The Ulster Chess Union run monthly Childrens/School Chess tournaments. Currently at Methodist College. These have been running for over 20 years. The original reason for running was to provide an opportunity for young players in schools without chess clubs to play in a tournaments. The tournaments were added in sequence to the existing Ulster Schools Chess Championships and the UK Chess Challenge run by Dr Graham Murphy from Methodist College.

We are fortunate to be able to run the Belfast London Junior Chess Championship Qualifer - the is a very presitigeous competition : https://www.ljcc.co.uk/

The age groups Under12 have to qualify by: 4 points or more out of a possible 6. To ensure this is fair we endeavour to split these groups into their own sections. If necessary playing all-play-all and maybe having some players playing each other twice. If numbers dont allow for this we merge the groups.

Today we were lucky to have in the Under8's 5 players - so we played an all-play-all with the final round being manually paired. We have 4 under10 players so played all-play-all each playing each player twice once with white and once with black. For Under12's we have 5 players so again all-play-all with manual final round.

As usual on registration we handed our puzzle sheets, one for Under12 and one for Under21.

The planned timetable for the day was :

But after checking with parents it was agreed that for the players in sections Under12 - if the rounds ended quickly we would run the next round shortly after so not to keep the youngsters waiting unecessarily. So these sections did end early at about 1:00pm. When we held the prize giving for these sections. This unfortunately meant I didnt have time to mark all the puzzle sheets. This was done latter and the certs and Trophy we handed out at the next tournament run on the 1st Nov. - The results of the puzzles competitions follows.

Under 12 puzzle Solving standings

Champion Under 12 : Kia Jahandizi

Under 21 Puzzle Solving Standings

Under 21 Champion : Jakub Slebioda

I have included the back sheet of the puzzles. The front included checkmates in 1 , 2 and 3. The back sheet is harder as its to find the best moves. Please try these. The solutions at to be found at the bottom of this page.

The two rooms of play allowed me to have the Under12s in one room and the older Under21s in another. We put all the Under21s into one section and played a swiss tournament keeping to the timetable. Geoff Hindley looked after the Under21s room.

Below are the results and some photos of the tournament.

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 1

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Corey Castillo [0]      1:0    Nila Jahandizi [0]
 2 Rizwan Arshed  [0]      0:1    Daniel Simpson [0]
 3 Aarin Micheal  [0]      1:0    BYE                 

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Under 10 LJCC Belfast Qualifier - Round 1 / 4

Results

No Name             Total  Result   Name                      Total

 1 Senanya De Silva [0]      0:2    Shreyas Chandra Marrivada [0]
 2 Abhiram Ganja    [0]      1:1    Tanish Thoke              [0]

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 1

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Nathan Johnston [0]      0:1    Seth Wilson    [0]
 2 Darragh Marsh   [0]      1:0    Noah McDermott [0]
 3 Kia Jahandizi   [0]      1:0    BYE    

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 2

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Nila Jahandizi [0]      0:1    Rizwan Arshed  [0]
 2 Aarin Micheal  [1]     .5:.5   Corey Castillo [1]
 3 Daniel Simpson [1]      1:0    BYE      

Under 10 LJCC Belfast Qualifier - Round 2 / 5

Results

No Name                      Total  Result   Name          Total

 1 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada   [2]    2:0    Tanish Thoke  [1]
 2 Senanya De Silva            [0]    0:2    Abhiram Ganja [1]

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 2

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Seth Wilson      [1]    0:1    Darragh Marsh   [1.0]
 2 Kia Jahandizi    [1]   .5:.5   Nathan Johnston [0.0]
 3 Noah McDermott   [0]    1:0    BYE  

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 3

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Rizwan Arshed    [1]    1:0    Aarin Micheal  [1.5]
 2 Daniel Simpson   [2]    1:0    Nila Jahandizi [0.0]
 3 Corey Castillo  [1.5]   1:0    BYE      

Under 10 LJCC Belfast Qualifier - Round 3 / 6

Results

No Name          Total  Result   Name                      Total

 1 Abhiram Ganja   [3]    1:1    Shreyas Chandra Marrivada [4]
 2 Tanish Thoke    [1]    1:1    Senanya De Silva          [0]

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 3

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name          Total

 1 Darragh Marsh     [2]    1:0    Kia Jahandizi [1.5]
 2 Noah McDermott    [1]    0:1    Seth Wilson   [1.0]
 3 Nathan Johnston  [.5]    1:0    BYE     

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 4

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Aarin Micheal  [1.5]    1:0    Daniel Simpson [3.0]
 2 Corey Castillo [2.5]    1:0    Rizwan Arshed  [2.0]
 3 Nila Jahandizi [0]      1:0    BYE     

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 4

Results

No Name            Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Kia Jahandizi   [1.5]    1:0    Noah McDermott [1.0]
 2 Nathan Johnston [1.5]    0:1    Darragh Marsh  [3.0]
 3 Seth Wilson       [2]    1:0    BYE      

