Thanks to an anonymous benefactor we had some excellent trophies. Thanks also to Ross Harris for updating the ratings. This allows the draws to be more accurate and leaves the best pairings to the latter rounds of the tournament.

Every tournament has a puzzle solving competition. With some 22 puzzles ranging from moderately difficult to very difficult. What is more satisfying than solving an elegent chess problem. To prove this obvious statement lets have a go a 12 such puzzles (all from this months tournament). Solutions at the end of this page.

The results of the Primary puzzle solving competition. Pablo Gonzalez winning followed closely by brother David. Both players are new to the competition this year and we have been lucky to have such skilled players joining our group and challenging all our players to up their games.

The results of the Secondary puzzle solving competition. Alot of the players dont complete all the problems. Not just spending the afternoon playing in the competition but playing friendly games and socialising. Hence the lower nos of right answers. Also this month I have challenged players by using problems that arent forced checkmates - ones that are more difficult to solve. Samuel Trimble won the competition.

This month saw the Secondary Schools section playing 6 rounds each player having 15mins on their clocks. The Primary section for each round had a good game that lasted longer than the rest and as the games were close we let the game finish without ending it prematurely by adjudication. So this section played 5 rounds. It is good to see the younger players taking their time over their moves.

Primary Round 1

No Name              Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 Calvin Patterson  P4    876 [0]      1:0    Qiu Yun Tian     P7    633 [0]  
 2 Fiachra Avery     P7    599 [0]      0:1    David Gonzalez   P6    834 [0]  
 3 Pablo Gonzalez    P6    827 [0]      1:0    Jasper Grady     P5    500 [0]  
 4 Avrora Zelenchuk  P3    481 [0]      0:1    Phoebe Patterson P7    754 [0]  
 5 Calum Glendinning P7    709 [0]      1:0    Rowan Kelly      P3    460 [0]  
 6 Katy Thornton     P6    420 [0]      1:0    BYE                             

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

With Ross Harris updating the ratings the draws are ceded. The first round went to rating. Each match being won by the player with the higher rating. The swiss system aims to pair closely rated players as late as possible in the competition. So the top players should meet in the latter rounds. Of course it depends on the number of rounds and the way players score.

Primary - Round 2

No Name             Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name              Feder Rtg Total

 1 Phoebe Patterson P7    754 [1]      0:1    Calvin Patterson  P4    876 [1]  
 2 David Gonzalez   P6    834 [1]      1:0    Calum Glendinning P7    709 [1]  
 3 Katy Thornton    P6    420 [1]      0:1    Pablo Gonzalez    P6    827 [1]  
 4 Qiu Yun Tian     P7    633 [0]     .5:.5   Avrora Zelenchuk  P3    481 [0]  
 5 Jasper Grady     P5    500 [0]      0:1    Fiachra Avery     P7    599 [0]  
 6 Rowan Kelly      P3    460 [0]      1:0    BYE    

Avrora Zelenchuk does well to draw against Qiu Yun Tian.

Primary Round 3

No Name              Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 Calvin Patterson  P4    876 [2]      0:1    David Gonzalez   P6    834 [2]  
 2 Pablo Gonzalez    P6    827 [2]      1:0    Qiu Yun Tian     P7    633 [.5] 
 3 Rowan Kelly       P3    460 [1]      0:1    Phoebe Patterson P7    754 [1]  
 4 Calum Glendinning P7    709 [1]      1:0    Katy Thornton    P6    420 [1]  
 5 Fiachra Avery     P7    599 [1]      1:0    Avrora Zelenchuk P3    481 [.5] 
 6 Jasper Grady      P5    500 [0]      1:0    BYE              

Primary Round 4

No Name              Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 David Gonzalez    P6    834 [3]      0:1    Pablo Gonzalez   P6    827 [3]  
 2 Calum Glendinning P7    709 [2]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P4    876 [2]  
 3 Phoebe Patterson  P7    754 [2]     .5:.5   Fiachra Avery    P7    599 [2]  
 4 Katy Thornton     P6    420 [1]      1:0    Jasper Grady     P5    500 [1]  
 5 Qiu Yun Tian      P7    633 [.5]     0:1    Rowan Kelly      P3    460 [1]  
 6 Avrora Zelenchuk  P3    481 [.5]     1:0    BYE         

