Children enjoying chess in Belfast

The April Childrens Chess was the best attended of the year. With Children as young as P2. and top Ulster Champions playing chess. The problem competition once again proved to be popular with difficult problems being solved by young chess players.

With Spring and the weather changing we had a glorious sunny day for the April Childrens Chess on Saturday 18th April at Methodist College. With such good weather you wonder if people would be put off playing chess inside. But no we had new and familiar faces. The students know each other and there is always a buzz of conversation a brilliantly friendly environment with discussions over chess puzzles as well as the usual topics. This was the last in this years series of tournaments, culminating in the award ceremony at Stormont where the top 4 of the Grand-prix are invited to play in an elite competition and receive awards for their play during the year.

The puzzles are always fun. With some elegant solutions. I would recommend all chess players to obtain a book of chess puzzles and enjoy going through it as part of their training or even for the fun the challenge of working out problems. The logic of thinking 1 move, 2 moves even 3 or more moves ahead is a very enjoyable experience. If they do that and I do that, then they may do this....

The large book by Laszlo Polgar "Chess 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games" is recommended and full of beautiful problems a good way to improve your chess.

The primary winner of the Puzzle solving with a score of 15 points. Pheobe Patterson who has over the course of the year won all 7 puzzle solving competitions a brilliant result.

Patterson, Pheobe P6 15
Geraghty, Leon P7 11
Monahan, Daithi P6 10
Graham, Andrew P2 8
Dawson, Heidi P7 7
Lloyd, Andrews P7 6

Eoin McCorkindale won the Secondary puzzle solving competition with a brilliant 18, followed closely by Andrew Todd with 17.

McCorkindale, Eoin F5 18
Todd, Andrew L6 17
Gray, Matthew F5 15
Gupta, Raghav F3 12
Hanzharov, Edward F4 10
Murray, Scott F5 8
Trimble, Samuel L6 7
Brown, Cameron F2 5
Duffy, Matt F2 4

Just to give you a taste of the problems here two for you to solve (solutions at the bottom of this page):

April-problem1

1. Black to move and Win

April-problem2

2. White to move and Win

Results and photos from the event.

Primary - Round 1

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Heidi Dawson      P7    [0]      1:0    Luca Kerloc'h    P7    [0]  
 2 Andrews Lloyd     P7    [0]      0:1    Eoghan Duffy     P5    [0]  
 3 Johnny Duffy      P7    [0]      0:1    Daithi Monahan   P6    [0]  
 4 Pheobe Patterson  P6    [0]      1:0    Leon Geraghty    P7    [0]  
 5 Calum Glendinning P6    [0]      1:0    Calvin Patterson P3    [0]  
 6 Ewan Williams     P6    [0]      1:0    Andrew Graham    P2    [0]  
by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

 

primary1primary2

 

 

Round 2

Results

No Name           Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Daithi Monahan P6    [1]      0:1    Heidi Dawson      P7    [1]  
 2 Eoghan Duffy   P5    [1]      0:1    Pheobe Patterson  P6    [1]  
 3 Ewan Williams  P6    [1]      0:1    Calum Glendinning P6    [1]  
 4 Luca Kerloc'h  P7    [0]      1:0    Johnny Duffy      P7    [0]  
 5 Leon Geraghty  P7    [0]      1:0    Andrews Lloyd     P7    [0]  
 6 Andrew Graham  P2    [0]      0:1    Calvin Patterson  P3    [0]  

 

primary3primary4

 

Round 3

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Heidi Dawson     P7    [2]      0:1    Calum Glendinning P6    [2]  
 2 Pheobe Patterson P6    [2]      1:0    Luca Kerloc'h     P7    [1]  
 3 Daithi Monahan   P6    [1]      0:1    Eoghan Duffy      P5    [1]  
 4 Calvin Patterson P3    [1]      1:0    Leon Geraghty     P7    [1]  
 5 Johnny Duffy     P7    [0]     .5:.5   Ewan Williams     P6    [1]  
 6 Andrews Lloyd    P7    [0]      0:1    Andrew Graham     P2    [0]  

Between rounds the youngsters were coached by top Ulster Player Gareth Annesley.

coaching1coaching2

 

Round 4

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning P6    [3]      0:1    Pheobe Patterson P6    [3]  
 2 Eoghan Duffy      P5    [2]     .5:.5   Heidi Dawson     P7    [2]  
 3 Calvin Patterson  P3    [2]      1:0    Ewan Williams    P6    [1.5]
 4 Leon Geraghty     P7    [1]      1:0    Luca Kerloc'h    P7    [1]  
 5 Andrew Graham     P2    [1]      1:0    Daithi Monahan   P6    [1]  
 6 Andrews Lloyd     P7    [0]      0:1    Johnny Duffy     P7    [.5] 

