News
Checkmate with honours
Last Thursday (4 April) Bangor Chess Club hosted a special simul match with 15 players taking on Division 1 player Brendan Jamison. However, the usual format had a creative twist! Brendan played without a queen on every board, challenging the local players to find the quickest checkmate.
Kings and queens battle at Royal School, Armagh
The first ever Armagh Rapidplay Chess Championships were held at the Royal School on Saturday 30 March. The event was run by the Ulster Chess Union (UCU) and kindly supported by the school headmaster Graham Montgomery.
Speed Chess Winners at Groomsport monthly rapidplay
Last Thursday (28 March), 11 local chess players scooped awards at the monthly rapidplay at Bangor Chess Club. An article by Brendan Jamison.
The Childrens Chess Grandprix Standings 2018/19
We have one tournament to go - April 13th. Who is on to win the Grandprix - the Belfast Scholastic Shields and be invited to Stormont by MLA Chris Lyttle for the special award ceremony and elite competition.
Imperious Strand 1 march on
(B&D League 2018/19 Week 17) Can anyone stop Strand 1 from claiming their first Silver King? The answer certainly isn't Civil Service, as they were thrashed 4.5-0.5 by the league leaders. Division 3 is looking a little tighter, as leaders Bangor 2 succumbed to the Fruithill Ravens.
Ulster Rapidplay Championships 2019 sponsored by Falls Bowling Club
The Ulster Rapidplay took place at its now regular and brilliant venue of Falls Bowling Club, also the home for Fruithill chess players, on Saturday 23rd March.
The second in the Alan Burns tournaments 2019
The second Lacksidasical in the Alan Burns Grandprix took place at the Civil Service Pavilion on 10th March 2019.
Storm Gareth blows Ballynafeigh 1 off course as he leads Kelly's Heroes to victory
(B&D League 2018/19 Week 16) In a week where the weather headlines were dominated by Storm Gareth, Kelly's Heroes had a Gareth of their own on board 1 as they dealt a hammer blow to Ballynafeigh 1's Silver King ambitions.
Children enjoying chess at Methodist College
Saturday 9th March and young chess enthusiasts gather to play and solve chess problems at Methodist College part of our monthly schools chess events.
National Club Championships and Irish International Open 2019
The National Club Championship 2019 takes place from April 5-7 in Gonzaga College, Dublin. The Irish International Open 2019 will then take place from April 17-22 in the same venue
President Ross Harris Delivers Chess Simultaneous
Last Thursday (14 March 2019), the President of the Ulster Chess Union, Ross Harris, delivered a special simultaneous match at Bangor Chess Club. While he won all his games, he was still very impressed by the level of newcomers and awarded three prizes at the end of the night.
Northern Lights clinch Strawbridge Cup
(B&D League 2018/19 Week 15) The John Strawbridge Cup has a new name on it after Northern Lights convincingly saw off their nearest rivals QUB 2 to secure the Division 2 trophy with two matches to spare.
Spring Blitz Chess Animates Groomsport
Last Thursday (7 March) Groomsport was buzzing with its monthly blitz chess tournament, a popular event that animates Groomsport Parish Hall with an exciting mix of local and visiting players. Reporter: Brendan Jamison.
Lisburn Chess Club hosted Blitz and Bullet Chess - February 23rd.
On Saturday 23rd February Lisburn Chess Club hosted at the Lisburn Library 26 players from top players Steve Scannell and Sergio Esteve Sanchez to relatively new players James Wong and Taufik Kamal.
GM Luke McShane plays Belfast at Stormont Hotel - February 21st
Top player Grand Master Luke McShane played 29 chess players ranging in age from 9 years and up. At the brilliant venue of the Stormont Hotel.
Players from USA and Poland flock to Groomsport for speed chess competition
Last Thursday (21st February) saw a special gathering of players arriving for the Groomsport Rapidplay Chess Championships. With 15 minutes each on the clock, it was an exciting 5 rounds of super-fast mental gymnastics - report by Arbiter Brendan Jamison
Scholastic Chess at Methodist College Belfast. - February 9th 2019
Young Chess enthusiasts played an afternoon of chess and solved chess puzzles at Methodist College.A brilliant day of logical thinking.
Strand 1 come out on top in crunch match
(B&D League 2018/19 Week 14) Strand 1 took another big step towards their first Silver King after victory over their nearest rivals.
Northern Lights stretch Division 2 lead
(B&D League 2018/19 Week 13) Northern Lights go nine points clear in the Strawbridge Cup chase after beating Strand 2 while QUB 2 were beaten by Bangor 1. In Division 1, Ballynafeigh 1 have narrowed the gap slightly on Strand 1.
