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 1.5 0-1
6 9 Woods, Yannick 0 10 Lavery, Robert 1 1-0

Mandar wins against Thomas Donaldson. Danny Mallaghan stays close behind with a win against James McDonnell. Modestas gets a good win against Danny Roberts. Yannick Woods gets a win againsts Robert Lavery,

 

alex-gareth

Alex wins the c5 pawn and gets into a winning endgame.

james-danny

Danny opens up the Kings side swapping off the pawns and bringing down the  Rooks. The White King is the wrong side of the White Rooks.

 

Intermediate:

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 8 Barbals, Gatis 3 6 Todd, Andrew 3.5 1-0
8 5 Cole, Ethan 3 3 Murphy, Cathal 2.5 1-0
9 11 Wong, James 2.5 7 Corr, David 2 0-1
10 1 Rushe, Adam 1.5 4 Armstrong, Chris 2 0-1
11 2 Thompson, Bobby 1.5 9 Douglas, James 1.5 1-0
12 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 12 Magee, Paddy 1.5 0-1

Its going to be a close finish with Gatis Barbals winning against Andrew Todd and Ethan Cole winning against Cathal Murphy. Both Gatis and Ethan lead on 4 points.

rd5-1rd5-2
rd5-3 rd5-4

 

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 9 Sandrey, Jade 3.5 7 Thoke, Amol 3.5 1-0
14 8 McClean, Caleb 3 3 Proctor, Richard 2.5 1/2
15 11 Hindley, Geoff 2 4 Fuchs, Louison 2 0-1
16 5 Rooney, Christopher 2 12 Huang, James 2 0-1
17 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 2 13 Murphy,Peter 1.5 1-0
18 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 15 Gamble, George 1.5 0-1
19 2 Sawant, Sanket 1 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 1-0

Jade wins against Amol and goes into the last round leading the compeition on 4.5 points.Chased by Amol and Caleb on 3.5 points.

Round 6

Senior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
1 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 4 6 Goss, Alex 3 0-1
2 7 Gostelow, Luke 3 3 Donaldson, Thomas 4 0-1
3 2 Annesley, Gareth 2.5 12 Mallaghan, Danny 3.5 1-0
4 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 2.5 11 Morrow, Richard 2 1-0
5 10 Lavery, Robert 1 8 McDonnell, James 2.5 1/2
6 9 Woods, Yannick 1 4 Roberts, Danny 1.5 1/2

Thomas wins the Senior Champoinship with 5 out of 6. Yannick Woods gets a good draw against Danny Roberts - who praises highly Yannicks skill.

mandar-akex

Alex wins the game - but here it looks challenging.

gareth-danny

I include this because I love Gareth 5 pawns on the fourth Rank.

 

Intermediate:

Table White Score Black Score Result
7 4 Armstrong, Chris 3 5 Cole, Ethan 4 0-1
8 7 Corr, David 3 8 Barbals, Gatis 4 0-1
9 6 Todd, Andrew 3.5 12 Magee, Paddy 2.5 1-0
10 3 Murphy, Cathal 2.5 2 Thompson, Bobby 2.5 0-1
11 9 Douglas, James 1.5 11 Wong, James 2.5 0-1
12 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 0 1 Rushe, Adam 1.5 1-0

Ethan Cole and Gatis Barbals win so at the end are joint leaders on 5 points - it will take the tie-break to determine the winner.

rd6-1rd6-2
rd6-3 rd6-4

Junior:

Table White Score Black Score Result
13 9 Sandrey, Jade 4.5 8 McClean, Caleb 3.5 0-1
14 12 Huang, James 3 7 Thoke, Amol 3.5 1-0
15 4 Fuchs, Louison 3 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 3 0-1
16 3 Proctor, Richard 3 15 Gamble, George 2.5 1-0
17 5 Rooney, Christopher 2 11 Hindley, Geoff 2 1/2
18 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 2 Sawant, Sanket 2 0-1
19 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 13 Murphy,Peter 1.5 0-1

The juniors also ends in a tie-break with Jade Sandrey and Caleb McClean on 4.5 points.

jade-caleb

Caleb wins the Rook and Pawn endgame.

