The numbers for this tournament were good enabling us to have several age group sections. We split the students into 3 sections. Under 12, Under 14 and Under 18. The younger section was placed in one room with the view that if the rounds completed early we would play the next round so that we keep the chess going with little interruption and if so finish this section early. Our young section had one of our youngest players to date, Alexander Davis under 6. This group did complete early and we held the award ceremony at approx 1:20pm. The top section for under 18 we played an all play all for 5 rounds followed by a manual draw for round 6.

I was lucky to have the presence of Geoff Hindley who ran the second room with the U18 and U14 sections.

This event is part of the Delancey Schools Chess Challenge 2023 : https://www.delanceyukschoolschesschallenge.com/gigafinal-2023/ This is a megafinal and qualifiers then can play in one of the Gigafinals

In 2023 there are four Gigafinals; three over the board and one online: for full details go to the Chess Challenge website - link about.

1. Scottish Gigafinal (24th and 25th June) – players play on one of the days
2. Northern Gigafinal (1st and 2nd July) – players play on one of the days
3. Southern Gigafinal (22nd and 23rd July) – players play on one of the days
4. Online Gigafinal (2nd and 3rd September) – two day event

Please note that for the ‘over-the-board’ events U8s and U10s play on the Saturday and U12s, U14s and U18s play on the Sunday.

The qualifying rules are for each of the groups U8, U10, U12, U14, U18 The 1,2nd and 3rd placed boys and girls in each section will qualify (if 3rd place is shared then all in 3rd place will qualify. Also the top 3 Boys and Girls in U7s, U9s and U11s will Qualify. Any players with 3 1/2 or more points will qualify..

As usual we had our brilliant Puzzle solving competition. Which allows for plenty of chess talking and problem solving and is an excellent way to improve your chess.

The Primary Champion Puzzle Solver : Rippon Lorcan with a brilliant score of 16 out of 22.

The Secondary Schools Puzzle solving Champion : Eli Davison with a brilliant score of 16.5 out of 22.

Some of the puzzles to challenge you - the answers can be found at the end of this page.

Registration took place at 9:30am at Methodist College.. Most of the pre-registered players attended with a couple registering on the day. I was slow to start the first round checking everyone had arrived. We started at about 10:15am and each player had 25mins on the clocks. The Rooms fell to a gentle hush of thought and chess battled commenced. Who would qualify. Between rounds we encouraged players to play friendlys and solve the chess puzzles.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 1

Results

No Name            Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

 1 Lorcan Rippon   U10   [0]      1:0    Stephen McCullough    U12   [0]  
 2 Alexander Davis U6    [0]      0:1    Alexei White          U9    [0]  
 3 Aidan Spence    U11   [0]      1:0    Caelán Teggart        U12   [0]  
 4 Paul Leonard    U11   [0]      1:0    Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [0]  
 5 Mayan Bansal    U12   [0]      0:1    Matthew McColgan      U10   [0]  
 6 Matthew Mulhern U11   [0]      1:0    Tom Busby             U12   [0]  
 7 Joshua Kennedy  U12   [0]      1:0    Jackson Coakley       U9    [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The younger section was run slightly differently - once a round was completed the next was started shortly afterwards. This meant that chess was being played without too much of a break.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 2

Results

No Name                  Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 1 Joshua Kennedy        U12   [1]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon   U10   [1]  
 2 Alexei White          U9    [1]      0:1    Paul Leonard    U11   [1]  
 3 Matthew McColgan      U10   [1]      1:0    Aidan Spence    U11   [1]  
 4 Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [0]      1:0    Matthew Mulhern U11   [1]  
 5 Caelán Teggart        U12   [0]     .5:.5   Mayan Bansal    U12   [0]  
 6 Tom Busby             U12   [0]      1:0    Jackson Coakley U9    [0]  
 7 Stephen McCullough    U12   [0]      1:0    Alexander Davis U6    [0]  

