Season Reports
UCU Autumn Congress 2007
The newly-established UCU Autumn Congress was held over the penultimate weekend of October in the QUB Students’ Union. The event was created to comprise both an Ulster Under 21 Championships and an under 1600 “Stars Barred” weekender.
Fisherwick Winter Tournament 2007
The first of 2007/08’s Fisherwick Monday night tournaments finished on the 26th of November. Dominating the seven-rounder from start to finish was a newcomer to the competition, RVH player Joseph Mordeno.
Ulster Rapidplay Championship December 2007
QUB's Steve Scannell retained his title as Ulster's best rapidplay player, finishing clear first with a perfect 6 points from 6 at the Belfast Boat Club.
Williamson Shield 2008
As is tradition, the final weekend of January marked the first major Ulster Chess competition of the new year - the Williamson Shield 2008. The prestigious Williamson saw a new year and new faces but a familiar winner, as QUB's Steve Scannell lifted the famous shield for a remarkable seventh time. Scannell now lies just one victory short of the late great Tom Clarke's total of eight wins. Steve was delighted to be taking home the magnificient trophy for another year, not to mention the £100 winner's cheque along with it.
Scannell Superb in Simul Success
A fine February evening saw the Ulster Champion, Steve Scannell, take on all-comers and all at once in Queen's University Belfast. Room 208 of the Peter Froggatt Centre, packed to full capacity, hosted QUB Chess Club's first major event of 2008. It was a hugely successful night for both the club and Scannell, with the impressive turnout only outdone on the evening by Steve's performance, as he remarkably recorded 11 wins and just one draw from the 12 games.
French FM Maxime Sorin Wins QUB Rapid 2008
The QUB Rapid 2008 proved a huge success, with the increased prize fund drawing the largest, strongest and most nationality diverse array of competitors tournament chess in Belfast has seen for some time.
Fisherwick Spring Tournament 2008
The latest edition of Fisherwick Chess Club's long-established Monday night tournament was run as a seven round swiss over January and February. The competition saw a blend of Fisherwick stalwarts alongside Bombardier, Queen's and Lagan players contest the destination of the trophy.
Walls First in Fisherwick Quickplay
The Fisherwick Quickplay, held over the first two Monday nights in March, attracted a fine turnout in terms of numbers and quality. Queen's Theology student, Eamonn Walls, recorded an impressive 5/6 total to clinch outright first place ahead of second-placed Michael Waters' 4.5 points tally and the other 17 competitors.
Children's Chess Grand Prix 2007-8
This year's Children's Chess series, sponsored by the Northern Bank Sports Club, had an innovation. As well as prizes for the individual events there was also an overall Grand Prix.
City of Belfast Championships 2008
QUB's Steve Scannell continued his domination of Ulster Chess weekenders, this time by notching up another clear first in the City of Belfast Chamionships. In retaining the Nemztov Cup, Scannell secured his sixth successive UCU weekender win.
Stormont Childrens Award Ceremony 2008
The top 9 children from the Childrens chess tournaments were at Stormont as the guests of MLA Brian Wilson (Green Party) for an Elite tournament and prize award ceremony.
Ulster Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships 2007
Played at the Belfast Europa Hotel from the 25th to the 27th August
Odds Tournament
Played at the Belfast Boat Club on Sunday 25th May 2008
Inaugural FoNIC Rapidplay
5 Round Swiss tournament played at the Belfast Europa Hotel on Saturday 3rd May 2008. Each player had 30 minutes for the entire game.
FoNIC Handicap
Played at the Maynard Sinclair Pavilion on Saturday 28 June 2008
