City of Belfast Chess Tournament Delivers Drama, Upsets, and Two Champions in a Thrilling 2026 Edition

The May Bank Holiday weekend brought six intense rounds of competitive chess to Lisburn Chess Club, as 34 players from across Ireland converged for the 2026 City of Belfast Tournament. From Dublin to Letterkenny, from teenagers to seasoned veterans, the field was stacked — including three players rated over 2000 and seven above 1900 — setting the stage for a fiercely contested event.

City of Belfast Rd 1

Early Rounds: Favourites Hold Firm, First Shocks Appear

The tournament opened in classic Swiss style, with top seeds facing lower rated opponents. As expected, the favourites held their nerve and secured their points.

But Round 2 delivered the first twist: Ethan C, one of the three 2000+ rated players was held to a draw, marking the first surprise among the elite.

By Round 3, the story of the tournament was beginning to take shape. Steve S — described in the report as someone who has “seen it all, won it all, and done it with grace and style” — surged to 3/3, taking the early lead. Mandar drew, while Ethan C kept pace with a crucial win.

Round 4: The Tournament Turns

Round 4 lived up to its reputation as Ulster chess’s “moving round.”

Steve S ground out another tough win, stretching his lead to half a point over the relentless Ethan C heading into Round 5.

In the Henderson Cup section, Nicole W established a full point lead over Robert L and Des M, setting up a tense finish.

Round 5: Pressure Peaks

The top board clash between Steve S and Ethan C ended in a fighting draw — a testament to Ethan’s determination and, as the report puts it, “a will to win the size of Old Trafford.”

Elsewhere, George and Nicole W scored vital victories, tightening the standings heading into the final round.

After five rounds, the leaderboard was razorthin:

Steve S: 4.5

Ethan C, George, Nicole W: 4.0

Everything was still to play for.

Round 6: Final Round Fireworks

The final round delivered maximum drama.

Steve S and Nicole W both drew, while Ethan C secured a crucial win — pulling level with Steve S on 5 points. The Nemtzov Cup would be decided by tiebreaks.

Nicole W’s draw, meanwhile, clinched her the Henderson Cup title. With Conor S winning and Peter C drawing, the remaining podium places also came down to tiebreak calculations.

Final Standings

Nemtzov Cup

1st – Steve Scannell (5 pts)

2nd – Ethan Cole (5 pts) — edged out again on tiebreak

3rd – Andrew Campbell (4.5 pts) — a brilliant late surge onto the podium

Henderson Cup

1st – Nicole White (4.5 pts)

2nd – Conor Spackman (3.5 pts) — 2nd on tiebreak

3rd – Peter Campbell

City of Belfast Winners

A Tournament to Remember

The 2026 City of Belfast Tournament delivered everything chess fans could hope for: tension, surprises, heroic saves, and two champions crowned only after the finest of margins.

A huge thank you goes to all players for making the event smooth and enjoyable, and to Lisburn Chess Club for hosting another fantastic weekend of chess.

Report by Chris Dorrian