The Belfast Scholastic Chess Shields 2013

This year has seen some exceptional chess. With players doing well in tournaments outside of Belfast: in the prestitgous London Junior Chess Championships - Honor Parissis gaining 5 1/2 out of 7 coming joint 6th out of 87 competitors. In the Bunratty Tournament Thomas Donaldson came joint 9th in the Major and Ashley McWhinney came 5th in the Minor. Mond Parissis winning the 1200 Grading prize at the Ulster Rapidplay Championships at which it was good to see Honor Parissis, Dayna Ferguson and Daniel Ferguson playing. These last two Daniel and Dayna also played brilliantly at the Dublin tournament - The Tournament Of Champions Dayna coming joint 4th. In the Irish Junior Championships Daniel came joint 4th in the Under 8s, Admira Kecskemeti came joint 16th in the same category and Dayna came joint 8th in the Under 10s. The years highlight was Karina Kruk playing chess for Ireland at three internationals and gaining her Candidate Master title.

The Belfast Scholastic Shields are awarded on a grand-prix system. We total points over the course of the competitions and take the players best 3. The top 4 of each section- Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary are invited to Stormont for a special prize giving and an elite tournament. Parents and the Students Principals are also invited.

This year we are for the first time awarding shields for the best puzzle solvers. At each tournament we have a puzzle solving competition with sheets of some 22 problems with varying difficulty - some being very hard. The skill in solving these improves your play and is fun.

This years winners are

Belfast Scholastic Shield 2013: Primary School Championship

Belfast Scholastic Shield 2013: Lower Secondary School Championship

Belfast Scholastic Shield 2013: Upper Secondary School Championship

Belfast Scholastic Shield 2013 Edward Whiteside Shield.

Primary Puzzle Solving School Championship

Belfast Scholastic Shield 2013 Fergus O'Neill Shield

Secondary Puzzle Solving School Championship