This year saw numbers that allowed us to have more sections than usual. In the past we have had to merge the younger sections into the Under12 section. But we had 5 players under 8 and under 10. So for these sections we played 5 roiunds of all play-all and the last round was manually drawn. With the Under 12 we have 8 players so ran a six round swiss. With the Under 14 we have good nos and also ran a swiss. With the older age group we had 6 players so again an all-play-all and a final manual round. So we had all the recommended sections, thereby allowing players to play their own age groups. The qualifying rules were anyone with 3.5 points or more and the top 3 of each group. The qualifiers are listed at the bottom of this page. They have the opportunity of playing in the next round of the tournament - the Giga-finals for full details : https://www.delanceyukschoolschesschallenge.com/gigafinals-2025/

In 2025 there are four Gigafinals; three over the board and one online.

1. Scottish Gigafinal (21st and 22nd June) – players play on one of the days
2. Northern Gigafinal (12th and 13th July) – players play on one of the days
3. Southern Gigafinal (19th and 20th July) – players play on one of the days
4. Online Gigafinal (6th and 7th 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.

Watch this space - we will report on the players who attend these events.

In the previous competitions we have run the younger sections without stopping too long between rounds. We did this today. To allow if the rounds ended quickly for the youngsters to finish early. We discussed this shorting of the day with the parents and they were happy with this. We therefore split the groups into the two rooms the younger players with me and the older players with Geoff Hindley our invaluable volunteer. My group ended early and we had our prize giving at about 1:30pm. The older players played to our timetable.

As usual in our competitions we run a puzzle competition. Usually we have 2 different sheets one of Primary and one of Secondary pupils, today we had the same sheet for all.

The Under 12 Puzzle Champion: Alwin Michael.

The Puzzle Championship for the U18 was shared.

Champions: Bohdan Prokopenko and Timothy McClenahan

The puzzles from the back of the sheet - have a go. The solutions are at the bottom of the page.

With players registered and the sections finalised the tournament began. A hush fell and chess was played.

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 1

Results

No Name            Age  Result   Name           Age

 1 Aarin Micheal   U7      0:1    Daniel Simpson U7   
 2 Alexander Davis U8      1:0    Rory Elliot    U7   
 3 Corey Castillo  U7      1:0    BYE 

by Swiss Perfect (TM) www.swissperfect.com

Every player got a bye and played a friendly against the player in the Under 10 section who also got a bye.

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 1

Results

No Name            Age  Result   Name          Age

 1 Nathan Johnston U10     0:1    Alex Mckeown  U9   
 2 Archie Murphy   U10     0:1    Reuel Charles U10  
 3 Kia Jahandizi   U10     1:0    BYE                

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 1

Results

No Name               Age  Total  Result   Name             Age  Total

 6 Alwin Micheal      U12   [0]      1:0    Daniel Dorman    U12   [0]  
 7 Max Lukhodievskiiy U11   [0]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar U11   [0]  
 8 Joseph Alexander   U12   [0]      0:1    Ronan Mcloughlin U12   [0]  
 9 Ryan Hall          U11   [0]      1:0    Joshua Beattie   U12   [0]  

As I looked after the room with Under8 / Under10 and Under12 sections I didnt get many photos from the older setions.

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 2

Results

No Name           Age  Result   Name            Age

 1 Daniel Simpson U7      1:0    Alexander Davis U8   
 2 Corey Castillo U7      0:1    Aarin Micheal   U7   
 3 Rory Elliot    U7      1:0    BYE       

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 2

Results

No Name          Age   Result   Name            Age

 1 Alex Mckeown  U9      1:0    Archie Murphy   U10  
 2 Kia Jahandizi U10     1:0    Nathan Johnston U10  
 3 Reuel Charles U10     1:0    BYE     

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 2

Results

No Name             Age Total  Result   Name               Age Total

 6 Ronan Mcloughlin U12   [1]      0:1    Alwin Micheal      U12   [1]  
 7 Advait Tahmankar U11   [1]      1:0    Ryan Hall          U11   [1]  
 8 Daniel Dorman    U12   [0]      0:1    Joseph Alexander   U12   [0]  
 9 Joshua Beattie   U12   [0]      0:1    Max Lukhodievskiiy U11   [0]  

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 3

Results

No Name            Age   Result   Name           Age

 1 Alexander Davis U8      1:0    Corey Castillo U7   
 2 Rory Elliot     U7      0:1    Daniel Simpson U7   
 3 Aarin Micheal   U7      1:0    BYE    

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 3

Results

No Name            Age  Result   Name          Age

 1 Archie Murphy   U10     0:1    Kia Jahandizi U10  
 2 Reuel Charles   U10     0:1    Alex Mckeown  U9   
 3 Nathan Johnston U10     1:0    BYE      

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 3

Results

No Name               Age  Total  Result   Name             Age  Total

 6 Alwin Micheal      U12   [2]      1:0    Advait Tahmankar U11   [2]  
 7 Joseph Alexander   U12   [1]      0:1    Ryan Hall        U11   [1]  
 8 Max Lukhodievskiiy U11   [1]      1:0    Ronan Mcloughlin U12   [1]  
 9 Daniel Dorman      U12   [0]      0:1    Joshua Beattie   U12   [0]  

The top two players meet. Alwin continues his wins and beats Advait.

