News

Site News
CANCELLATION OF ALL REMAINING UCU EVENTS AND LEAGUES THIS SEASON

CANCELLATION OF ALL REMAINING UCU EVENTS AND LEAGUES THIS SEASON

The below statement by the UCU Tournament Director has been approved by the UCU Executive Board Given the coronavirus peak is not set to hit the UK until the end of May or the month of June, I don’t feel comfortable that we continue to run events over the next 10 weeks

CANCELLATION OF ALL REMAINING UCU EVENTS AND LEAGUES THIS SEASON - Read More…

2020 Irish Junior Chess Championships Postponed

2020 Irish Junior Chess Championships Postponed

Dear chess players, chess parents and the wider chess community, I am very sorry we have had to postpone this year’s Irish Juniors. Please see today’s statement below from the Irish Chess Union. We promise to hold the event later in the year when it’s safe for all the players and their families. Best wishes, Brendan Jamison Ulster Chess Union Tournament Director & League Controller

2020 Irish Junior Chess Championships Postponed - Read More…

UCU Battle Plan to keep our chess players as safe as possible

UCU Battle Plan to keep our chess players as safe as possible

At the time of writing on Friday 13 March, of the 1.88 million people in Northern Ireland, 29 (as at 3:15pm 13/03/2020) have been confirmed with Covid-19. These guidelines are in place based on the facts we have at present. We will send an update if the situation worsens, at which point we may need to postpone chess events and leagues. In the meantime, we are taking these steps....

UCU Battle Plan to keep our chess players as safe as possible - Read More…

Norman McFarland has passed away

Norman McFarland has passed away

It is with sadness that we have lost a keen chess player and friend. Norman McFarland has passed away.

Norman McFarland has passed away - Read More…

Bangor Runs another Brilliant Blitz

Bangor Runs another Brilliant Blitz

Bangor chess club completed its Blitz Tournaments with a well attended FIDE rated event on March 5th 2020.

Bangor Runs another Brilliant Blitz - Read More…

Matthew Turner GM plays Belfast at Simultaneous and wins

Matthew Turner GM plays Belfast at Simultaneous and wins

28 players with a variety of skills and a brilliant range of ages put their intelligence to the challenge of beating the Scottish Chess Champion Matthew Turner GrandMaster. On thursday evening 20th February at the excellent venue of the NICS Pavilion.Would they beat him!

Matthew Turner GM plays Belfast at Simultaneous and wins - Read More…

UCU asks players to avoid hand shakes until end of season

UCU asks players to avoid hand shakes until end of season

Following advice from doctors, the Ulster Chess Union are asking all players at league matches and tournaments to avoid shaking hands before and after a game.

UCU asks players to avoid hand shakes until end of season - Read More…

Sveshnikov Sizzles as Bangor Players Hunger for Opening Theory

Sveshnikov Sizzles as Bangor Players Hunger for Opening Theory

Bangor Club continues to give the Ulster Chess World top events. With brilliant opening talk by Danny Robert.

Sveshnikov Sizzles as Bangor Players Hunger for Opening Theory - Read More…

Bangor Blitz 13th Feb 2020

Bangor Blitz 13th Feb 2020

Bangor continues to be more than just a chess club - regularly inviting players to talks and competitions. It held a FIDE rated Blitz on 13th February 2020.

Bangor Blitz 13th Feb 2020 - Read More…

Greenisland buzzes with speed chess extravaganza

Greenisland buzzes with speed chess extravaganza

Tournament report by Brendan Jamison, National Arbiter 33 players gathered at Greenisland Baptist Church on Saturday 22 February for 10 rounds of thrilling blitz chess. This is the first time the Ulster Chess Union has ever held an event in this area and it was a wonderful success.

Greenisland buzzes with speed chess extravaganza - Read More…

Breaking news: Strand 2 win Division 2

Breaking news: Strand 2 win Division 2

Strand were chasing Belfast South in what looked like an impossible mission.... but....

