An afternoon full of brilliant endgames - Rooks, Pawns... lots of complicated middle games with combinations and checkmates. Blunders and further blunders switching advantage one way then the other. Games of slow development and gathering of advantage. Games of fire, with pieces attacking and counter-attacking. A fantastic day of chess.

Thanks go to our volunteers - Geoff Hindley and Amol Thoke for enabling this day. Also to Methodist College for providing an excellent venue.

Today the Rooms were changed as our usual rooms were in part of the School where the roof was being worked on. So slightly concerned that players wouldnt find us - Geoff placed arrows with Chess pointing to our new location. Also Ethan and Advait having arrived early offered to redirect players.

Everyone found the Chess. I registered players and as usual gave out sheets of 22 challenging puzzles. Students almost immediately sat down and looked at solving them - brilliant. I think the puzzles are one of the highlights of the day. Although to confess the marking of them is quite challenging in itself. We collect them at the beginning of round 5 giving us - thats me and fellow volunteer Amol Thoke 2 rounds to mark them. All the players get their marked sheets returned with an Certificate award and for the top solvers a puzzle trophy for Secondary and Primary Puzzle Champions.

Secondary Puzzle Champion : Alwin Michael.

Primary Puzzle Champion : Aarin Micheal

These are one side of the puzzle sheets - and are the most challenging of them. Its play the best combination. I mark these against the solutions in the books :

1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and Combinations – Fred Reinfeld

1000 Checkmate Combinations – Victor Henkin

So apologies to players who did good combinations that didnt match the solutions. We also gave 1/2 point if a correct move or two was given but not sufficient to determine the ploy of the combination. Try these - solutions given at the end of the page.

Part of the preparation for the tournament is to print off fliers with information of future tournaments.

Here are some up and comming events:

The Irish Junior Championships 2026 Venue Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork, P31NY77   2026-04-10 to 2026-04-12                                  Sections               u8,u10,u12,u14,u16,u19        Contact  Andrew Kelly, 0879247241 corkchess@gmail.com : more details on ICU website : https://www.icu.ie/events/1186

Mick Germaine Cup 2026 – Junior teams competition

Location   Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5

Date Sunday 24^rd May 10:30am to 4:30pm Teams should be comprised of 4 players who are under 16 years of age on 24th May 2026.

6 rounds   time: 15mins. More details : Pat Fitzsimons at mastergame100@hotmail.com, or phone at 087 4195253.  ICU website : https://www.icu.ie/events/2135

FIDE rated Ulster Rapidplay Championship 2026 Location     Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Rd, Belfast, BT11 9AH

Format: swiss, 6 rounds of 25mins. Date: 28^th February 2026, Time: 9:30 to 16:30

Entry fee: £15  karinakruk37@gmail.com more details UCU website : https://www.ulsterchess.org/

FIDE RATED Coalisland Blitz Championship 2026

Tuesday 10 March 2026. Check-in at 19:50 The 10 rounds will be played back-to-back from 20:00 to 22:30 Time-control 3-2. Venue: Washingbay Centre. Register at : fidechessni@gmail.com

Plenty of other activities at Bangor and Lisburn Chess Clubs.

Ballymena Bishops : 3rd Saturday every month from Sept. to May. 13:00 to 15:00 Ballymena Central Library   - 028 2563 3950 - ballymena.library@librariesni.org.uk and if interested Computer Club 10::00 to 12:00 same days.

Roaming Knights : Sundays Afternoons 2 Royal Ave Cultural Centre, Belfast.- Contact Paul O’Conner : scenario.sg@gmail.com. Paul also runs Library sessions at Central Library.

We had a brilliant no of 30 players - some players turned up without registering. We had all ages from P4 to Upper Sixth.

With the first draw done players found their boards and opponents shook hands wishing their opponent luck and the rooms fell into a hush of concentration as the games begin....