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 4

Results

No Name           Age   Result   Name            Age

 1 Corey Castillo U7      1:0    Rory Elliot     U7   
 2 Aarin Micheal  U7      1:0    Alexander Davis U8   
 3 Daniel Simpson U7      1:0    BYE    

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 4

Results

No Name            Age   Result   Name          Age

 1 Kia Jahandizi   U10     1:0    Reuel Charles U10  
 2 Nathan Johnston U10     1:0    Archie Murphy U10  
 3 Alex Mckeown    U9      1:0    BYE  

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 4

Results

No Name             Age  Total  Result   Name               Age  Total

 6 Ryan Hall        U11   [2]      0:1    Alwin Micheal      U12   [3]  
 7 Advait Tahmankar U11   [2]      1:0    Joshua Beattie     U12   [1]  
 8 Joseph Alexander U12   [1]      0:1    Max Lukhodievskiiy U11   [2]  
 9 Ronan Mcloughlin U12   [1]      0:1    Daniel Dorman      U12   [0]  

I collected the puzzles for the younger sections at the start of round. So didnt get photos for the latter rounds as focused on marking the puzzles I had help with this from David Corr.

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 5

Results

No Name            Age   Result   Name           Age

 1 Rory Elliot     U7      0:1    Aarin Micheal  U7   
 2 Daniel Simpson  U7      1:0    Corey Castillo U7   
 3 Alexander Davis U8      1:0    BYE     

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 5

Results

No Name          Age  Result   Name            Age

 1 Reuel Charles U10     0:1    Nathan Johnston U10  
 2 Alex Mckeown  U9      1:0    Kia Jahandizi   U10  
 3 Archie Murphy U10     1:0    BYE   

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 5

Results

No Name           Age  Total  Result   Name               Age  Total

 6 Alwin Micheal  U12   [4]      1:0    Max Lukhodievskiiy U11   [3]  
 7 Daniel Dorman  U12   [1]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar   U11   [3]  
 8 Ryan Hall      U11   [2]      1:0    Ronan Mcloughlin   U12   [1]  
 9 Joshua Beattie U12   [1]     .5:.5   Joseph Alexander   U12   [1]  

Belfast Megafinal U8 - Round 6

Round 6 and there was a slight pause whilst the rounds pairings  were worked out manually.

Belfast Megafinal U10 - Round 6

Belfast Megafinal U12 - Round 6

The final standings for U8 section. We got 4 qualifiers.

Champion Under 8 section: Daniel Simpson.

The final positions for the Under 10. We got 3 quailifiers.

Under 10 Champion : Alex McKeown

The final positions for the Under 12 section. We got 4 qualifiers.

Under 12 Champion: Alwin Micheal

The prize giving was held early. We missed the break for lunch. Thanks to the Parents, the Players, the Venue and the Volunteers. Trophies, certificates and medals were provided by the tournament organisers - The Delancey UK Chess Challenge: https://www.delanceyukschoolschesschallenge.com/about-us/

The Under 14 and Under 18 were played in the 2nd room under the guidance of Geoff Hindley. Who was assisted latter in the day be Amol Thoke and David Corr. We had a timetable for the day and stuck roughly to this. Having a break for lunch and aiming to end about 4:30pm.

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 1

Results

No Name              Age  Total  Result   Name              Age  Total

10 Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [0]     .5:.5   Conor Laverty     U13   [0]  
11 Niall McCauley    U13   [0]      0:1    Simon Murphy      U14   [0]  
12 Enoch Ke          U13   [0]      1:0    George McClelland U14   [0]  
13 Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]      0:1    Freddie Corr      U13   [0]  
14 Shlok Thoke       U13   [0]      1:0    Logan Moore       U13   [0]  

With 6 players in the Under 18 we did a 5 round robin and a manual last round.