Primary Round 5

No Name             Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name              Feder Rtg Total

 1 Pablo Gonzalez   P6    827 [4]      1:0    Calvin Patterson  P4    876 [3]  
 2 Phoebe Patterson P7    754 [2.5]    0:1    David Gonzalez    P6    834 [3]  
 3 Fiachra Avery    P7    599 [2.5]    0:1    Calum Glendinning P7    709 [2]  
 4 Rowan Kelly      P3    460 [2]     .5:.5   Katy Thornton     P6    420 [2]  
 5 Avrora Zelenchuk P3    481 [1.5]    0:1    Jasper Grady      P5    500 [1]  
 6 Qiu Yun Tian     P7    633 [.5]     1:0    BYE   

Primary Standings

Place Name              Feder Loc Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

  1   Pablo Gonzalez    P6    827 5         6.5  11.5   15.0
  2   David Gonzalez    P6    834 4         8.5  16.0   13.0
 3-4  Calvin Patterson  P4    876 3         9.5  15.5   11.0
      Calum Glendinning P7    709 3         7.5  13.5    9.0
 5-8  Katy Thornton     P6    420 2.5       7.5  14.0    7.5
      Phoebe Patterson  P7    754 2.5       7.5  12.5    9.0
      Fiachra Avery     P7    599 2.5       7.0  12.0    8.0
      Rowan Kelly       P3    460 2.5       7.0  11.0    6.5
  9   Jasper Grady      P5    500 2         7.0  13.0    4.0
10-11 Qiu Yun Tian      P7    633 1.5       7.5  13.5    3.0
      Avrora Zelenchuk  P3    481 1.5       6.5  10.0    4.0

The final standings Pablo Gonzalez (with full points) is the overall winner followed closely by David Gonzalez (only beaten by his brother) and then Calvin Patterson (Only beaten by David and Pablo). Sharing joint third is Calum Glendinning. A tough section and some brilliant chess.

Secondary Round 1

Results

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 Peter Todd       F2    1204 [0]      1:0    Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [0]  
 2 Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [0]      0:1    John Dawson      U6    1184 [0]  
 3 Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [0]     .5:.5   Samuel Todd      F4    993  [0]  
 4 Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [0]      0:1    Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [0]  
 5 Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [0]      1:0    Adam Rush        F3    969  [0]  
 6 Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [0]      0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [0]  
 7 Che Clarke       F2    814  [0]      1:0    BYE     

With the Grandprix so close this year this tournament would decide the winner of the Senior Shield. Samuel Todd draws against Jake Patterson one of the players in the running for the Shield. The table below shows the top 3 players within 1.5 points of each other. Jake Patterson, John Dawson, Andrew Todd all fighting for the shield. Who would win.

Grandprix scores for the Upper Secondary Section going into this tournament:

Secondary Round 2

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [1]      1:0    Peter Todd       F2    1204 [1]  
 2 John Dawson      U6    1184 [1]      1:0    Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [1]  
 3 Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [1]      1:0    Che Clarke       F2    814  [1]  
 4 Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [0]      0:1    Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [.5] 
 5 Samuel Todd      F4    993  [.5]     1:0    Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [0]  
 6 Adam Rush        F3    969  [0]      0:1    Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [0]  
 7 Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [0]      1:0    BYE        

John, Jake and Andrew all win a point. Daniil Zelenchuk beats Peter Todd.

Secondary Round 3

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [2]      1:0    John Dawson      U6    1184 [2]  
 2 Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [1.5]    0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [2]  
 3 Peter Todd       F2    1204 [1]      1:0    Samuel Todd      F4    993  [1.5]
 4 Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [1]      1:0    Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [1]  
 5 Che Clarke       F2    814  [1]      0:1    Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [1]  
 6 Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [0]      0:1    Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [0]  
 7 Adam Rush        F3    969  [0]      1:0    BYE                       

Andrew makes his mark by beating John. Whilst Daniil takes a point off Jake. Andrew looks favourite going into round 4.

