News
Ulster Championships 2025 at full capacity
This year's Ulster Championships are hosted at Lisburn Chess Club with a limited number of entrants and we can now confirm all spaces have been taken!
Football, Family activities, Live Music, Live Dancing and Chess at EMSONI 2025 Festival.
We were honoured to be invited to the EMSONI Festival on 26th July 2025 and enjoyed Chess, fantastic company and conversation, live music a brilliant day at the Ulidia Playing Fields Belfast.
The Annual Citi Charity Rapidplay took place on July 24th 2025.
Some 42 players gathered to raise money for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. Organised by Citi's chess team captain Michael Devine.
Celebrating Young Chess talent at Stormont. MLA Naomi Long invites top players.
Our series of monthly tournaments concludes with the top players their parents and Principals being invited to Stormont for an elite competition and award ceremony. This took place on Friday June 13th.
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 pieces on the front row is set to a random position. This means that learned opening theories/lines are challenged.
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.
Washingbay FIDE Rapid
This week's upcoming event's early entry list
City of Belfast Winners
Well done to Steve Scannell our champion, and David Jeffers on winning the Intermediate trophy!
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 Megafinals. Part of one of the largest childrens tournaments. Qualifiers go on to play in the next phase the Terrafinals.
GM Alex Baburin plays 24 games in Ulster Simultaneous 23rd May 2025
An evening of fantastic chess was enjoyed when 24 Ulster Chess players played Irelands GM Alex Baburin. Organised by Karina Campbell, Damien Cunningham and Brendan Jamison.
Join the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025 – Every Move Counts!
A message from The FIDE Social Commission Team:- FIDE has made 2025 the Year of Social Chess and invites you to participate in the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025: Every Move Counts We are calling on filmmakers, federations, and changemakers like you to share short films showcasing the social impact of chess around the world. Whether it's about personal growth, community building, or creating new opportunities – your story matters.
Final Standings for the 2025 Childrens Chess Grandprix
With the April Childrens Chess completed we have the final standings for the 2025 Grandprix. The top four of each section usually get invited to Stormont for an award ceremony and Elite Chess Tournament.
UCU League 2024/25 final tables and board prizes
Report on the UCU Belfast & District League 2024/25
City Of Bangor Chess Club hosted the Ulster Team Rapidplay Championship 2024/25
The Ulster Chess Team Rapidplay Championships are run every two years. Top players and team travelled to the fantastic Bangor Chess Club at Groomsport to see who would be the Champions. Held on Saturday 29 March 2025.
Aprils Monthly Childrens Chess Tournament at Methodist College
On April 12th 2025 Children from all over Ulster meet at Methodist College to play brilliant chess at the Ulster Chess Union monthly tournaments.
The Belfast Scholastic Grandprix 2025 standings with one last tournament to go.
The Ulster Chess Union runs monthly tournaments open to all pupils. At the end of the series we have a special Awards Ceremony usually held in the beautiful surrounds of Stormont.
One week left the league is coming to a finish. The Summer Tournament will begin in May.
Easter is coming and the chess continues. With FIDE rated tournaments organised by Brendan Jamison. The League is coming to an end. Soon we will have our annual AGM and an opportunity to celebrate the years chess. What a brilliant year.
NI FIDE Rating Report: 1st April 2025
By FIDE National Arbiter Brendan Jamison
UCU Simul 2025 to host GM Alex Baburin
The Ulster Chess Union is delighted to announce this year’s simultaneous guest will be none other than Ireland’s only Grand Master, Alex Baburin!
Schools Chess at continues at Methodist College March 8th.
The monthly schools tournaments run by Ulster Chess Union. Continued on Sat March 8th at Methodist College. We had almost 40 students playing top chess and solving some very challenging puzzles.