Round 1

Results

No Name                      Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Alwin Micheal             F2    [0]      1:0    Nathanael Robinson          L6    [0]  
 2 Ryan Hall                 F1    [0]      0:1    Ethan Cole                  F2    [0]  
 3 Aharshi Banerjee          F4    [0]      1:0    Darragh Marsh               P7    [0]  
 4 Szymon Slebioda           F3    [0]      0:1    Nathan Murray               F4    [0]  
 5 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada P6    [0]      1:0    Aarin Micheal               P4    [0]  
 6 Parker Robinson           F2    [0]      0:1    Alex McKeown                P6    [0]  
 7 Shlok Thoke               F2    [0]      1:0    Tanish Thoke                P5    [0]  
 8 Abhiram Ganja             P6    [0]      0:1    Timothy McClenahan          U6    [0]  
 9 Kia Jahandizi             P7    [0]      1:0    Rizwan Arshed               P4    [0]  
10 Soundharya Premkumar      P6    [0]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [0]  
11 Jakub Slebioda            U6    [0]      1:0    Daniel Simpson              P4    [0]  
12 Jatin Jakati              P6    [0]     .5:.5   Shubham Saha                F2    [0]  
13 Advait Tahmankar          F1    [0]      1:0    Sohan Kesavarapu            P6    [0]  
14 Calum Daly                P6    [0]      0:1    Conal Caughey               P7    [0]  
15 Oliver McConkey           P7    [0]      1:0    Jacques Jeschke             P6    [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

We give everyone an approx rating. First round and games went to rating apart from Jatin Jakati who drew against new comer Shibham Saha.

Round 2

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name                      Feder Total

 1 Timothy McClenahan          U6    [1]     .5:.5   Alwin Micheal             F2    [1]  
 2 Ethan Cole                  F2    [1]      1:0    Kia Jahandizi             P7    [1]  
 3 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [1]      0:1    Aharshi Banerjee          F4    [1]  
 4 Nathan Murray               F4    [1]      1:0    Jakub Slebioda            U6    [1]  
 5 Advait Tahmankar            F1    [1]      1:0    Shreyas Chandra Marrivada P6    [1]  
 6 Alex McKeown                P6    [1]      1:0    Oliver McConkey           P7    [1]  
 7 Conal Caughey               P7    [1]      0:1    Shlok Thoke               F2    [1]  
 8 Shubham Saha                F2    [.5]     1:0    Nathanael Robinson        L6    [0]  
 9 Darragh Marsh               P7    [0]      1:0    Jatin Jakati              P6    [.5] 
10 Rizwan Arshed               P4    [0]      1:0    Ryan Hall                 F1    [0]  
11 Daniel Simpson              P4    [0]      0:1    Szymon Slebioda           F3    [0]  
12 Aarin Micheal               P4    [0]      0:1    Soundharya Premkumar      P6    [0]  
13 Sohan Kesavarapu            P6    [0]      0:1    Parker Robinson           F2    [0]  
14 Tanish Thoke                P5    [0]      1:0    Calum Daly                P6    [0]  
15 Jacques Jeschke             P6    [0]      0:1    Abhiram Ganja             P6    [0]  

On board one Timothy McCelanahan causes an upset with a draw against top cede Alwin Michaeal. Whilst Aharshi Banerjee turns a loosing game into a win with a back row mate against Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam.

Round 3

Results

No Name                      Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Alex McKeown              P6    [2]      0:1    Ethan Cole                  F2    [2]  
 2 Aharshi Banerjee          F4    [2]      1:0    Advait Tahmankar            F1    [2]  
 3 Shlok Thoke               F2    [2]      0:1    Nathan Murray               F4    [2]  
 4 Alwin Micheal             F2    [1.5]   .5:.5   Shubham Saha                F2    [1.5]
 5 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada P6    [1]      0:1    Timothy McClenahan          U6    [1.5]
 6 Kia Jahandizi             P7    [1]      1:0    Szymon Slebioda             F3    [1]  
 7 Parker Robinson           F2    [1]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [1]  
 8 Jakub Slebioda            U6    [1]      1:0    Tanish Thoke                P5    [1]  
 9 Abhiram Ganja             P6    [1]      0:1    Conal Caughey               P7    [1]  
10 Oliver McConkey           P7    [1]      0:1    Rizwan Arshed               P4    [1]  
11 Soundharya Premkumar      P6    [1]      0:1    Darragh Marsh               P7    [1]  
12 Jatin Jakati              P6    [.5]     1:0    Aarin Micheal               P4    [0]  
13 Nathanael Robinson        L6    [0]      1:0    Sohan Kesavarapu            P6    [0]  
14 Ryan Hall                 F1    [0]      1:0    Jacques Jeschke             P6    [0]  
15 Calum Daly                P6    [0]      0:1    Daniel Simpson              P4    [0]  

We have the young Alex McKeown on board 1 against top player Ethan Cole. Ethan wins. Whilst a new player Shubham Saha draws against Alwin Michael causing another upset to one of our top ceded players.