Secondary Round 4

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [3]     .5:.5   Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [3]  
 2 John Dawson      U6    1184 [2]      1:0    Peter Todd       F2    1204 [2]  
 3 Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [2]      0:1    Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [2]  
 4 Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [1]      0:1    Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [1.5]
 5 Samuel Todd      F4    993  [1.5]    1:0    Adam Rush        F3    969  [1]  
 6 Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [1]      1:0    Che Clarke       F2    814  [1]  
 7 Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [0]      1:0    BYE            

Daniil dents Andrews lead. John and Jake both gain points catching up Andrews lead by 1/2 point.

Secondary Round 5

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 John Dawson      U6    1184 [3]      0:1    Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [3.5]
 2 Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [3]      1:0    Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [3.5]
 3 Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [2.5]    1:0    Peter Todd       F2    1204 [2]  
 4 Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [2]      0:1    Samuel Todd      F4    993  [2.5]
 5 Che Clarke       F2    814  [1]     .5:.5   Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [1]  
 6 Adam Rush        F3    969  [1]      1:0    Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [1]  
 7 Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [2]      1:0    BYE     

All changes in this round. Daniil who has done well against all the players beats John. Hannah knocks a point of Andrew whilst Jake get a good win against Peter.

Secondary Round 6

No Name             Feder Loc  Total  Result   Name             Feder Loc  Total

 1 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 [4.5]    1:0    Hannah Patterson F4    1086 [4]  
 2 Andrew Todd      U6    1168 [3.5]   .5:.5   Jake Patterson   L6    1175 [3.5]
 3 Samuel Todd      F4    993  [3.5]    1:0    Ciran Rowan      F3    975  [3]  
 4 Adam Rush        F3    969  [2]      0:1    John Dawson      U6    1184 [3]  
 5 Peter Todd       F2    1204 [2]      1:0    Che Clarke       F2    814  [1.5]
 6 Louie McConkey   F1    1000 [1.5]    0:1    Nathan Byrne     F2    903  [1]  
 7 Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 [2]      1:0    BYE                              

If we leave the grandprix chase we notice that we have Hannah Patterson playing Daniil Zelenchuk to see who wins this tournament. Daniil wins and wins the tournament.

At this point I was assisting Gerry Tate in marking the chess puzzles. Always a challenge - made doubly so as I dont have an answer sheet! A couple of players came up and pointed out that the match Andrew Todd v jake Patterson would decide the winner of the Senior Shield.

If Jake won then he would win 10 or 9 points and win the Grandprix like wise if Andrew wins he would win the Grandprix. Also to stay in contention John must win - no pressure!

The game is drawn. how to we stand?

Secondary Standings

Place Name             Feder Loc  Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

  1   Daniil Zelenchuk F1    1084 5.5      15.0  20.5   19.5
  2   Samuel Todd      F4    993  4.5       9.5  14.5   14.0
 3-6  Andrew Todd      U6    1168 4        14.5  21.0   17.0
      Jake Patterson   L6    1175 4        14.0  21.0   13.5
      John Dawson      U6    1184 4        12.5  19.0   15.0
      Hannah Patterson F4    1086 4        12.0  19.0   15.0
 7-9  Peter Todd       F2    1204 3        15.0  21.5   11.0
      Ciran Rowan      F3    975  3        12.5  18.0   11.0
      Samuel Trimble   U6    1024 3        11.0  16.5    8.0
10-11 Adam Rush        F3    969  2        13.5  19.5    6.0
      Nathan Byrne     F2    903  2        12.5  19.0    6.0
12-13 Louie McConkey   F1    1000 1.5      11.0  16.5    4.0
      Che Clarke       F2    814  1.5      11.0  16.0    7.0

Daniil wins clear and excellent result his second win of the year. Followed clear of the pack by Samuel another good result.

Andrew, Jake and John share the points in third place. Which means well lets have a look. At the final grandprix results.

Jake and John share the shield with Andrew a close 3rd and Samuel 4th.

What an exciting end to the series of tournaments. Next tournament is the Northern Ireland Mega Finals.

Solutions to the problems: