GM Alex Baburin plays 24 games in Ulster Simultaneous 23rd May 2025

An event like this is just a pleasure to be part of thanks to the team working behind the scenes to organise. During the year our brilliant volunteer Arbiters and UCU tournament organisers give out Simultaneous tickets as prizes. Then Karina Campbell, Damien Cunningham organise a GM - this evening the brilliant GM Alex Baburin. The final evening is setup by Brendan Jamison. A really brilliant team of organisation - that deserves a round of applause.

The room was setup. Players arrived. Brendan re-organised the players seating as we realised not all players were attending.

GM Alex Baburin and Damien Cunningham arrived. Alex took the stage and introduced himself. From Russia and within a couple of years of arrival becoming a GM. Top rating was in the top 100 world players, a professional chess player and coach. Alex then took questions. Ask what was his most memorial game, he said it was when he beat Victor Korchnoi, this lead to a competitive dual where Victor wanted to win and followed Alex's games. When they met Alex drew much to Victors chagrin. Asked if his family had played chess and been good at chess. He had some uncles who were natural chess players whom he enjoyed playing. Its wonderful to get background to the GMs we play. Everyone throughly enjoyed this chat.

Then the games began. Alex explained he would accept one pass. and started by making the 1st move, shaking the players hand. We were off. It takes a while to make a circuit of 24 players. So you can focus on your own game and think of your next move. Alex made each move as he was at each table. The games started about 7:00pm. We were all still playing at 9:00pm. Then on move 18 at 9:25 Alex offered Oisin Cinnsealach a draw. he accepted and we were down to 23 players. The atmosphere was electric. Hushed focus silence as players studied their games and watched Alex progress around the room.

I have put the players the result win/loss/draw and moves and time finishing below. The players were a brilliant mix of ages and skills. As the tickets are prizes for tournaments the players tend to be good. Amol and Shlok resigned at 9:41 and then another brilliant draw by Andew Campell at 10:00. But still 20 games going on. Between 10:05 and 10:38 Alex won 7 games. Then one of our top young players Alwin Michael got a draw at 10:40. Now down to 10 players about about 10:40pm. At this point we re-checked the availability of the room as it looked like we could be in for a long night! - It was confirmed that the building would be open to about 11:45pm.

As players completed they got Alex to sign their scoresheets and their certificates

Some photos from the evening.

At 10:47 we had a win - Brendan Jamison. Alex offered a draw but Brendan declined and got the win. At 11:06pm we still had 4 players playing.who all finished about 11:20pm Jack Eden, Chris Armstrong, Owen Dumigan lost whilst Michael Donaghy got a brilliant draw. The end to a fantastic evenings chess. We all thanked Alex for an incredibly enjoyable evening.

Again thanks to all the players, the brilliant venue, the organisers and of course GM Alex Babarin. For once again a highlight of the chess year - watch out for next years simultaneous.

Lights out. Goodbye.

GM Alex Baburin won 19 games, drew 4 games and lost only 1. Against a top set of Ulster players - A brilliant and exhausting challenge well played.