Round 4

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name                      Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole                  F2    [3]      1:0    Aharshi Banerjee          F4    [3]  
 2 Nathan Murray               F4    [3]      0:1    Timothy McClenahan        U6    [2.5]
 3 Conal Caughey               P7    [2]      0:1    Alwin Micheal             F2    [2]  
 4 Shubham Saha                F2    [2]      1:0    Alex McKeown              P6    [2]  
 5 Rizwan Arshed               P4    [2]      0:1    Shlok Thoke               F2    [2]  
 6 Darragh Marsh               P7    [2]     .5:.5   Kia Jahandizi             P7    [2]  
 7 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [2]      0:1    Jakub Slebioda            U6    [2]  
 8 Advait Tahmankar            F1    [2]      0:1    Jatin Jakati              P6    [1.5]
 9 Parker Robinson             F2    [1]      1:0    Shreyas Chandra Marrivada P6    [1]  
10 Tanish Thoke                P5    [1]      0:1    Oliver McConkey           P7    [1]  
11 Nathanael Robinson          L6    [1]      1:0    Abhiram Ganja             P6    [1]  
12 Daniel Simpson              P4    [1]      1:0    Ryan Hall                 F1    [1]  
13 Szymon Slebioda             F3    [1]      0:1    Soundharya Premkumar      P6    [1]  
14 Aarin Micheal               P4    [0]      1:0    Calum Daly                P6    [0]  
15 Sohan Kesavarapu            P6    [0]      1:0    Jacques Jeschke           P6    [0]  

Round 4 and the field is spreading. We have 3 players on full points. Ethan Cole wins against Aharshi Banerjee and takes the lead being the only player on full points. Timothy McClenahan is doing well and wins against Nathan Murray. Shubhan Saha continues to win with a victory over Alex McKeown. Its good to see Primary players well represented on the top 6 boards.

Round 5

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Timothy McClenahan          U6    [3.5]    0:1    Ethan Cole         F2    [4]  
 2 Alwin Micheal               F2    [3]      1:0    Nathan Murray      F4    [3]  
 3 Aharshi Banerjee            F4    [3]      1:0    Jakub Slebioda     U6    [3]  
 4 Shlok Thoke                 F2    [3]      0:1    Shubham Saha       F2    [3]  
 5 Kia Jahandizi               P7    [2.5]    0:1    Jatin Jakati       P6    [2.5]
 6 Alex McKeown                P6    [2]      0:1    Darragh Marsh      P7    [2.5]
 7 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [2]      1:0    Nathanael Robinson L6    [2]  
 8 Rizwan Arshed               P4    [2]      0:1    Advait Tahmankar   F1    [2]  
 9 Soundharya Premkumar        P6    [2]      0:1    Conal Caughey      P7    [2]  
10 Oliver McConkey             P7    [2]      0:1    Parker Robinson    F2    [2]  
11 Tanish Thoke                P5    [1]      1:0    Daniel Simpson     P4    [2]  
12 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada   P6    [1]      1:0    Sohan Kesavarapu   P6    [1]  
13 Ryan Hall                   F1    [1]      0:1    Aarin Micheal      P4    [1]  
14 Abhiram Ganja               P6    [1]      0:1    Szymon Slebioda    F3    [1]  
15 Jacques Jeschke             P6    [0]      1:0    Calum Daly         P6    [0]  

We collected the puzzles at the beginning of round 4. So didnt get any photos from round 5 and 6. Below are room shots from previous rounds.

The battle for first place. Timothy v Ethan and Ethan wins extending his lead. Shubham is having en excellent tournament and wins against Shlok Thoke. Whilst Darragh Marsh who played some tough games and was unlucky not to have a higher score wins against Alex McKeown.

