News
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 events. And of course the standard Ulster Chess Union annual tournaments.
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 the excellent venue of the Civil Service Pavilion. Run by National Arbiter Chris Dorrian. With young promising players battling against top older players it was a battle of the generations. Fantastic to see so many young players.
The Monthly Childrens Chess Tournaments continued on Sat 11th January at Methodist College
29 young players came together to play and enjoy an afternoon of chess with a 6 round tournament and challenging puzzle competition.
January 2025 FIDE Rating Report
January 2025 FIDE NI Rating Report By Brendan Jamison Congratulations to 14 more players making a FIDE rating debut
The Ulster Blitz Champions are crowned for 2024/25 at Bangor City Chess Club.
To celebrate a fantastic year of Chess and so many brilliant events. Bangor City Chess Club hosted and ran the Ulster Blitz Championships. Photos and list of the Champions. Many thanks to Edward Khanzharov, Brendan Jamison and Caleb McLean.
The Williamson Shield 2025
The Williamson Shield Returns in 2025.On the 17th - 19th January 2025 Friday Evening to Sunday. The long running Williamson Shield Tournament returns to the Pavilion at Stormont Estate.
Record-breaking numbers at this year's Ulster Blitz 2024/25
Record-breaking numbers of around 60 players are expected at this year's Ulster Blitz as Bangor Chess Club hosts the 18 round blitz extravaganza on Saturday 28 December. We have space to fit a few more players in (as at 10am on Sunday 22 December, but be warned we often get a surge of players trying to enter in the 5 days leading up to event)
Top Young players compete to be Ulster Champion at Methodist College
On the stormy morning of 7th December 2024 top young players gathered. Six rounds of chess to get age group Ulster Champions. We were in for some good chess. At the Annual Schools Individual Ulster Championships. Sponsored by Lisburn Chess Club.
This weekend top young players will gather at Methodist College to compete to be an Ulster Champion
We have over 40 players. Playing on Saturday 7th December in the annual Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2024.
December 2024 FIDE NI Rating Report
By Brendan Jamison November was a massive month for FIDE rated events in Northern Ireland with a total of 7 tournaments held over the past 4 weeks, with 4 classic, 2 blitz and 1 rapid. Congratulations to 12 players who made a debut today.
Qualifiers from the Belfast Mega-finals play in the Giga-finals
The Delancey UK Chess Challenge is one of the top tournaments for young chess players. We held our Belfast Mega-finals on 11th May as part of our monthly tournaments at Methodist College. The next step the Giga-finals were played Over the Board (22/23 June, 6/7 & 20/21 July) and Online Options (7/8 September). Lets see how our players did.
UK Open Blitz Championships 2024 finals took place on Saturday 16th November at Leamington Spa
Our Belfast qualifiers took part in this top UK Blitz championships. Kamil Marchiewicz and Benedict A Keohane played in the Open Championships. Julia McNab played in the Woman's Championships.
Belfast Chess Social to Host Christmas Tournament in Crumlin Road Gaol
Belfast Chess Social is set to host a major tournament in Crumlin Road Gaol on Sunday, December 8th, just in time for Christmas.
Ulster Masters - report by Brendan Jamison
55 players competed in the Ulster Masters 2024. With prizes worth £1020, everyone raised the bar to deliver a very high standard of chess. We also had chess royalty present, the Chair of the Irish Chess Union Desmond Beatty, delivering new chess equipment to some of our clubs.
The Monthly Childrens Chess continued on Nov 2nd 2024 at Methodist College
With perhaps our largest no of players the start of the Grandprix series of Childrens Chess began. The monthly series continues in December on the Saturday 7th at Methodist College with the Ulster Schools Championships.
£750 Prize pot for Ulster Masters Friday 15th-Sunday 17th Nov. Not too late to enter.
An exciting event. With 53 entrants, two sections and large prize money. Article by Brendan Jamison.
Belfast Chess Social host Rapid Tournament and FIRST EVER In-Person Blitz Tournament Played on Computers
Belfast Chess Social hosted two tournaments on Sunday, November 3rd, at Reboot Cafe in the Queen's Quarter area of the city. Article and Photos by Peter McGoran.
November 2024 NI FIDE Rating Report
By Brendan Jamison
Belfast Chess Social - Sunday 3rd November
We're hosting two tournaments on November 3rd at Reboot Cafe (opposite MEdical College building at Queens). One of them is a 3+2 speed chess tournament played on Reboot's gaming computers. There'll be a cash prize for 1st and 2nd place. If anyone is interested, they can sign up by following the link on our instagram page
ULSTER MASTERS 2024 - entry list
The last UCU weekend event of the year will take place from 15-17 November at Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, East Belfast. The 5 round classic tournament will be tripled rated by FIDE, ICU and UCU. The time control is 75+30. Chief Arbiter: Brendan Jamison. Deputy Arbiter: Edward Khanzharov.