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 3

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

 1 Lorcan Rippon      U10   [2]      1:0    Matthew McColgan      U10   [2]  
 2 Paul Leonard       U11   [2]      1:0    Tom Busby             U12   [1]  
 3 Matthew Mulhern    U11   [1]      0:1    Alexei White          U9    [1]  
 4 Aidan Spence       U11   [1]      0:1    Joshua Kennedy        U12   [1]  
 5 Stephen McCullough U12   [1]      1:0    Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [1]  
 6 Jackson Coakley    U9    [0]      0:1    Mayan Bansal          U12   [.5] 
 7 Alexander Davis    U6    [0]      0:1    Caelán Teggart        U12   [.5] 

Round 3 sees Lorcan Rippon and Paul Loenard leading the competition. It was excellent to see Alexander Davis playing when so young.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 4

Results

No Name                  Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Paul Leonard          U11   [3]     .5:.5   Lorcan Rippon      U10   [3]  
 2 Alexei White          U9    [2]      1:0    Stephen McCullough U12   [2]  
 3 Matthew McColgan      U10   [2]      0:1    Joshua Kennedy     U12   [2]  
 4 Mayan Bansal          U12   [1.5]    0:1    Aidan Spence       U11   [1]  
 5 Caelán Teggart        U12   [1.5]   .5:.5   Matthew Mulhern    U11   [1]  
 6 Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [1]      1:0    Tom Busby          U12   [1]  
 7 Jackson Coakley       U9    [0]      1:0    Alexander Davis    U6    [0]  

The qualifying points of 3.5 have been achieved by Paul and Lorcan drawing on the top board. Alexei White is on board 2 as Under9 this is brilliant and gets a win against Stephen McCullough.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 5

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

 1 Lorcan Rippon      U10   [3.5]    1:0    Alexei White          U9    [3]  
 2 Joshua Kennedy     U12   [3]      1:0    Paul Leonard          U11   [3.5]
 3 Aidan Spence       U11   [2]     .5:.5   Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [2]  
 4 Stephen McCullough U12   [2]      0:1    Caelán Teggart        U12   [2]  
 5 Tom Busby          U12   [1]      0:1    Matthew McColgan      U10   [2]  
 6 Matthew Mulhern    U11   [1.5]    1:0    Jackson Coakley       U9    [1]  
 7 Alexander Davis    U6    [0]      0:1    Mayan Bansal          U12   [1.5]

Lorcan continues as undefeated and wins against Alexei White who had travelled from England to play. Joshua Kennedy takes a point off the 2nd leader Paul Leonard.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 6

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

 1 Caelán Teggart   U12   [3]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon         U10   [4.5]
 2 Alexei White     U9    [3]      1:0    Joshua Kennedy        U12   [4]  
 3 Matthew McColgan U10   [3]      0:1    Paul Leonard          U11   [3.5]
 4 Matthew Mulhern  U11   [2.5]    0:1    Aidan Spence          U11   [2.5]
 5 Mayan Bansal     U12   [2.5]    1:0    Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   [2.5]
 6 Jackson Coakley  U9    [1]     .5:.5   Stephen McCullough    U12   [2]  
 7 Tom Busby        U12   [1]      1:0    Alexander Davis       U6    [0]  

Lorcan wins again and finishes on 5 1/2 points. Followed by Paul Leonard on 4 1/2 points and Alexei White and Joshua Kennedy on 4 points.

U12 / U10 / U8 Belfast MegaFinal - Standings

Place Name                  Feder Score

  1   Lorcan Rippon         U10   5.5  
  2   Paul Leonard          U11   4.5  
 3-4  Joshua Kennedy        U12   4    
      Alexei White          U9    4    
 5-6  Aidan Spence          U11   3.5  
      Mayan Bansal          U12   3.5  
 7-8  Matthew McColgan      U10   3    
      Caelán Teggart        U12   3    
9-11  Zachary Selkh-Burgess U11   2.5  
      Stephen McCullough    U12   2.5  
      Matthew Mulhern       U11   2.5  
 12   Tom Busby             U12   2    
 13   Jackson Coakley       U9    1.5  
14-15 Alexander Davis       U6    0    

The qualifiers for the Giga-Finals - these players can go forward into the next round the Giga-Finals. We wish them all well and will give you news of how well they do.