Round 6

Results

No Name                      Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole                F2    [5]      1:0    Alwin Micheal               F2    [4]  
 2 Shubham Saha              F2    [4]     .5:.5   Aharshi Banerjee            F4    [4]  
 3 Darragh Marsh             P7    [3.5]   .5:.5   Timothy McClenahan          U6    [3.5]
 4 Jatin Jakati              P6    [3.5]    1:0    Shlok Thoke                 F2    [3]  
 5 Nathan Murray             F4    [3]      1:0    Advait Tahmankar            F1    [3]  
 6 Conal Caughey             P7    [3]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    [3]  
 7 Jakub Slebioda            U6    [3]      1:0    Parker Robinson             F2    [3]  
 8 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada P6    [2]      0:1    Kia Jahandizi               P7    [2.5]
 9 Aarin Micheal             P4    [2]      0:1    Alex McKeown                P6    [2]  
10 Daniel Simpson            P4    [2]      1:0    Oliver McConkey             P7    [2]  
11 Nathanael Robinson        L6    [2]      1:0    Tanish Thoke                P5    [2]  
12 Szymon Slebioda           F3    [2]      1:0    Rizwan Arshed               P4    [2]  
13 Jacques Jeschke           P6    [1]      0:1    Soundharya Premkumar        P6    [2]  
14 Sohan Kesavarapu          P6    [1]      1:0    Ryan Hall                   F1    [1]  
15 Calum Daly                P6    [0]      0:1    Abhiram Ganja               P6    [1]  

The final round and the two top players meet Ethan plays Alwin. Ethan wins and finishes on 6 full points. Darragh Marsh gets an excellent draw against Timothy McClenahan and Jatin Jakati wins against Shlok Thoke. On Boards 9 and 10 we have two P4 players. Daniel Simpson wins against Oliver McConkey. Aarin Micheal looses against Alex McKeown.

Standings

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

  1   Ethan Cole                  F2    6        14.5  20.0   21.0
 2-4  Aharshi Banerjee            F4    4.5      16.5  25.5   17.5
      Shubham Saha                F2    4.5      14.5  22.0   15.5
      Jatin Jakati                P6    4.5      13.5  20.0   13.0
5-10  Alwin Micheal               F2    4        15.5  24.5   15.5
      Darragh Marsh               P7    4        15.0  22.5   13.0
      Timothy McClenahan          U6    4        14.0  22.0   16.0
      Nathan Murray               F4    4        14.0  21.0   16.0
      Jakub Slebioda              U6    4        14.0  20.5   14.0
      Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F5    4        13.0  20.5   13.0
 11   Kia Jahandizi               P7    3.5      13.5  21.5   12.5
12-20 Alex McKeown                P6    3        13.5  21.5   12.0
      Shlok Thoke                 F2    3        13.5  20.0   14.0
      Advait Tahmankar            F1    3        12.5  19.0   13.0
      Nathanael Robinson          L6    3        12.0  18.5    8.0
      Soundharya Premkumar        P6    3        12.0  17.0    9.0
      Conal Caughey               P7    3        12.0  16.0   12.0
      Szymon Slebioda             F3    3        11.5  17.5    8.0
      Parker Robinson             F2    3        11.0  17.0   10.0
      Daniel Simpson              P4    3         8.0  12.0    8.0
21-27 Shreyas Chandra Marrivada   P6    2        11.5  17.5    8.0
      Rizwan Arshed               P4    2        11.0  15.5    9.0
      Tanish Thoke                P5    2        11.0  15.0    7.0
      Oliver McConkey             P7    2        10.0  14.0    9.0
      Abhiram Ganja               P6    2        10.0  14.0    6.0
      Aarin Micheal               P4    2         9.0  13.5    5.0
      Sohan Kesavarapu            P6    2         9.0  13.0    4.0
28-29 Ryan Hall                   F1    1         9.0  16.0    4.0
      Jacques Jeschke             P6    1         7.0  10.0    2.0
 30   Calum Daly                  P6    0         9.0  13.0    0.0

The final standings. Ethan Cole is overall winner on full points 6 out of 6.

Second is Aharshi Banerjee

Third is Shubham Saha

Fourth is Jatin Jakati

We give out certificates to age groups. Players on the same points get the same cert. With Trophies being awarded by tie break.

Primary P5 and under

Champion Daniel Simpson (P4)

2nd: Rizwan Arshed

Primary 6

Champion: Jatin Jakati

2nd: Alex McKeown

Primary 7

Champion: Darragh Marsh

2nd: Kia Jahandizi

Form 1

Champion Advait Tahmankar

2nd: Ryan Hall

Form 2

Champion: Ethan Cole

2nd: Shbham Saha

Form 3

Champion: Szymon Slebioda

Form 4 and above

Champion: Aharshi Banerjee

2nd: Timothy McClenahan

Thanks to everyone for a brilliant afternoon of chess. See you at our next tournament next month on 14th March at Methodist College.

This tournament counts to the Grandprix for our end of year Elite award ceremony and tournament at Stormont. Watch this website for an update of the standings....

Puzzle Solutions