No easy wins

There are no easy wins in the local chess leagues plus forthcoming tournaments and the weekly game.

The 3 Belfast and District Leagues are now well underway, but already the pre-season favourites are not having things all their own way. For example, the B Division with only five teams due to play each other four times, was thought by most pundits to lie between CIYMS and Fisherwick, Belfast's two largest clubs. However, CIYMS lost 4-2 at home to Bangor, while Fisherwick lost their first two home games: 1½-4½ to Shorts and 2½-3½ to CIYMS. Future developments in the ever-shifting scene of league chess will be reported in this column. Meanwhile, in today's game, Montgomery may not have won a war but he certainly outflanked and out-manoeuvred his opponent.

On Friday 25th November to Sunday 27th November, Queen's University Students' Union hosts the Ulster Intermediate and Junior Championships.

  • The Intermediate is for those graded 1800 and under (fee £6)
  • While the Junior is for 1450 and under (fee £5)

If you are under 16 or over 65 years old, the entry fee for either tournament is only £3. So any budding Ulster champion should send entry and fee to David Houston, 53 Osborne Gardens, Belfast BT9 6LF (Tele, 660620).

Media

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Upcoming Events
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2026 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Saturday 13th June at Loanends Presbyterian Church Hall Jun 13, 2026 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — Loanends Presbyterian Church Hall, Loanends Rd, Loanends, Crumlin BT29 4YR
Annual General Meeting 2026 Jun 15, 2026 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM — Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Rd, Belfast, BT11 9AH
Lisburn Bullet Championships Jul 05, 2026 10:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Lisburn Chess Club
FIDE Rated Ulster Championships 2026 Aug 29, 2026 - Aug 31, 2026 — Blackmountain Shared Space, 280 Ballygomartin Road, Belfast, BT13 3NG
FIDE RATED Aughamullan Rapid 2026 : Tuesday 15 September 2026 5 rounds. Time Control 12mins. Checkin 19:00 Prize giving 21:50. Venue : Washingbay Centre, Coalisland. Sep 15, 2026 07:00 PM - 09:50 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
Upcoming events…