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 5

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Daniel Simpson   [3]    1:0    Corey Castillo [3.5]
 2 Nila Jahandizi   [1]    0:1    Aarin Micheal  [2.5]
 3 Rizwan Arshed    [2]    1:0    BYE      

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 5

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Noah McDermott   [1]    0:1    Nathan Johnston [1.5]
 2 Seth Wilson      [3]    0:1    Kia Jahandizi   [2.5]
 3 Darragh Marsh    [4]    1:0    BYE  

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Round 6

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name           Total

 1 Daniel Simpson   [4]    1:0    Aarin Micheal  [3.5]
 2 Rizwan Arshed    [3]    1:0    Corey Castillo [3.5]
 3 Nila Jahandizi   [1]    1:0    BYE       

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Round 6

Results

No Name           Total  Result   Name            Total

 1 Kia Jahandizi  [3.5]   .5:.5   Darragh Marsh   [4.5] 
 2 Seth Wilson      [3]    1:0    Nathan Johnston [1.5]   

Kia Jahandizi draws against leader Darragh Marsh ( who has already qualified with a score of 4.5 ). So both qualify Kia on 4.5 and Darragh unbeated on 5 points.

Under 8 LJCC Belfast Qualifiers - Standings

Place Name           Age  Score

  1   Daniel Simpson U8    5    
  2   Rizwan Arshed  U8    4    
 3-4  Aarin Micheal  U8    3.5  
      Corey Castillo U8    3.5  
  5   Nila Jahandizi U8    2    

Under 10 LJCC Belfast Qualifier - Standings

Place Name                      Age Score

  1   Shreyas Chandra Marrivada U10   5    
  2   Abhiram Ganja             U10   4    
  3   Tanish Thoke              U10   2    
  4   Senanya De Silva          U10   1    

Under 12 LJCC - Belfast Qualifier - Standings

Place Name            Age  Score

  1   Darragh Marsh   U12   5    
  2   Kia Jahandizi   U12   3.5  
  3   Seth Wilson     U12   3    
  4   Nathan Johnston U12   2.5  
  5   Noah McDermott  U12   1   

At the end of six rounds we have 7 qualifiers. We wish them luck in the finals in December in London.

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Round 1

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

11 Alwin Micheal     U14   [0]      1:0    Nathanael Robinson U18   [0]  
12 Szymon Slebioda   U14   [0]      0:1    Timothy McClenahan U18   [0]  
13 Bohdan Prokopenko U16   [0]      1:0    Dean AlMasri       U14   [0]  
14 Arthur Clarke     U14   [0]      0:1    Aharshi Banerjee   U16   [0]  
15 Jakub Slebioda    U21   [0]      1:0    Finn Halsall       U14   [0]  
16 Poorva Maske      U14   [0]      0:1    Peter Murphy       U16   [0]  
17 Shlok Thoke       U14   [0]      1:0    Charlie Murphy     U14   [0]  
18 Shubham Saha      U14   [0]      1:0    Sohil Bande        U16   [0]  
19 Paula Lopez       U16   [0]      1:0    George McClelland  U16   [0]  

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Round 2

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

11 Jakub Slebioda     U21   [1]      0:1    Alwin Micheal         U14   [1]  
12 Timothy McClenahan U18   [1]     .5:.5   Shlok Thoke           U14   [1]  
13 Peter Murphy       U16   [1]     .5:.5   Bohdan Prokopenko     U16   [1]  
14 Aharshi Banerjee   U16   [1]      0:1    Paula Lopez           U16   [1]  
15 Nathanael Robinson U18   [0]      1:0    Shubham Saha          U14   [1]  
16 Sohil Bande        U16   [0]      0:1    Arthur Clarke         U14   [0]  
17 Finn Halsall       U14   [0]      1:0    Ayush Shambharkar     U14   [0]  
18 Charlie Murphy     U14   [0]      1:0    Szymon Slebioda       U14   [0]  
19 Dean AlMasri       U14   [0]      0:1    Poorva Maske          U14   [0]  
20 George McClelland  U16   [0]      1:0    Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   [0]  

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Round 3

Results

No Name                  Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

11 Alwin Micheal         U14   [2]      1:0    Paula Lopez        U16   [2]  
12 Bohdan Prokopenko     U16   [1.5]    1:0    Timothy McClenahan U18   [1.5]
13 Shlok Thoke           U14   [1.5]    0:1    Peter Murphy       U16   [1.5]
14 Finn Halsall          U14   [1]      0:1    Aharshi Banerjee   U16   [1]  
15 Shubham Saha          U14   [1]      1:0    Jakub Slebioda     U21   [1]  
16 Poorva Maske          U14   [1]      0:1    Nathanael Robinson U18   [1]  
17 Arthur Clarke         U14   [1]      1:0    Charlie Murphy     U14   [1]  
18 Ayush Shambharkar     U14   [0]      0:1    George McClelland  U16   [1]  
19 Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   [0]      0:1    Sohil Bande        U16   [0]  
20 Szymon Slebioda       U14   [0]     .5:.5   Dean AlMasri       U14   [0]  