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 1

Results

No Name          Age   Result   Name               Age

 1 Toby Crothers U16     1:0    Antony Pratt       U16  
 2 Peter Murphy  U15     0:1    Timothy McClenahan U17  
 3 Jonah Corr    U16     0:1    Conor Murphy       U15  

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 2

Results

No Name              Age  Total  Result   Name              Age Total

10 Simon Murphy      U14   [1]      1:0    Shlok Thoke       U13   [1]  
11 Freddie Corr      U13   [1]      1:0    Enoch Ke          U13   [1]  
12 George McClelland U14   [0]      0:1    Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [.5] 
13 Conor Laverty     U13   [.5]     1:0    Niall McCauley    U13   [0]  
14 Logan Moore       U13   [0]      1:0    Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]  

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 2

Results

No Name               Age   Result   Name         Age

 1 Antony Pratt       U16     0:1    Conor Murphy U15  
 2 Timothy McClenahan U17     0:1    Jonah Corr   U16  
 3 Toby Crothers      U16     1:0    Peter Murphy U15  

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 3

Results

No Name              Age  Total  Result   Name              Age  Total

10 Freddie Corr      U13   [2]      0:1    Simon Murphy      U14   [2]  
11 Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [1.5]    1:0    Logan Moore       U13   [1]  
12 Enoch Ke          U13   [1]      1:0    Conor Laverty     U13   [1.5]
13 Shlok Thoke       U13   [1]      1:0    Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]  
14 Niall McCauley    U13   [0]      0:1    George McClelland U14   [0]  

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 3

Results

No Name         Age  Result   Name               Age

 1 Peter Murphy U15     1:0    Antony Pratt       U16  
 2 Jonah Corr   U16     0:1    Toby Crothers      U16  
 3 Conor Murphy U15     0:1    Timothy McClenahan U17    

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 4

Results

No Name              Age  Total  Result    Name              Age Total

10 Simon Murphy      U14   [3]      1:0    Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [2.5]
11 Shlok Thoke       U13   [2]      1:0    Enoch Ke          U13   [2]  
12 Conor Laverty     U13   [1.5]    0:1    Freddie Corr      U13   [2]  
13 George McClelland U14   [1]      1:0    Logan Moore       U13   [1]  
14 Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]      0:1    Niall McCauley    U13   [0]  

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 4

Results

No Name          Age   Result   Name               Age

 1 Antony Pratt  U16     0:1    Timothy McClenahan U17  
 2 Toby Crothers U16     1:0    Conor Murphy       U15  
 3 Peter Murphy  U15     1:0    Jonah Corr         U16  

Round 4 started after lunch. The Lower age groups had completed their tournament. So I was free to assist and take photos.

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 5

Results

No Name              Age   Total  Result   Name              Age Total

10 Logan Moore       U13   [1]      0:1    Simon Murphy      U14   [4]  
11 Freddie Corr      U13   [3]     .5:.5   Shlok Thoke       U13   [3]  
12 Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [2.5]    1:0    Niall McCauley    U13   [1]  
13 Conor Laverty     U13   [1.5]    0:1    George McClelland U14   [2]  
14 Enoch Ke          U13   [2]      1:0    Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]  

Simon Murphy leads and wins and continues to round 6 with full points and an unassailable lead. Chased by Freddie, Shlok, Bohdan on 3.5 (who have already gained the 3.5 points to qualify.

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 5

Results

No Name               Age  Result    Name          Age

 1 Jonah Corr         U16     1:0    Antony Pratt  U16  
 2 Conor Murphy       U15    .5:.5   Peter Murphy  U15  
 3 Timothy McClenahan U17     0:1    Toby Crothers U16  

Belfast Megafinal - U14 - Round 6

Results

No Name              Age   Total  Result   Name          Age Total

10 Simon Murphy      U14   [5]     .5:.5   Enoch Ke      U13   [3]  
11 Bohdan Prokopenko U14   [3.5]    1:0    Freddie Corr  U13   [3.5]
12 George McClelland U14   [3]      1:0    Shlok Thoke   U13   [3.5]
13 Darragh Mcglade   U13   [0]      0:1    Conor Laverty U13   [1.5]
14 Niall McCauley    U13   [1]      0:1    Logan Moore   U13   [1]  

The last round. Simon finishes undefeated. Enoch gets a draw and a qualifying score.

Belfast Megafinals U18 - Round 6

Under 14 the final standings. We have 6 qualifiers.

Under 14 Champion : Simon Murphy

Under 18 final Standings. We have 3 qualifiers,

Under 18 Champion : Toby Crothers

It took about 15mins to get all the results tabulated. We handed out the puzzle certificates and trophy. Then the certificates. Everyone got a participation certificate. The 2nd and 3rd places got medals and the Winners a trophy. The end of a brilliant days  chess. Thanks as always to the Ulster Chess Union Volunteers - Geoff Hindley, David Corr, Amol Thoke.

The puzzle solutions.