Players qualifying from Botanic Primary School, Castlewellan Primary School, Comber Primary School, Holywood Steiner School, Ballymena Academy, Home Educated, and from Enniskillen - Tatttygar Primary School, Holy Trinity Primary School, Enniskillen Model Primary School, gathered for the finals.

This tournament is part of a UK wide competition - very well organised, we get several boxes of trophies, certificates and instructions its an honour to be part of such an excellent tournament. For further details go to the Delancy's UK Chess Challenge Website.

This tournament is the last monthly tournament jointly run by the Ulster Chess Union and the Ulster Schools Chess Council. We run a series of tournaments every year. Welcoming youngsters from all over to enjoy fun Chess. These tournaments also provide a place for younsters whos schools dont have chess clubs to meet and play other chess players.

This year we had only 3 players in the seniors section. So we played an all play all White and Black giving plenty of chess. The youngest of the players Harvey Coster had to contend with the two experienced older players Hanna and Jake Patterson. Which he did excellently. All three qualified for the Terra-finals in July.

U18 / U16 / U14 / U13

Standings

Place Name             Feder Club              Score

  1   Jake Patterson   U16   Home Educated     4    
  2   Hannah Patterson U14   Home Educated     2    
  3   Harvey Coster    U13   Ballymena Academy 0    

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

As in each tournament we had a puzzle solving competition. As the tournament lasted the full day these problems were slightly harder and more challenging. All the Primary entries for this won a certificate and a problem solving booklet.

The primary puzzle solving was won by : Daithi Monahan-Packham

The Secondary puzzle Solving was won by : Hannah Patterson

The younger players were put into one section.

U12 / U11 / U10 / U9 / U8 / U7

Standings

Place Name                      Feder Club                                     Score

  1   Calvin Patterson          U7    Home Educated                            6    
  2   Michael Callaghan         U10   Tatttygar Primary School                 5    
 3-4  Phoebe Patterson          U10   Home Educated                            4    
      Calum Glendinning         U10   Holywood Steiner                         4    
  5   David Villagomez-Espinosa U12   Botanic Primary School                   3.5  
 6-9  Chloe Lunny               U12   Holy Trinity Primary School, Enniskillen 3    
      Andrew Graham             U7    Comber Primary School                    3    
      Leon Geraghty             U10   Holywood Steiner School                  3    
      Daithi Monahan-Packham    U10   Holywood Steiner School                  3    
10-11 Tom Crudgington           U10   Castlewellan Primary School              2.5  
      Samuel Kennedy            U10   Botanic Primary School                   2.5  
12-13 Brooke McClurg            U12   Castlewellan Primary School              2    
      Daniel Kennedy-Long       U8    Botanic Primary School                   2    
 14   Patrick Williams          U9    Enniskillen Model Primary School         1    
 15   Eve Burns                 U8    Botanic Primary School                   0  

Each girl/boy who won their year received the title Suprema/Supremo and a trophy and will be invited to the Terra-finals in England in early July. This is one of the top childrens events in the UK and we will look forward to seeing how well our youngsters do - wishing them good luck.

The following qualified for the Terra-finals in July:

Between the six rounds of chess we had a top Ulster Player talking through a series of instructive positions. Todays theme was attacking two pieces. Everyone enjoyed these even the volunteers!

The next chess event after the Stormont award ceremony is the 3 day Chess Summer School - watch the events on the home page for details.

Solutions to problems:

1.  1. Bh8 wins              2.  1..... Qh1+ 2. KxQ  Bf3+  3. Kg1 Rd1#

Enjoy your chess.....