The rounds over we held the award ceremony early at about 1:30pm.

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 1

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 9 Louison Fuchs               U14   [0]      1:0    Thomas Kirkwood U14   [0]  
10 Conor Leopold               U13   [0]      0:1    Saoirse Rippon  U13   [0]  
11 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [0]      1:0    Max Makaveckas  U13   [0]  
12 Alexander McColgan          U13   [0]      0:1    Eli Davison     U14   [0]  
13 Odhrán Doody                U14   [0]      1:0    Peter Murphy    U13   [0]  
14 Conor Murphy                U13   [0]      1:0    Isaac Kirkland  U14   [0]  
15 Scott Reid                  U13   [0]      1:0    BYE    

The older pupils played in the second room and we kept to our timetable as most rounds played to the full time of 50mins 25 on each clock. They were looked after by Geoff Hindley.

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 2

Results

No Name            Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 9 Eli Davison     U14   [1]      0:1    Louison Fuchs               U14   [1]  
10 Saoirse Rippon  U13   [1]      0:1    Odhrán Doody                U14   [1]  
11 Scott Reid      U13   [1]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [1]  
12 Thomas Kirkwood U14   [0]      1:0    Conor Murphy                U13   [1]  
13 Isaac Kirkland  U14   [0]      1:0    Alexander McColgan          U13   [0]  
14 Max Makaveckas  U13   [0]      1:0    Conor Leopold               U13   [0]  
15 Peter Murphy    U13   [0]      1:0    BYE     

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 3

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 9 Louison Fuchs      U14   [2]      1:0    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [2]  
10 Odhrán Doody       U14   [2]      1:0    Max Makaveckas              U13   [1]  
11 Peter Murphy       U13   [1]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon              U13   [1]  
12 Conor Murphy       U13   [1]      1:0    Eli Davison                 U14   [1]  
13 Isaac Kirkland     U14   [1]      1:0    Scott Reid                  U13   [1]  
14 Conor Leopold      U13   [0]      0:1    Thomas Kirkwood             U14   [1]  
15 Alexander McColgan U13   [0]      1:0    BYE      

Round 3 and we start to see whos leading. Louison Fuchs and Odhran Doody on full points of 3 go into the lead and will probably meet in the next round..

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 4

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 9 Odhrán Doody                U14   [3]      1:0    Louison Fuchs      U14   [3]  
10 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [2]      1:0    Conor Murphy       U13   [2]  
11 Thomas Kirkwood             U14   [2]      1:0    Peter Murphy       U13   [2]  
12 Saoirse Rippon              U13   [1]      1:0    Isaac Kirkland     U14   [2]  
13 Eli Davison                 U14   [1]      1:0    Scott Reid         U13   [1]  
14 Max Makaveckas              U13   [1]      0:1    Alexander McColgan U13   [1]  
15 Conor Leopold               U13   [0]      1:0    BYE  

Odhran beats Louison and goes into the lead. Chased by Karthikeya and Thomas both on 3.

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 5

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 9 Thomas Kirkwood    U14   [3]     .5:.5   Odhrán Doody                U14   [4]  
10 Louison Fuchs      U14   [3]      1:0    Isaac Kirkland              U14   [2]  
11 Alexander McColgan U13   [2]      1:0    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [3]  
12 Conor Murphy       U13   [2]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon              U13   [2]  
13 Peter Murphy       U13   [2]     .5:.5   Eli Davison                 U14   [2]  
14 Scott Reid         U13   [1]      0:1    Conor Leopold               U13   [1]  
15 Max Makaveckas     U13   [1]      1:0    BYE      

Odhrans lead is dented with a draw from Thomas. We begin to see qualifiers appearing with players having 3.5 points to more.

