The Ulster Fischer Random Championship took place on Sunday 2nd June.
At various moments we had almost 20 people registered but with withdrawals some late. We finally had a list of 12 players - including myself. So I decided to play. I had done the random positions - but hadnt looked at them so I didnt have any advantage and with my usual play with low times on the clock I didnt expect todo well.
We had a good selection of players. Including Mandar Tahmankar the defending champion. Last year after the competition we did discuss a weekender with slower time limits but after today I wouldnt be confident of getting the numbers. The day however was full of brilliant chess and good positions, the random back row was definately challenging to the chess mind. In a very good way.
The proposed timetable - we did start late but caught-up with a shorter lunch. The Restaurant was open and players enjoyed the cuisine.
10:30 registration
11:00 Rd1
11:50 Rd2
12:40 Rd3
13:30 Lunch
14:10 Rd4
15:00 Rd5
15:50 Rd6
16:40 Rd7
17:30 Prize giving
Below I give each position for each round. Some photos and the results.
Round 1
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Mandar Tahmankar | 0 | Joe Gunnning | 0 | 1 - 0 |
| 2 | Peter Murphy | 0 | Mark Newman | 0 | 0 - 1 |
| 3 | Andrew Campbell | 0 | Shivraj Yewale | 0 | 1 - 0 |
| 4 | Torres W. | 0 | Gerard Mcilroy | 0 | 0 - 1 |
| 5 | Ben Mcilroy | 0 | Aharshi Banerjee | 0 | 1 - 0 |
| 6 | Simon Murphy | 0 | Owen Dumigan | 0 | 0 - 1 |
The games go according to rating so no immediate upsets. I used the UCU rapidplay rating.
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Round 2
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Gerard Mcilroy | 1 | Mandar Tahmankar | 1 | 1 - 0 |
| 2 | Mark Newman | 1 | Ben Mcilroy | 1 | 0 - 1 |
| 3 | Owen Dumigan | 1 | Andrew Campbell | 1 | 0 - 1 |
| 4 | Joe Gunnning | 0 | Torres W. | 0 | 1/2 - 1/2 |
| 5 | Aharshi Banerjee | 0 | Peter Murphy | 0 | 1 - 0 |
| 6 | Shivraj Yewale | 0 | Simon Murphy | 0 | 1 - 0 |
The defending champion and top player Mandar Tahmankar is beaten by Gerard Mcilroy and his son Ben Mcilroy wins against Mark Newman. This competition sees a good no of younger players with Ben, Andrew, Simon and Aharshi. There are two families playing Mcilroy and Murphy both have fathers and sons.
Round 3
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Andrew Campbell | 2 | Gerard Mcilroy | 2 | 1/2 - 1/2 |
| 2 | Ben Mcilroy | 2 | Owen Dumigan | 1 | 1 - 0 |
| 3 | Mandar Tahmankar | 1 | Shivraj Yewale | 1 | 1 - 0 |
| 4 | Aharshi Banerjee | 1 | Mark Newman | 1 | 0 - 1 |
| 5 | Peter Murphy | 0 | Joe Gunnning | 0.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 6 | Torres W. | 0.5 | Simon Murphy | 0 | 1 - 0 |
Andrew Campbell gets a good draw against Gerard Mcilroy.
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Round 4
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Gerard Mcilroy | 2.5 | Ben Mcilroy | 3 | 1/2 - 1/2 |
| 2 | Mark Newman | 2 | Andrew Campbell | 2.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 3 | Torres W. | 1.5 | Mandar Tahmankar | 2 | 0 - 1 |
| 4 | Owen Dumigan | 1 | Aharshi Banerjee | 1 | 1 - 0 |
| 5 | Shivraj Yewale | 1 | Peter Murphy | 1 | 1 - 0 |
| 6 | Simon Murphy | 0 | Joe Gunnning | 0.5 | 1 - 0 |
The board one saw a fantastic game of Father v Son. Ending in a draw having travelled through some brilliantly complicated positions - unfortunately we didnt get the scoresheets of any of the games. But I include a couple of shots of positions from this game.
