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).

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Upcoming Events
FIDE-RATED U1700 County Down Classic Sep 12, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM — Venue: City of Bangor International Chess Club, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
FIDE-RATED County Down Classic 2025 Sep 13, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM — Venue: City of Bangor International Chess Club, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
18th Sept. FIDE RATED City of Bangor Rapid Congress 2025 Rounds 1-5 10 rounds of FIDE Rapid play at City of Bangor Chess Club over 2 evenings. 5 Rounds on 18th Sept. 5 Rounds on 25th Sept. Sep 18, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
FIDE-RATED County Down Classic 2025 : Rounds 3, 4 4 rounds of 60+30, to be played over 2 Saturdays. Sep 20, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
UK Blitz Championships 2025 - Belfast Qualifier - Sunday Sept 21st: FIDE Rated An opportunity to qualify for the UK Blitz Championships. Belfast is holding one of the 16 qualifying tournaments across... Sep 21, 2025 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
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