Breaking news: Strand 2 win Division 2 - Read More…

Top Ulster Youngsters playing Chess at Methodist College

Top Ulster Youngsters playing Chess at Methodist College

On Saturday 8th February 2020 a brilliant chess afternoon took place at Methodist College. Part of the Monthly series of Schools Chess tournaments run by the Ulster Chess Union.

Top Ulster Youngsters playing Chess at Methodist College - Read More…

BREAKING NEWS: Strand Chess Club wins Silver King league Champions 2020

BREAKING NEWS: Strand Chess Club wins Silver King league Champions 2020

The Strand Club wins the Silver King, the coveted Division 1 trophy awarded to Champions of the Belfast & District Chess League. It is the second year in a row that the mighty East Belfast team has dominated the local chess scene with it’s blend of youth development and top local chess champions.

BREAKING NEWS: Strand Chess Club wins Silver King league Champions 2020 - Read More…

Winter Tournament - Thompson and Ruben win best game prizes

Winter Tournament - Thompson and Ruben win best game prizes

As the post-Christmas portion of the Winter Tournament gets underway, two best game prizes for the pre-Christmas portion have been awarded.

Winter Tournament - Thompson and Ruben win best game prizes - Read More…

Newry Rapidplay Report - February 2020

Newry Rapidplay Report - February 2020

Ulster Rapidplay Chess Championships took place in Newry on February 1st 2020 kindly sponsored by Newry,Mourne and Down District Council.

Newry Rapidplay Report - February 2020 - Read More…

The first in the Alan Burns Lacksidasicals 2020

The first in the Alan Burns Lacksidasicals 2020

On Sunday 12th January chess players met at the Civil Service Pavilion Stormont to enjoy an afternoon of lacksidasical chess. In the first of the Alan Burns four tournaments.

The first in the Alan Burns Lacksidasicals 2020 - Read More…

Childrens Chess - fun tournament - 11th January 2020

Childrens Chess - fun tournament - 11th January 2020

The second in the series of Childrens Chess took place on 11th January 2020. At Methodist College. Some brilliant games of chess were played.

Childrens Chess - fun tournament - 11th January 2020 - Read More…

The Lectures on Openings at Bangor Club Continues

The Lectures on Openings at Bangor Club Continues

Opening lecture on King’s Gambit this Thursday 30 January with Albert McCarter. 9:15pm at Bangor Chess Club. Everyone welcome. The evening begins with a 6 round mini blitz.

The Lectures on Openings at Bangor Club Continues - Read More…

CHESS: Current entry list for Newry: Sat 1 Feb 2020, 10:30am check-in

CHESS: Current entry list for Newry: Sat 1 Feb 2020, 10:30am check-in

Ulster Rapidplay Chess Championships in Newry on Saturday 1 February. Both sections will be FIDE-rated. Sponsored by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The top Rapidplay tournament in Ulster. At the Sticky Fingers Arts Centre, The Imaginarium, Newry

CHESS: Current entry list for Newry: Sat 1 Feb 2020, 10:30am check-in - Read More…

Navigation
News
Washingbay FIDE Rapid This week's upcoming event's early entry list Jun 02, 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 01, 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
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 Kar... May 24, 2025
More news…
May 2024 »
May
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Upcoming Events
The Summer Tournament (Now FIDE rated) Weds 11th June at Civil Service Pavilion Weds 11th June and the 6th Week. The aim is to start each round at 7.45 pm. Please arrive at least by 7:30pm and if arri... Jun 11, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
Annual General Meeting 2024-2025 Agenda TBC when nominations and motions are received Please submit nominations/motions by 20th June Jun 30, 2025 08:00 PM - 10:00 PM — Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Road
City of Lisburn Championship Jul 26, 2025 - Jul 27, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club, 60-62 Longstone Street
Upcoming events…