News
B&D League - Part 2, Week 1 round-up
The divisional phase of the 2013/14 Belfast and District League gets underway, with the heavyweights slugging it out for the Silver King and three new teams joining the hunt for the John Strawbridge Cup.
Belfast South 2014
Four weeks into the New Year and its all change at the top of the Flexible Tournament standings. 2014 has started badly for the 2013 leader, Robert Lavery; everyone, it seems, is racing ahead of him.
Fruithill vs NICS
The very first match-up in this season's Division 2 competition; NICS travel to Fruithill. After the first series of games both were more or less tied at the same level though their first encounter in 2013 ended most definitely in Fruithill's favour.
NICS Lackadaisical
NICS Lackadaisical Rapidplay was over and done in only a few hours. With barely time to draw breath between the 6 rounds, a clear winner emerged in this event though a selection of analogue & digital clocks were on-hand, just in case.
B&D League - Part 2
Part 1 of the League has finished albeit with one result awaiting adjudication. However, this won't affect the split which is made all the more interesting with an influx of a few extra teams. The League Controller has released the fixtures lists too so the cup races begin in earnest on 27th January
Lagan vs Ballynafeigh 2
For their final match of the first phase of the season, Ballynafeigh 2 paid a visit to the Belfast Boat Club to take on Lagan. With both teams safely through to Division 1, they were nonetheless looking to grab as many points as possible in order to steal a march on their rivals.
Bangor vs NICS
NICS traipsed down to Groomsport for their final match of the season; missing the strong-man and President as well, the travellers fully expected to get a drubbing at the hands of a Bangor team who left it a bit late to get their act together. Well my-o-my it didn't quite turn out that way.
BSCC - Best Game Autumn 2013
The Belfast South Best Game prize for Autumn 2013 has been awarded to Martin Kelly & Robert Lavery for their match-up from Round 2. Move 12 and Robert, as Black, sacrifices his Rook with Rxc3
"Smart Alex" wins Mulcahy Memorial
Alex Lopez wins the 46th Mulcahy Memorial in Cork; Belfast player, Martin Kelly, pivotal in Lopez' successful tournament campaign.
UCU Blitz 2013
The final event of 2013: the UCU Blitz Championship. An afternoon of outrageously fast and furious play to sort out the men from the boys.
UCU Belfast and District League part two
The League Controller has now notified the team captains about the divisional split.
Belfast South Tourney: part 1
Belfast South's Flexible Winter Tournament has reached its half-way mark. The tournament restarts on Monday 6th January with another 11 weeks to go before awarding prizes.
NICS Lackadaisical
The next event in NICS rapidplay series is the "Lackadaisical" scheduled for Sunday 26th January. As intense as ever but the start and stop times make it an easy one for those challenged by an early rise on Sunday mornings. We have even got the caterers in so you can have your Sunday lunch made for you before you start.
B&D League Christmas break
Christmas is upon us and the final match has been played in 2013. The league is settling down now as we approach the break when the competition separates into two divisions. With most teams having a couple of fixtures remaining in this section, it is not at all clear who will be up and who will be down - apart from the top and bottom of course which is pretty clear cut.
Bangor vs Ballynafeigh 2
Fresh from a week's break, Ballynafeigh 2 resumed their league campaign with a trip to the North Down coast.
Ulster Schools Individual Champions crowned on 7th December.
The Schools Individual Ulster Championships took place at Methodist College on 7th December. Four tournaments decided the Champions for Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 19. The Under 19 determining the Schools Ulster Champion: Thomas Donaldson.
UCU News Correction
Apologies for an error in this months UCU News: the final round in the Belfast South Tournament will be on Monday 16th December and not as reported
Childrens Chess kicked off in November - a warm-up for the Ulster Championships.
The first Childrens chess of the year was held at Methodist College on November 2nd. This starts the group of tournaments that leads to the top players being invited to Award Ceremony in June (previously held at Stormont). Quality Chess played by players from P2 to Upper Sixth. An excellent opportunity to practice for the Ulster Schools Championships in December.
B&D League
Seven weeks into the League and teams are starting to sort themselves out. There only another 4 matches (2 before & 2 after the holidays) left in this part of the competition before we break into Divisions 1 & 2 and the battle for the Silver King starts in earnest.
Des Forson 1964-2013
Des Forson, longtime member of the Ulster Chess Union, died in a Whiteabbey hospice in the middle of November. David Houston, friend and contemporary, remembers Des - on and off the chess board.
