The twins David and Pablo Gonzalez arrived having played in the prestigious tournament - The London Junior Chess Championships. Both played in the Under 10s section and David played brilliantly to obtain 6 out of 7 points and gained 3rd place out of 100 top players in the UK. Pablo came a good 33rd with 4 points. Congratulations to them both. Full details : http://www.ljcc.co.uk/results.htm#Champions

The afternoon of chess included the usual chess problems to solve and discuss and to marvel at their elegence. This month there were some truely difficult positions - here are six to give you a flavour - answers at the bottom of the article.

Winners of the Primary Section: David and Pablo solved some of the very difficult problems.

Winners of the Secondary Section

Some informal coaching from Ross Harris.

The full results and some photos. Of an afternoon of chess and chat.

Thanks to the volunteers for making these tournaments possible and Methodist College for providing the excellent room. And many thanks to a local Benefactor for providing the trophies.

Primary

Round1

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Calum Glendinning P7    [0]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P4    [0]  
 2 Pheobe Patterson  P7    [0]      0:1    Pablo Gonzalez   P6    [0]  
 3 David Gonzalez    P6    [0]      1:0    Yun Tian Qui     P7    [0]  
 4 Aaditya Singh     P2    [.5]     0:1    Dexter Harris    P3    [0]  
 5 Daithi Packham    P7    [0]      1:0    Ewan Williams    P7    [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The primary schools section has a tough section. This was emphasized today with some of the games lasting longer than usual meaning that we could only get in 5 rounds - less than the Secondary schools. Its good to see slower chess, players usually play to fast and make mistakes. With the mix of the excellent regular players of Calvin and Pheobe Patterson and Calum Glendinning and Daithi Packham, the recent young Dexter Harris some exciting chess was expected we werent disappointed.

Round2

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Pablo Gonzalez   P6    [1]      1:0    Daithi Packham    P7    [1]  
 2 Dexter Harris    P3    [1]      0:1    David Gonzalez    P6    [1]  
 3 Calvin Patterson P4    [1]      1:0    Aaditya Singh     P2    [.5] 
 4 Kor Hania        P4    [.5]     0:1    Calum Glendinning P7    [0]  
 5 Yun Tian Qui     P7    [0]      0:1    Pheobe Patterson  P7    [0]  
 6 Ewan Williams    P7    [0]     .5:.5   Anajli Singh      P4    [0]  

Round3

No Name           Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 David Gonzalez P6    [2]      1:0    Calvin Patterson P4    [2]  
 2 Dexter Harris  P3    [1]      0:1    Pablo Gonzalez   P6    [2]  
 3 Daithi Packham P7    [1]      0:1    Pheobe Patterson P7    [1]  
 4 Aaditya Singh  P2    [.5]     1:0    Ewan Williams    P7    [.5] 
 5 Anajli Singh   P4    [.5]     0:1    Yun Tian Qui     P7    [0]  

Round4

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Pablo Gonzalez   P6    [3]      1:0    David Gonzalez   P6    [3]  
 2 Pheobe Patterson P7    [2]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P4    [2]  
 3 Yun Tian Qui     P7    [1]      1:0    Aaditya Singh    P2    [1.5]
 4 Ewan Williams    P7    [.5]     0:1    Dexter Harris    P3    [1]  
 5 Anajli Singh     P4    [.5]     0:1    Daithi Packham   P7    [1]  

Pablo and David on full points battle it out. Pablo winning. Another family battle Pheobe plays Calvin and Calvin wins.

Round5

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Calvin Patterson P4    [3]      0:1    Pablo Gonzalez   P6    [4]  
 2 David Gonzalez   P6    [3]      1:0    Ewan Williams    P7    [.5] 
 3 Daithi Packham   P7    [2]      0:1    Yun Tian Qui     P7    [2]  
 4 Aaditya Singh    P2    [1.5]    0:1    Pheobe Patterson P7    [2]  
 5 Dexter Harris    P3    [2]      1:0    Anajli Singh     P4    [.5] 

Standings

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

  1   Pablo Gonzalez    P6            5         9.0  15.0   15.0
  2   David Gonzalez    P6            4         9.0  14.5   13.0
 3-6  Calvin Patterson  P4            3         9.5  15.5   11.0
      Pheobe Patterson  P7            3         8.0  14.0    8.0
      Yun Tian Qui      P7            3         6.0  10.5    6.0
      Dexter Harris     P3            3         5.5  11.0    8.0
  7   Daithi Packham    P7            2         6.5  12.0    7.0
  8   Aaditya Singh     P2            1.5       9.0  12.5    5.5
  9   Calum Glendinning P7            1         4.5   4.5    1.0
10-12 Anajli Singh      P4            0.5       7.5  11.0    2.0
      Ewan Williams     P7            0.5       6.0  10.5    2.0
      Kor Hania         P4            0.5       3.5   3.5    0.5

By playing better players you improve. We are lucky to have such a fantastic mix of quality players.

Secondary

Round1

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Nathan Byrne     F2    [0]      0:1    Hannah Patterson F4    [0]  
 2 Jake Patterson   L6    [0]      1:0    John Dawson      U6    [0]  
 3 Matthew Gray     L6    [0]      0:1    Ciran Rowan      F3    [0]  
 4 Andrew Todd      U6    [0]      1:0    Jacob Jamieson   F1    [0]  
 5 James Kane       F2    [0]     .5:.5   Peter Todd       F2    [0]  
 6 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [0]      1:0    Scott Murray     L6    [0]  
 7 Samuel Todd      F4    [0]      1:0    BYE                         

Round2

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Hannah Patterson F4    [1]      0:1    Andrew Todd      U6    [1]  
 2 Samuel Todd      F4    [1]      1:0    Jake Patterson   L6    [1]  
 3 Ciran Rowan      F3    [1]     .5:.5   Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [1]  
 4 Peter Todd       F2    [.5]     1:0    Nathan Byrne     F2    [0]  
 5 John Dawson      U6    [0]      1:0    James Kane       F2    [.5] 
 6 Jacob Jamieson   F1    [0]      0:1    Matthew Gray     L6    [0]  
 7 Scott Murray     L6    [0]      1:0    BYE                    

Round3

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Andrew Todd      U6    [2]      1:0    Samuel Todd      F4    [2]  
 2 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [1.5]    0:1    Peter Todd       F2    [1.5]
 3 Scott Murray     L6    [1]      1:0    Ciran Rowan      F3    [1.5]
 4 Matthew Gray     L6    [1]      1:0    John Dawson      U6    [1]  
 5 Jake Patterson   L6    [1]      1:0    Hannah Patterson F4    [1]  
 6 James Kane       F2    [.5]     1:0    Nathan Byrne     F2    [0]  
 7 Jacob Jamieson   F1    [0]      1:0    BYE        

Round4

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Peter Todd       F2    [2.5]   .5:.5   Andrew Todd      U6    [3]  
 2 Jake Patterson   L6    [2]      1:0    Matthew Gray     L6    [2]  
 3 Samuel Todd      F4    [2]      0:1    Scott Murray     L6    [2]  
 4 Ciran Rowan      F3    [1.5]    1:0    James Kane       F2    [1.5]
 5 Hannah Patterson F4    [1]      1:0    Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [1.5]
 6 John Dawson      U6    [1]      1:0    Jacob Jamieson   F1    [1]  
 7 Nathan Byrne     F2    [0]      1:0    BYE                   

Round5

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Andrew Todd      U6    [3.5]    1:0    Jake Patterson   L6    [3]  
 2 Scott Murray     L6    [3]     .5:.5   Peter Todd       F2    [3]  
 3 John Dawson      U6    [2]      1:0    Ciran Rowan      F3    [2.5]
 4 Matthew Gray     L6    [2]      0:1    Hannah Patterson F4    [2]  
 5 James Kane       F2    [1.5]    0:1    Samuel Todd      F4    [2]  
 6 Nathan Byrne     F2    [1]      1:0    Jacob Jamieson   F1    [1]  
 7 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [1.5]    1:0    BYE                 

Going into this round still a fight at the top with Andrew Todd in the lead by 1/2 point. Could he be challenged? With the challengers Scott Murray and Peter Todd drawing and Andrew winning, he goes into the next round with a clear 1 point lead.

Round6

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Scott Murray     L6    [3.5]    0:1    Andrew Todd      U6    [4.5]
 2 Peter Todd       F2    [3.5]    0:1    Jake Patterson   L6    [3]  
 3 Samuel Todd      F4    [3]      1:0    John Dawson      U6    [3]  
 4 Jacob Jamieson   F1    [1]      0:1    Hannah Patterson F4    [3]  
 5 Ciran Rowan      F3    [2.5]    1:0    Nathan Byrne     F2    [2]  
 6 Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [2.5]    1:0    Matthew Gray     L6    [2]  
 7 James Kane       F2    [1.5]    1:0    BYE                   

Round7

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Andrew Todd      U6    [5.5]    1:0    Daniil Zelenchuk F1    [3.5]
 2 Hannah Patterson F4    [4]      1:0    Samuel Todd      F4    [4]  
 3 Jake Patterson   L6    [4]      1:0    Scott Murray     L6    [3.5]
 4 Peter Todd       F2    [3.5]    1:0    Ciran Rowan      F3    [3.5]
 5 Nathan Byrne     F2    [2]      0:1    John Dawson      U6    [3]  
 6 Jacob Jamieson   F1    [1]      1:0    James Kane       F2    [2.5]
 7 Matthew Gray     L6    [2]      1:0    BYE                 

Standings

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

  1   Andrew Todd      U6            6.5      19.0  25.5   26.0
 2-3  Jake Patterson   L6            5        20.0  29.0   19.0
      Hannah Patterson F4            5        15.5  23.5   17.0
  4   Peter Todd       F2            4.5      16.5  24.5   19.0
 5-6  Samuel Todd      F4            4        20.5  29.0   18.0
      John Dawson      U6            4        13.0  19.5   14.0
 7-9  Scott Murray     L6            3.5      20.0  29.5   16.5
      Daniil Zelenchuk F1            3.5      19.5  28.5   15.0
      Ciran Rowan      F3            3.5      14.5  20.5   16.0
 10   Matthew Gray     L6            3        19.0  25.5   12.0
 11   James Kane       F2            2.5      16.0  22.0   10.5
12-13 Nathan Byrne     F2            2        17.5  24.0    7.0
      Jacob Jamieson   F1            2        17.0  25.0    6.0

Outright winner Andrew Todd also does a brilliant job of organising a young team in the Ulster Chess League and inter schools chess tournaments.