You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 1999-2000 Season Ulster Chess News City of Belfast Championship

City of Belfast Championship

1-2 April 2000

This event attracted 32 players, including four past and present Ulster champions. Top seed Tom Clarke was the only player with full points after three rounds but then losses in the next two rounds to Steve Scannell and Richard McMaster put him out of contention. Going into the final round Scannell and McMaster, who had drawn with each other in Round 3, were in the lead with 4½ points, with Nicholas Pilkiewicz next on 4. McMaster had on paper the easiest task of the three leaders in the last round, being rated over 400 points better than his opponent Tony Parker, but in the end he had a very hard struggle before scoring the full point. North Belfast team-mates Scannell and Pilkiewicz were paired against each other and it was the latter who eventually won in a game that went down to the last minute of the playing session.

Leading final scores: 1st Richard McMaster 5½/6; 2nd Nicholas Pilkiewicz 5; 3rd equal Steve Scannell and Neil Fisher (who had an excellent last round win against former Ulster champion Michael Holmes) (Scannell took the 3rd place prize on tie-break but Fisher had the consolation of winning the under 1800 rating prize); 5th equal Tom Clarke, Kieran Greer, David Robb and Mark Newman 4; 9th equal Michael Holmes, Des Moreland, Tony Parker (who took the under 1650 rating prize), Stephen McCann and Alan Burns 3½.

Although the tournament was run in one section the Junior (under 1450) competitors had their own prize list and here David Collins and Ian Woodfield shared 1st with 3 points with David O’Donnell taking 3rd prize on 2½.

COMPLETE RESULTS

1. R. McMASTER 5.5
2. N. PILKIEWICZ 5
3-4. S. SCANNELL, N. FISHER 4.5
5-8. T. CLARKE, K. GREER, D. ROBB, M. NEWMAN 4
9-13. M. HOLMES, D. MORELAND, T. PARKER S. McCANN, A. BURNS 3.5
14-20. D. MALLAGHAN, J. STRAWBRIDGE, P. McLOUGHLIN, J. McLEAN, D. BARLOW, D. COLLINS, I. WOODFIELD 3
21-24. A. COOTES, S. McCONAGHY, W. STOREY, D. O'DONNELL 2.5
25-30. G. ANNESLEY, C. DUNLEAVY. E. MORGAN, J. CLIFFORD, R.TRIGGS, S. LINTON 2
31. J. CAHOON 1
32. J. WOODFIELD 0

Navigation
News
On February 8th Students gathered at Methodist College to Play Chess. The annual monthly Ulster Chess Union chess tournaments continued on Sat. 8th February 2025. With some 36 youngsters pla... Feb 17, 2025
February 2025 FIDE NI Rating Report By Brendan Jamison Congratulations to 7 more players making a FIDE rating debut Jan 31, 2025
Childrens Chess Grand-prix standings after the first 2 competitions. After the Nov and Jan Childrens Chess tournaments what are the standings for the Grand-prix. With an explanation of the ... Jan 25, 2025
Chess Activities in Ulster to watch out for. There are lots of activities happening in Ulster Chess. With great Clubs like Bangor, Lisburn and Downpatrick running ev... Jan 25, 2025
The new year kicked off with the Williamson 2025. 17th - 19th January 2025 One of Ulster Chess Unions oldest tournaments. The Williamson Shield is always a brilliant tournament. Taking place at t... Jan 25, 2025
More news…
« February 2025 »
February
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
232425262728
Upcoming Events
FIDE RATED NI Gold Coast Team Classic League Round 4 - 27 February 2025 Entire teams can enter or individuals from other clubs are welcome to play and you will be placed in a team. The format... Feb 27, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Bangor City Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
FIDE RATED Blitzmania 3: 28th February Blitz 7:30pm Start : 10 Rounds : Time Control: 5+0 : City of Bangor International Chess Club. Feb 28, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
FIDE RATED Ulster Rapid Championship 2025 Saturday 1 March 2025, City of Bangor International Chess Club, 6 rounds Time control 25+0 Mar 01, 2025 10:00 AM - 05:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
FIDE RATED City of Bangor Spring Blitz 2025 [event 7 of 8 in Gold Coast Blitz Grand Prix 2024/2025] - 6 March 2025 March 06, 2025 from 07:30 PM to 10:00 PM Where : City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall... Mar 06, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
The National Club Championships (NCC) 2025 will be held March 7th - 9th at the Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo. An opportunity to play team chess against clubs from across Ireland. 5 rounds of team chess. Mar 07, 2025 - Mar 09, 2025 — Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo
Upcoming events…