 

primary5primary-enjoyingthegame

 

Round 5

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Pheobe Patterson  P6    [4]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P3    [3]  
 2 Calum Glendinning P6    [3]      1:0    Eoghan Duffy     P5    [2.5]
 3 Heidi Dawson      P7    [2.5]    1:0    Leon Geraghty    P7    [2]  
 4 Johnny Duffy      P7    [1.5]    0:1    Andrew Graham    P2    [2]  
 5 Ewan Williams     P6    [1.5]   .5:.5   Daithi Monahan   P6    [1]  
 6 Luca Kerloc'h     P7    [1]      1:0    Andrews Lloyd    P7    [0] 

fungame1

Primary

Standings

Place Name              Feder Score

 1-3  Calum Glendinning P6    4    
      Calvin Patterson  P3    4    
      Pheobe Patterson  P6    4    
  4   Heidi Dawson      P7    3.5  
  5   Andrew Graham     P2    3    
  6   Eoghan Duffy      P5    2.5  
 7-9  Leon Geraghty     P7    2    
      Ewan Williams     P6    2    
      Luca Kerloc'h     P7    2    
10-11 Daithi Monahan    P6    1.5  
      Johnny Duffy      P7    1.5  
 12   Andrews Lloyd     P7    0   

So good to see new faces and also challengers to the top players. Calum Glendinning joint first with two players who usually head the group Calvin and Pheobe Patterson.

Andrew Graham played brilliantly for one so young - P2 - he gained 3 out of 5 and came 5th in a strong field. The youngest player we have had this year.

Secondary - Round

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Cameron Brown    F2    [0]     .5:.5   Eoin McCorkindale F5    [0]  
 2 Scott Murray     F5    [0]      0:1    Harvey Coster     F2    [0]  
 3 John Dawson      L6    [0]      1:0    Hannah Patterson  F3    [0]  
 4 Jake Patterson   F5    [0]      1:0    Matt Duffy        F2    [0]  
 5 Matthew Gray     F5    [0]      0:1    Andrew Todd       L6    [0]  
 6 Samuel Todd      F3    [0]      0:1    Raghav Gupta      F3    [0]  
 7 Edward Hanzharov F4    [0]      1:0    Peter Todd        F1    [0]  
 8 Samuel Trimble   L6    [0]      1:0    Darcy McBrinn     F2    [0]

secondary1

Round 2

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Harvey Coster     F2    [1]      0:1    Edward Hanzharov F4    [1]  
 2 Andrew Todd       L6    [1]     .5:.5   John Dawson      L6    [1]  
 3 Raghav Gupta      F3    [1]      0:1    Jake Patterson   F5    [1]  
 4 Eoin McCorkindale F5    [.5]     1:0    Samuel Trimble   L6    [1]  
 5 Matt Duffy        F2    [0]      1:0    Cameron Brown    F2    [.5] 
 6 Hannah Patterson  F3    [0]     .5:.5   Matthew Gray     F5    [0]  
 7 Darcy McBrinn     F2    [0]      1:0    Samuel Todd      F3    [0]  
 8 Peter Todd        F1    [0]      1:0    Scott Murray     F5    [0]  

secondary2

Round 3

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Edward Hanzharov F4    [2]     .5:.5   Jake Patterson    F5    [2]  
 2 John Dawson      L6    [1.5]    0:1    Eoin McCorkindale F5    [1.5]
 3 Harvey Coster    F2    [1]      0:1    Andrew Todd       L6    [1.5]
 4 Darcy McBrinn    F2    [1]      1:0    Matt Duffy        F2    [1]  
 5 Samuel Trimble   L6    [1]     .5:.5   Raghav Gupta      F3    [1]  
 6 Matthew Gray     F5    [.5]     0:1    Peter Todd        F1    [1]  
 7 Cameron Brown    F2    [.5]     0:1    Hannah Patterson  F3    [.5] 
 8 Scott Murray     F5    [0]      0:1    Samuel Todd       F3    [0] 

secondary3

Round 4

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Andrew Todd      L6    [2.5]    1:0    Edward Hanzharov  F4    [2.5]
 2 Jake Patterson   F5    [2.5]    1:0    Eoin McCorkindale F5    [2.5]
 3 Peter Todd       F1    [2]      1:0    Darcy McBrinn     F2    [2]  
 4 Raghav Gupta     F3    [1.5]    0:1    John Dawson       L6    [1.5]
 5 Hannah Patterson F3    [1.5]    1:0    Samuel Trimble    L6    [1.5]
 6 Matt Duffy       F2    [1]      0:1    Harvey Coster     F2    [1]  
 7 Samuel Todd      F3    [1]     .5:.5   Cameron Brown     F2    [.5] 
 8 Scott Murray     F5    [0]      0:1    Matthew Gray      F5    [.5] 

