You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2014-2015 season UCU Web 2014 Ulster Rapidplay 2015 2015 Ulster Rapidplay Championship Review

2015 Ulster Rapidplay Championship Review

The 2015 Ulster Rapidplay Championship was held in Ballynafeigh Chess club on Saturday 25th April.
2015 Ulster Rapidplay Championship Review

Ulster Rapidplay 2015

The tournament got off to a blistering start with upsets aplenty in round 1 - Karena Kruk beat defending champion Ciaran Quinn, Robert Lavery drew with Soren Jenson, David Barr drew with Calum Leitch, Pat McKillen beat John O'Doherty and Sandor Kacziba won against Sam Moore! This set the tone for the whole day and ensured the title went right down to the wire, indeed, going into the final round 6 players could still win the tournament. Out in front were Ciaran Quinn and Mark Newman on 4 points but hot on their heels, on 3.5 points, were Damien Lavery, Calum Leitch, Soren Jenson and Niall Troughton.

Jenson vs Troughton, Newman vs Quinn

 

 

The final round pairings on the top boards were as follows -

Mark Newman          vs            Ciaran Quinn

Soren Jenson           vs            Niall Troughton

Damien Lavery         vs            Calum Leitch

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Armstrong

 

 

Niall Troughton had an excellent tournament and shared the lead going into round 4 after winning his first three games. He ran into stiff opposition in his final three games and draws with Damien Lavery and Soren Jenson, and a loss to Ciaran Quinn meant he finished in a very commendable 6th place. Pat Mckillen continued his recent good form and finished on 3 points, which is all the more impressive given that he played higher rated opponents in every round. He had notable wins against John O'Doherty and Ian Woodfield. The Grading prize went to Chris Armstrong who secured the prize by beating David Barr in the final round in a very entertaining game.

 

 

 

 

Ciaran Quinn

 

 

 

On the top board Ciaran Quinn, playing with the black pieces, put Mark Newman under pressure in a complicated middle game. Eventually the pressure told and Mark fell to a nice combination which eventually won the game and the tournament for Ciaran. He has now won an astounding 11 out of 12 games over the last two years in the Ulster Rapidplay and it remains to be seen whether any of our local talent can stop him claiming a hat trick of titles next year! Damien Lavery grabbed 2nd place with a win against Calum Leitch in the final round.

 

 

 

 

The Winners

Navigation
News
The Monthly Childrens Chess continued on Nov 2nd 2024 at Methodist College With perhaps our largest no of players the start of the Grandprix series of Childrens Chess began. The monthly series co... Nov 10, 2024
£750 Prize pot for Ulster Masters Friday 15th-Sunday 17th Nov. Not too late to enter. An exciting event. With 53 entrants, two sections and large prize money. Article by Brendan Jamison. Nov 10, 2024
Belfast Chess Social host Rapid Tournament and FIRST EVER In-Person Blitz Tournament Played on Computers Belfast Chess Social hosted two tournaments on Sunday, November 3rd, at Reboot Cafe in the Queen's Quarter area of the c... Nov 04, 2024
November 2024 NI FIDE Rating Report By Brendan Jamison Nov 02, 2024
Belfast Chess Social - Sunday 3rd November We're hosting two tournaments on November 3rd at Reboot Cafe (opposite MEdical College building at Queens). One of them... Oct 27, 2024
More news…
« November 2024 »
November
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
Upcoming Events
FIDE RATED Groomsport Winter Rapid 2024 Nov 14, 2024 - Nov 21, 2024 — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
FIDE rated Ulster Masters 2024 Nov 15, 2024 - Nov 17, 2024 — Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Stormont Estate (Castleview Suite
FIDE RATED City of Bangor Sam Lynn Memorial Classic: Round 1 Nov 28, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
FIDE RATED Groomsport Winter Blitz Championship 2024 [event 4 of 8 in Gold Coast Blitz Grand Prix 2024/2025] Dec 05, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:00 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Ulster Schools Individual Championships 2024 Come and challenge to become the Ulster Schools Chess Champion 2024. 7th December at Methodist College. Dec 07, 2024 09:45 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Upcoming events…