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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

Williamson Shield 2020 - report by Arbiter Andy Boal

Williamson Shield 2020 - report by Arbiter Andy Boal

A brilliant weekend of chess at a top venue and prizes awarded by Ciaran Madden of Compass Financial Associates Ltd. who are sponsoring the Irish Junior Championships to be held in Belfast this year.

Williamson Shield 2020 - report by Arbiter Andy Boal - Read More…

Omagh Rapidplay 2019

Omagh Rapidplay 2019

Players gathered at the annual Omagh Rapidplay 2019 on Saturday 30th November located at and Sponsored by Christian Brothers Grammar School. With two sections and both tough there was plenty of brilliant Chess.

Omagh Rapidplay 2019 - Read More…

The Ulster Masters 2019 at Bangor.

The Ulster Masters 2019 at Bangor.

For the first time in its history, the Ulster Masters was played outside Belfast this year. The major chess event was run over the weekend of 23rd and 24th November at Saint Columbanus’ College in Bangor.

The Ulster Masters 2019 at Bangor. - Read More…

Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2019/20

Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2019/20

Students gathered at the annual Chess Championships at Methodist College Saturday morning 7th December 2019. The fight to be Ulster Champion was about to start.....

Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2019/20 - Read More…

2nd November saw the Childrens Chess series of Tournaments Start

2nd November saw the Childrens Chess series of Tournaments Start

A brilliant warmup to the December Ulster Schools Championships. Young players gathered at Methody College for an afternoon of Chess games and Chess puzzles.

2nd November saw the Childrens Chess series of Tournaments Start - Read More…

UK Open Blitz Championship 2019 : Belfast Qualifier

UK Open Blitz Championship 2019 : Belfast Qualifier

The winners qualify for the UK Open Blitz Championship 2019. Belfast ran one of 8 qualifying tournaments. With several Ulster Champions and top players from London.

UK Open Blitz Championship 2019 : Belfast Qualifier - Read More…

Bangor FIDE-rated Halloween Blitz 2019

Bangor FIDE-rated Halloween Blitz 2019

Bangor is probably the most active club holding brilliant events with coaching and tournaments. These continue with the spooky Halloween Blitz. 31st October 2019.

Bangor FIDE-rated Halloween Blitz 2019 - Read More…

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News
UCU Tournaments: A Critical Moment for Volunteer and Arbiter Support This report, prepared by Tournament Director Karina Campbell and presented to the Ulster Chess Union Executive Board, ou... Oct 26, 2025
Exciting changes to the Sligo event in 2026. Now a multi-tournament chess festival. Save the dates in your calender Jan 30th to Feb 8th. The Sligo event is undergoing a major transformation in 2026 from a weekender to a multi-tournament festival. The Sligo ... Oct 16, 2025
The Monthly Childrens Chess Kicks off Oct 25th at Methodist College ** New date ** The LJCC Belfast Qualifier a one day 6 round tournament starts our annual series of monthly tournaments a... Oct 09, 2025
The 2025 Summer tournament ends with a fun tournament and award ceremony Weds 24th September 2025 saw 24 players gather to celebrate the end of the UCU Summer Tournament. Who won? we have the f... Sep 27, 2025
Belfast Qualifier for the British Open Blitz 2025/26 Belfast runs one of 16 tournaments that allow players to qualify for the British Open Blitz tournament. The top player a... Sep 27, 2025
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Upcoming Events
November 1st Childrens Chess 12:30 – 5:00 The monthly schools chess tournaments continues at Methodist College. Nov 01, 2025 12:30 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE RATED Bangor Club Masters Rapid 2025 [10 rounds of 25+0 over two days] Open to all players. One open section with Intermediate and Junior trophies awarded for highest placed finish by players... Nov 06, 2025 07:30 PM - 10:45 PM — City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT19 6JR
FIDE RATED Bangor Club Masters Rapid 2025 [10 rounds of 25+0 over two days] Open to all players. One open section with Intermediate and Junior trophies awarded for highest placed finish by players... Nov 08, 2025 10:15 AM - 04:30 PM — City of Bangor International Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT19 6JR
FIDE rated Ulster Masters 2025 Please note due to venue capacity, entries will be capped at 44. Nov 14, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 — Lisburn Chess Club
National Arbiters (NA) Course and Running Live Boards Nov 15, 2025 - Nov 16, 2025 — Colaiste Wanna, Ballyroan, Co. Dublin
Upcoming events…