The format for this event was a 21 round all play all. So lots of fast furious chess.

Each player having 3mins gaining 2 secs on each move.

Match details of the event are available.

You need quick decision making and accurate play and with so many games of chess some stamina.

A lunch break was taken after round 10 at which point the leaders were : Stephen Scannell and Damien Lavery followed closely by Eamon Walls and Michael Waters and the youngster Kiran Robbin.

Stephen Scannell and Damien Lavery having only dropped one game.

Belfast Blitz - Round 10

Standings

Place Name                Feder Loc  Score

 1-2  Stephen Scannell    UCU   2074 9    
      Damien Lavery       UCU   1721 9    
  3   Eamonn Walls        UCU   1643 8.5  
  4   Michael Waters      UCU   2039 8    
  5   Kiran Robbin        UCU   1455 7    
 6-9  Nicholas Pilkiewicz UCU   1855 6    
      Alan Delaney        UCU   1707 6    
      Steven Eachus       UCU   1481 6    
      Calum Leitch        UCU   1684 6    
10-13 Kevin Robbin        UCU   1270 5    
      Stephen Morgan      UCU   2042 5    
      Gareth Annesley     UCU   1877 5    
      Thomas Donaldson          1400 5    
 14   Ian Woodfield       UCU   1625 4.5  
15-17 Karina Kruk         UCU   1511 4    
      Mark Newman         UCU   1642 4    
      John Bradley        UCU   1691 4    
18-19 Mathew Chapman      UCU   1283 3    
      Damien Cunningham   UCU   1713 3    
 20   Robert Lavery       UCU   1413 2    
 21   David Seaby         UCU   1179 0    

Stephen and Damien playing at round 6

These 4 leaders, Damien, Steven, Michael and Eamon shuffled in the top four positions for the remaining rounds.

With Steven Scannell winning, only dropping one further point in the second half to Karina Kruk, the initial loss being to Michael Waters.

Some giant slaying took place early with Kiran Robbin beating Michael Waters in round 1. Kiran also went on to beat Gareth Annesley, Eamon Walls and Stephen Morgan.

and some players like Mark Newman floundered under the pressure of fast play.

Two young players who played excellently were the brothers Kiran and Kevin Robbin. Going into the final round on the same points - it was a fight to see who would win the under 1500 rating prize. Kiran Robbin beating Damien Lavery in the final round and gaining the extra point.

The rule for illegal moves - to press your opponents clock and ensure they correct the move caused issues when it meant the player gained time (2 secs). Next time the rule will most likely be that illegal moves will forfeit the game.

Belfast Blitz - Round 21

Standings

Place Name                Feder Loc  Score

  1   Stephen Scannell    UCU   2074 19   
  2   Michael Waters      UCU   2039 17.5 
  3   Eamonn Walls        UCU   1643 16   
  4   Damien Lavery       UCU   1721 15   
  5   Nicholas Pilkiewicz UCU   1855 14   
  6   Stephen Morgan      UCU   2042 13.5 
  7   Kiran Robbin        UCU   1455 13   
 8-9  Alan Delaney        UCU   1707 12   
      Kevin Robbin        UCU   1270 12   
 10   Steven Eachus       UCU   1481 11.5 
 11   Gareth Annesley     UCU   1877 11   
12-14 Calum Leitch        UCU   1684 10   
      Ian Woodfield       UCU   1625 10   
      Damien Cunningham   UCU   1713 10   
 15   Thomas Donaldson          1400 8.5  
16-17 Mathew Chapman      UCU   1283 8    
      John Bradley        UCU   1691 8    
 18   Karina Kruk         UCU   1511 7    
19-20 Robert Lavery       UCU   1413 6.5  
      Mark Newman         UCU   1642 6.5  
 21   David Seaby         UCU   1179 2    

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Steven Scannell winner of the Ulster Blitz Championship (seated) with from left  to right Eamon Walls (3rd Place), Michael Waters (2nd Place), Kiran Robbin (Grading prize).

Thanks go to Damien Cunningham and Mark Newman for Controlling the event, to Eileen Kruk for providing some delicious refreshments and to the Ballynafiegh Community Development Centre for the room.

It was fast, exhausting, frustrating and a fantastic day for chess.

Controller at work - Damien Cunningham.