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Round 5
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Ben Mcilroy | 3.5 | Mandar Tahmankar | 3 | 0 - 1 |
| 2 | Gerard Mcilroy | 3 | Mark Newman | 3 | 1 - 0 |
| 3 | Andrew Campbell | 2.5 | Torres W. | 1.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 4 | Shivraj Yewale | 2 | Owen Dumigan | 2 | 1/2 - 1/2 |
| 5 | Peter Murphy | 1 | Simon Murphy | 1 | 0 - 1 |
| 6 | Joe Gunnning | 0.5 | Aharshi Banerjee | 1 | 0 - 1 |
Ben McIlroy is leading and is beaten by last years Champion, Mandar. With Gerard winning against Mark we have two leaders, Gerard and Mandar both on 4 points.
Round 6
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Mandar Tahmankar | 4 | Andrew Campbell | 3.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 2 | Owen Dumigan | 2.5 | Gerard Mcilroy | 4 | 0 - 1 |
| 3 | Ben Mcilroy | 3.5 | Shivraj Yewale | 2.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 4 | Mark Newman | 3 | Joe Gunnning | 0.5 | 1 - 0 |
| 5 | Aharshi Banerjee | 2 | Simon Murphy | 2 | 0 - 1 |
| 6 | Torres W. | 1.5 | Peter Murphy | 1 | 0 - 1 |
Mandar and Gerard continue to win chased by Ben a 1/2 point behind. It looks like we may need our tie breaks.
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Round 7
| Table | White | Score | Black | Score | Results |
| 1 | Mandar Tahmankar | 5 | Mark Newman | 4 | 1 - 0 |
| 2 | Simon Murphy | 3 | Gerard Mcilroy | 5 | 0 - 1 |
| 3 | Andrew Campbell | 3.5 | Ben Mcilroy | 4.5 | 0 - 1 |
| 4 | Peter Murphy | 2 | Owen Dumigan | 2.5 | 0 - 1 |
| 5 | Joe Gunnning | 0.5 | Shivraj Yewale | 2.5 | 1/2 - 1/2 |
| 6 | Aharshi Banerjee | 2 | Torres W. | 1.5 | 1 - 0 |
The final round. The top 3 players win. We will use the tie breaking of :Buchholz, Progressive Score, TPR Mixed.
The Standing after round 7.
| No. | Name | Score | WP | SB | PS | rating |
| 1. | Gerard Mcilroy | 6 | 27 | 22.5 | 23.5 | 1798 |
| Mandar Tahmankar | 6 | 24.5 | 18.5 | 22 | 2037 | |
| 3. | Ben Mcilroy | 5.5 | 29 | 20 | 23 | 1750 |
| 4. | Mark Newman | 4 | 27 | 9.5 | 18 | 1848 |
| 5. | Andrew Campbell | 3.5 | 29.5 | 11 | 18.5 | 1826 |
| Owen Dumigan | 3.5 | 26 | 9.5 | 13.5 | 1659 | |
| 7. | Shivraj Yewale | 3 | 24.5 | 7.25 | 12 | 1300 |
| Aharshi Banerjee | 3 | 20.5 | 4.5 | 10 | 1100 | |
| Simon Murphy | 3 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 1100 | |
| 10. | Peter Murphy | 2 | 19 | 2.5 | 7 | 1300 |
| 11. | Torres W. | 1.5 | 24.5 | 3.5 | 8 | 1300 |
| 12. | Joe Gunnning | 1 | 22.5 | 2.25 | 3.5 | 1608 |
This years winners.
Ulster Fischer Random Champion : Gerard McIlroy
2nd : Mandar Tahmankar
3rd : Ben McIlroy
Ulster Fischer Random Intermediate Champion ( under 1500 ) : Shivraj Yewale
2nd : Aharshi Banerjee
3rd : Simon Murphy