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Round 4

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

11 Peter Murphy       U16   [2.5]    0:1    Alwin Micheal         U14   [3]  
12 Aharshi Banerjee   U16   [2]     .5:.5   Bohdan Prokopenko     U16   [2.5]
13 Paula Lopez        U16   [2]      0:1    Shubham Saha          U14   [2]  
14 George McClelland  U16   [2]      1:0    Arthur Clarke         U14   [2]  
15 Nathanael Robinson U18   [2]      0:1    Shlok Thoke           U14   [1.5]
16 Timothy McClenahan U18   [1.5]   .5:.5   Jakub Slebioda        U21   [1]  
17 Sohil Bande        U16   [1]      1:0    Poorva Maske          U14   [1]  
18 Charlie Murphy     U14   [1]      1:0    Finn Halsall          U14   [1]  
19 Ayush Shambharkar  U14   [0]      0:1    Szymon Slebioda       U14   [.5] 
20 Dean AlMasri       U14   [.5]     1:0    Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   [0]  

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier  - Round 5

Results

No Name                  Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

11 Alwin Micheal         U14   [4]      1:0    Bohdan Prokopenko U16   [3]  
12 Shubham Saha          U14   [3]      1:0    George McClelland U16   [3]  
13 Shlok Thoke           U14   [2.5]   .5:.5   Aharshi Banerjee  U16   [2.5]
14 Timothy McClenahan    U18   [2]      1:0    Peter Murphy      U16   [2.5]
15 Nathanael Robinson    U18   [2]      1:0    Sohil Bande       U16   [2]  
16 Arthur Clarke         U14   [2]      0:1    Paula Lopez       U16   [2]  
17 Dean AlMasri          U14   [1.5]    0:1    Charlie Murphy    U14   [2]  
18 Jakub Slebioda        U21   [1.5]    1:0    Szymon Slebioda   U14   [1.5]
19 Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   [0]      1:0    Finn Halsall      U14   [1]  
20 Poorva Maske          U14   [1]      1:0    BYE            

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Round 6

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                  Feder Total

11 Shubham Saha      U14   [4]      1:0    Alwin Micheal         U14   [5]  
12 Paula Lopez       U16   [3]      1:0    Timothy McClenahan    U18   [3]  
13 Bohdan Prokopenko U16   [3]      1:0    Nathanael Robinson    U18   [3]  
14 Aharshi Banerjee  U16   [3]      1:0    Charlie Murphy        U14   [3]  
15 George McClelland U16   [3]      0:1    Shlok Thoke           U14   [3]  
16 Peter Murphy      U16   [2.5]    1:0    Jakub Slebioda        U21   [2.5]
17 Poorva Maske      U14   [2]      0:1    Arthur Clarke         U14   [2]  
18 Sohil Bande       U16   [2]      1:0    Dean AlMasri          U14   [1.5]
19 Szymon Slebioda   U14   [1.5]    1:0    Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   [1]  
20 Finn Halsall      U14   [1]      1:0    BYE     

Under 21 Belfast LJCC Qualifier - Standings

Place Name                  Age  Score   M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

 1-2  Alwin Micheal         U14   5        14.5  22.0   20.0
      Shubham Saha          U14   5        13.0  20.5   16.0
 3-6  Paula Lopez           U16   4        15.0  23.0   14.0
      Aharshi Banerjee      U16   4        14.0  19.5   13.5
      Bohdan Prokopenko     U16   4        13.5  20.0   15.0
      Shlok Thoke           U14   4        12.5  19.5   13.5
  7   Peter Murphy          U16   3.5      13.5  20.0   13.5
8-13  Nathanael Robinson    U18   3        16.0  22.5   11.0
      Timothy McClenahan    U18   3        14.0  20.5   12.0
      Arthur Clarke         U14   3        13.0  18.5   10.0
      George McClelland     U16   3        12.0  18.0   12.0
      Charlie Murphy        U14   3        11.0  16.5   10.0
      Sohil Bande           U16   3         9.0  15.0    8.0
14-15 Jakub Slebioda        U21   2.5      14.0  20.5    9.5
      Szymon Slebioda       U14   2.5       8.0  12.0    6.0
16-17 Poorva Maske          U14   2        12.0  17.0    7.0
      Finn Halsall          U14   2         9.5  14.5    6.0
 18   Dean AlMasri          U14   1.5      10.0  15.0    5.0
 19   Joshua Farina Bhuruth U14   1        10.0  14.5    2.0
20-21 Ayush Shambharkar     U14   0         4.5   9.0    0.0
      Rory Brown            U16   0         0.0   0.0    0.0

Many thanks to the volunteers. To Methodist College for the venue. To all the Parents and to the fantastic young players. We will be watching the LJCC finals to see how our players do. The dates for the finals are : The website is : https://www.ljcc.co.uk/

Solutions to the problems above.