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 6

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 9 Eli Davison                 U14   [2.5]    0:1    Odhrán Doody       U14   [4.5]
10 Conor Leopold               U13   [2]      0:1    Louison Fuchs      U14   [4]  
11 Isaac Kirkland              U14   [2]      1:0    Thomas Kirkwood    U14   [3.5]
12 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   [3]      0:1    Peter Murphy       U13   [2.5]
13 Max Makaveckas              U13   [2]      0:1    Conor Murphy       U13   [3]  
14 Scott Reid                  U13   [1]      0:1    Alexander McColgan U13   [3]  

Some brilliant chess is played during the day. Also Geoff plays friendlies against players who get a bye and enjoys some very challenging games.

U14 Belfast MegaFinal - Round 6

Standings

Place Name                        Feder Score

  1   Odhrán Doody                U14   5.5  
  2   Louison Fuchs               U14   5    
 3-4  Conor Murphy                U13   4    
      Alexander McColgan          U13   4    
 5-6  Thomas Kirkwood             U14   3.5  
      Peter Murphy                U13   3.5  
 7-8  Isaac Kirkland              U14   3    
      Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam U13   3    
  9   Eli Davison                 U14   2.5  
10-12 Max Makaveckas              U13   2    
      Saoirse Rippon              U13   2    
      Conor Leopold               U13   2    
 13   Scott Reid                  U13   1    
14-15 Marko Kyselov               U14   0      

The qualifiers for the Giga-finals:

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 1

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Nicky Cummings  [0]      0:1    Leah Worbey     [0]  
 2 William McGowan [0]      0:1    Andrew Campbell [0]  
 3 Alex Pitttam    [0]      1:0    Daniel Hill     [0]  

with 6 players for the U18 we decided to play and all play all of 5 rounds followed by a manual draw for round 6.

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 2

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Leah Worbey     [1]      1:0    Daniel Hill     [0]  
 2 Andrew Campbell [1]      1:0    Alex Pitttam    [1]  
 3 Nicky Cummings  [0]      0:1    William McGowan [0]  

Round 2 and in the lead we have on 2 points Leah Worbey and Andrew Campbell.

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 3

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 William McGowan [1]      1:0    Leah Worbey     [2]  
 2 Alex Pitttam    [1]     .5:.5   Nicky Cummings  [0]  
 3 Daniel Hill     [0]      0:1    Andrew Campbell [2]  

Andrew leads undefeated on 3 full points after round 3.

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 4

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Leah Worbey     [2]     .5:.5   Andrew Campbell [3]  
 2 Nicky Cummings  [.5]     0:1    Daniel Hill     [0]  
 3 William McGowan [2]      0:1    Alex Pitttam    [1.5]

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 5

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Alex Pitttam    [2.5]    1:0    Leah Worbey     [2.5]
 2 Daniel Hill     [1]      0:1    William McGowan [2]  
 3 Andrew Campbell [3.5]    1:0    Nicky Cummings  [.5] 

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Round 6

Results

No Name            Total  Result     Name            Total

 1 Alex Pitttam    [3.5]    .5:.5    Andrew Campbell   [4.5]
 2 Leah Worbey     [2.5]    .5:.5    William McGowan [3]  
 3 Daniel Hill     [1]      1:0      Nicky Cummings  [.5] 

The final round and we pair the highest pointed players to a rematch. Alex draws againts Andrew who wins the age-group on 5 out of 6 points. Followed by Alex on 4 points.

Belfast MegaFinals U18 - Standings

Place Name            Feder Score

  1   Andrew Campbell U18   5  
  2   Alex Pitttam    U17   4
  3   William McGowan U18   3.5    
  4   Leah Worbey     U18   3  
  5   Daniel Hill     U18   2    
  6   Nicky Cummings  U18   0.5 

The Giga-final qualifiers: