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
FIDE rated Ulster Masters 2025 Please note due to venue capacity, entries will be capped at 44. Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club
National Arbiters (NA) Course and Running Live Boards Nov 15, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 — Colaiste Wanna, Ballyroan, Co. Dublin
FIDE RATED Lough Neagh Rapid Championship 2025 : Wednesday 19 November 2025 5 Round 12min each player. FIDE rated rapidplay. Venue: Washingbay Centre. Hosted by Washingbay Chess Club. Nov 19, 2025 07:50 PM - 09:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2025 Come and challenge to become the Ulster Schools Chess Champion 2025. 6th December at Methodist College. Dec 06, 2025 10:00 AM - 04:30 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Second Executive Board Meeting Agenda tbc Dec 09, 2025 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM — Playback Conference Room, Maynard Sinclair Pavilion
Upcoming events…