secondary4

Round 5

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Jake Patterson    F5    [3.5]    0:1    Andrew Todd      L6    [3.5]
 2 John Dawson       L6    [2.5]    1:0    Peter Todd       F1    [3]  
 3 Edward Hanzharov  F4    [2.5]   .5:.5   Hannah Patterson F3    [2.5]
 4 Eoin McCorkindale F5    [2.5]    1:0    Darcy McBrinn    F2    [2]  
 5 Harvey Coster     F2    [2]      0:1    Raghav Gupta     F3    [1.5]
 6 Matthew Gray      F5    [1.5]   .5:.5   Samuel Todd      F3    [1.5]
 7 Samuel Trimble    L6    [1.5]    1:0    Matt Duffy       F2    [1]  
 8 Cameron Brown     F2    [1]     .5:.5   Scott Murray     F5    [0]  

secondary5

Round 6

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Andrew Todd      L6    [4.5]    0:1    Eoin McCorkindale F5    [3.5]
 2 John Dawson      L6    [3.5]    1:0    Jake Patterson    F5    [3.5]
 3 Hannah Patterson F3    [3]     .5:.5   Peter Todd        F1    [3]  
 4 Raghav Gupta     F3    [2.5]    0:1    Edward Hanzharov  F4    [3]  
 5 Samuel Todd      F3    [2]      1:0    Samuel Trimble    L6    [2.5]
 6 Darcy McBrinn    F2    [2]      1:0    Harvey Coster     F2    [2]  
 7 Cameron Brown    F2    [1.5]    1:0    Matthew Gray      F5    [2]  
 8 Matt Duffy       F2    [1]      1:0    Scott Murray      F5    [.5] 

secondary6

Round 7

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Edward Hanzharov  F4    [4]      0:1    John Dawson      L6    [4.5]
 2 Eoin McCorkindale F5    [4.5]    1:0    Hannah Patterson F3    [3.5]
 3 Peter Todd        F1    [3.5]   .5:.5   Andrew Todd      L6    [4.5]
 4 Jake Patterson    F5    [3.5]    1:0    Darcy McBrinn    F2    [3]  
 5 Harvey Coster     F2    [2]      0:1    Samuel Todd      F3    [3]  
 6 Samuel Trimble    L6    [2.5]    1:0    Cameron Brown    F2    [2.5]
 7 Scott Murray      F5    [.5]     0:1    Raghav Gupta     F3    [2.5]
 8 Matthew Gray      F5    [2]      0:1    Matt Duffy       F2    [2] 

 

\secondary7

 

Secondary

Standings

Place Name              Feder Score

 1-2  John Dawson       L6    5.5  
      Eoin McCorkindale F5    5.5  
  3   Andrew Todd       L6    5    
  4   Jake Patterson    F5    4.5  
 5-7  Edward Hanzharov  F4    4    
      Peter Todd        F1    4    
      Samuel Todd       F3    4    
8-10  Hannah Patterson  F3    3.5  
      Raghav Gupta      F3    3.5  
      Samuel Trimble    L6    3.5  
11-12 Darcy McBrinn     F2    3    
      Matt Duffy        F2    3    
 13   Cameron Brown     F2    2.5  
14-15 Harvey Coster     F2    2    
      Matthew Gray      F5    2    
 16   Scott Murray      F5    0.5  

The battle finishes with John Dawson leading, followed on the same points by Eoin McCorkinale. Chased by only 1/2 point by Andrew Todd. An exciting tournament.

The top positions being gained by the more senior pupils. With Peter Todd form1 breaking the mold and coming 7th, next year he'll be one to watch.

Thanks to the volunteers James Fairley, Geoff Hindley (Ulster Chess Union President), Malola Prasath  and Gareth Annesley who provided excellent coaching during the tournament.

Solutions to the Chess Problems:

1.    1.....Ra8 if 2. RxR then Qf1+  3.Kb2 (or d2) c3+ with an undiscovered attack on the Queen

2.    1 Qxg7+ Kxg7 2. Rxe6+ Winning

With the last of the Childrens Chess for the year the Grandprix is complete and the invitees for Stormon Chess Award Ceremony complete. Watch for next news article for the details of these.

Best of luck with your Chess. Remember the beauty of the game..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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