You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 1998-1999 Season UCU Yearbook Articles North Belfast at the 1998 European Club Championships

North Belfast at the 1998 European Club Championships

The North Belfast Chess Team competed at the European Club Championships in Lubniewice, Poland 11th-13th September 1998. This report appeared originally in the 1997-1998 UCU Yearbook.
North Belfast at the 1998 European Club Championships

North Belfast v Gorzow 'B'

The North Belfast Chess Club by winning the All-Ireland Club Championships qualified to represent Ireland in the European Club. As luck would have it we were drawn to play in Poland, with very strong opposition from Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Belgium.

Our hosts kindly arranged to collect us at the Polish-German Border, and drive sixty Kilometres to the venue in the quiet town of Lubniewice. The venue turned out to be a "workers camp" of the company of the main tournament sponsors Stilon. Which made for pleasant lakeside walks or strolls through the wooded countryside.


The town of Lubniewice was a short walk away, and it's many bars were to provide the night-time entertainment, and a slice of life in Poland.


In the first round we were paired against the host club, a daunting task as they out-rated all our boards by 600 points. Despite the lopsided result we played very well.

Round 1
Stilon Gorzow, Poland          North Belfast
GM Michal Krasenkow      1:0   Tom Clarke
GM Sergei Shipov         1:0   David Houston
GM Rustem Dautov         1:0   Stephen Scannell
GM Igor Khenkin          1:0   Adrian Skelton
IM Pawel Jaracz          1:0   David Blair
IM Aleksander Czerwonski 1:0   Nicholas Pilkiewicz

The second round result was a disappointment, this was the team we felt we could beat before we came to the tournament, during the match the result was always in doubt but the Belgians greater experience told.

Round 2
Leuven, Belgium             North Belfast
IM Pieter Claesen     1:0   Tom Clarke
FM Jereon Claesen     1:0   David Houston
Chris van Hul         1:0   Stephen Scannell
Koen Bossuyt          1:0   Adrian Skelton
Eddy van Espen        1:0   David Blair
Freddy de Guchtenaere 1/2   Nicholas Pilkiewicz

Due to the non appearance of the Swedish and Croatian teams this left a bye for the last round, and our hosts Gorzow Chess Club arranged for us to play their B side, headed by two IMs, still a formidable side which we managed after a long struggle to beat.

Round 3
Stilon Gorzow B, Poland        North Belfast
IM Jan Przewoznik        1:0   Tom Clarke
IM Aleksander Czerwonski 1/2   David Houston
Olaf Michalski           0:1   Stephen Scannell
Jerzy Brok               1:0   Adrian Skelton
Joanna Wilminska         0:1   David Blair
Matueusz Bronowicki      0:1   Nicholas Pilkiewicz

The tournament was eventually won by the host club "Stilon Gorzow", who after a narrow 3.5:2.5 win in the semi-final against the all GM team from the Ukraine, went on to beat the Estonian team Parnu by a similar score after a titanic struggle.

Ruslan Ponomariov
The members of the team would like to thank all the members of the Chess Club, the Ulster Chess Union, St Malachy's Old Boys Association and especially Jack Kennedy, Elizabeth Blair and Helen Scannell without whose invaluable assistance this trip would not be possible.

News
Ulster Fischer Championships took place on June 8th at Civil Service Pavilion One of the most exciting competitions of the year involves chess with a difference. The initial position of the main pie... Jun 29, 2025
Annual General Meeting 2024/2025 2024/2025 season is rapidly coming to a close and with this comes the announcement of the UCU’s Annual General Meeting... Jun 27, 2025
Washingbay FIDE Rapid This week's upcoming event's early entry list Jun 02, 2025
City of Belfast Winners Well done to Steve Scannell our champion, and David Jeffers on winning the Intermediate trophy! May 26, 2025
The Belfast Megafinals took place at Methodist College on Sat May 10th 2025 The last of this years monthly tournaments at Methodist College. Ended with the Delancey Chess Challenge Belfast Megafin... May 25, 2025
More news…
« July 2025 »
July
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031
Upcoming Events
The Summer Tournament (Now FIDE rated) Weds 2nd July at Civil Service Pavilion Weds 2nd July and the 9th Week. The aim is to start each round at 7.45 pm. Please arrive at least by 7:30pm and if arriv... Jul 02, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
City of Lisburn Championship Jul 26, 2025 - Jul 27, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club, 60-62 Longstone Street
Ulster Championships 2025 The top Ulster competition returns to open the 2025-2026 season! Aug 23, 2025 - Aug 25, 2025 — Queens University, South Dinning Hall, Belfast
FIDE RATED County Tyrone Rapid Championship 2025 Wednesday 3 September 2025 Check-in at 7:45pm. The 5 rounds will be played back-to-back from 8pm to 10:30pm Washingbay... Sep 03, 2025 07:45 PM - 10:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
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
Upcoming events…