 

Final Standings

Seniors:

Rank PNo Name Score Buchholz-HiLo Buchholz PS Rating
1 3 Donaldson, Thomas 5 7 17 19 1982
2 1 Tahmankar, Mandar 4 6 20.5 15 2094
3 6 Goss, Alex 4 5 17.5 11.5 1877
4 12 Mallaghan, Danny 3.5 7.5 22 15 1593 *
5 5 Razbadauskas, Modestas 3.5 5 16.5 10.5 1886
6 2 Annesley, Gareth 3.5 4.5 18.5 11 1990
7 7 Gostelow, Luke 3 4.5 19.5 11 1779
8 8 McDonnell, James 3 4.5 16.5 11 1765
9 4 Roberts, Danny 2 4.5 18 8.5 1976
10 11 Morrow, Richard 2 3.5 19 8.5 1632 *
11 9 Woods, Yannick 1.5 2.5 17 2.5 1700
12 10 Lavery, Robert 1.5 2 16.5 5.5 1480

Ulster Champion : Thomas Donaldson

2nd : Mandar Tahmankar

3rd : Alex Goss

Grading Prize < 1800: Danny Mallaghan

seniors-winners

Intermediate:

Rank PNo Name Score Buchholz-HiLo Buchholz PS Rating
1 8 Barbals, Gatis 5 7 20.5 16 1429
2 5 Cole, Ethan 5 7 18 18 1496
3 6 Todd, Andrew 4.5 6.5 21.5 16 1484
4 2 Thompson, Bobby 3.5 4 16 9.5 1533 *
5 11 Wong, James 3.5 3 15 11 1403 *
6 7 Corr, David 3 6 17.5 12.5 1430 *
7 4 Armstrong, Chris 3 5.5 19.5 12 1501
8 3 Murphy, Cathal 2.5 5.5 20.5 10 1505
9 12 Magee, Paddy 2.5 4.5 19.5 10.5 1281 *
10 1 Rushe, Adam 1.5 2.5 17 6.5 1609
11 9 Douglas, James 1.5 2 15 6 1423 *
12 10 Dimitrov, Nikolai 1 2 17 1 1422

Intermediate Champion: Gatis Barbals

2nd: Ethan Cole

3rd: Andrew Todd

intermed-winners

Junior:

Rank PNo Name Score Buchholz-HiLo Buchholz PS Rating
1 9 Sandrey, Jade 4.5 8 20.5 17.5 1100 *
2 8 McClean, Caleb 4.5 5.5 19 14 1100 *
3 3 Proctor, Richard 4 7.5 21 14.5 1242 *
4 6 Shambharkar, Ashish 4 6.5 19 14 1200 *
5 12 Huang, James 4 6 20.5 13 1000 *
6 7 Thoke, Amol 3.5 7.5 23.5 15.5 1136
7 4 Fuchs, Louison 3 4.5 20.5 10 1200 *
8 2 Sawant, Sanket 3 3 16 8 1300 *
9 5 Rooney, Christopher 2.5 6 20 10.5 1200 *
10 11 Hindley, Geoff 2.5 4 14.5 7.5 1004 *
11 13 Murphy,Peter 2.5 2 13.5 6 1000 *
12 15 Gamble, George 2.5 1.5 17.5 7 865 *
13 10 Rippon, Lorcan 0.5 3.5 19 3 1023 *
14 14 Rippon, Saoirse 0.5 2 16.5 3 1000 *

Junior Champion: Jade Sandrey

2nd: Caleb McClean

3rd: Richard Proctor

Grading < 1050: James Huang

Its good to see family playing Richard Proctor and grandson Caleb McClean.

Also its brilliant to see the young brother and sister Lorcan, Saoirse playing.

An excellent weekend of Chess. Thanks to all the players.

junior-winners

 

all-winners