You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2015-2016 season UCU Web 2015 Summer Chess School 2015 UCU runs its 6th Chess Summer School

UCU runs its 6th Chess Summer School

Over three days in August young players got the opportunity to improve their chess, solve problems and practice endgames, learn chess notation and the basics of the openings. All in the beautiful surrounds of Ormeau Park. Thanks to the Council for the use of Ravenhill Bowling Green.

Over three days August 5th 6th 7th. In the Beautiful surrounds of Ormeau Park. At the Ravenhill Bowling Green. Ten young players enjoyed learning and playing chess.

A team of 4 volunteer chess players. Gareth Annesley, Geoff Hindley, James Fairley, Mark Newman. Ran sessions on King opposition, King and pawn endgame, the value and properties of the pieces, Knights v Bishops, playing through a game and commenting on poor moves, development and many more topics.

Gareth Coachingplaying1

The course included learning to play battleships on an 8x8 squared ocean to learn the chess board and the squares locations from a1 to h8. Battle Chess where each player sets up their four pawns and King on their half of the board which is hidden from their opponent by an A3 piece of card. Once both sides are set the game starts White to play normal rules apart from the winner is the first to Queen safetly.

At lunchtime there was the opportunity to play other board games like Mastermind, Mancala (perhaps the oldest of games), Othello, Fanorona (the national game of Madagascar).

Chess Puzzles were solved in two teams. Games and worksheets were played sometimes in pairs, sometimes as individuals.

The idea of the three days was to have fun playing and improving chess by varying the activities at regular intervals. Both students and tutors had an excellent time.

playing2theroom

Two swiss tournaments were run throughout the 3 days. Both all-play-all with the tutors making up the odd nos.

All the students showed enthusiasm and skill at the game of chess and were awarded certificates at the end of the course.

Juniors

Round 1

No Name           Result   Name           

 1 Anjali Singh     0:1    James Fairley  
 2 Aaditya Singh    0:1    Benjamin Lundy 
 3 Adam Lundy       0:1    Adam Fitzsimons
by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Improvers

Round 1

No Name                 Result   Name             

 1 Calum Glendinning      1:0    Geoff Hindley    
 2 Leon Geraghty          0:1    Michael Callaghan
 3 Patrick McGurnaghan    1:0    Luca Kerloc'h   

Round 2

No Name            Result   Name           

 1 James Fairley     1:0    Adam Fitzsimons
 2 Benjamin Lundy    0:1    Adam Lundy     
 3 Anjali Singh      1:0    Aaditya Singh

 

Round 2

No Name               Result   Name               

 1 Geoff Hindley        1:0    Luca Kerloc'h      
 2 Michael Callaghan    0:1    Patrick McGurnaghan
 3 Calum Glendinning    1:0    Leon Geraghty      

Round 3

No Name             Result   Name          

 1 Aaditya Singh      0:1    James Fairley 
 2 Adam Lundy         0:1    Anjali Singh  
 3 Adam Fitzsimons    1:0    Benjamin Lundy

Round 3

No Name                 Result   Name             

 1 Leon Geraghty          0:1    Geoff Hindley    
 2 Patrick McGurnaghan    1:0    Calum Glendinning
 3 Luca Kerloc'h          1:0    Michael Callaghan

Round 4

No Name           Result   Name           

 1 Geoff Hindley    1:0    Benjamin Lundy 
 2 Anjali Singh    .5:.5   Adam Fitzsimons
 3 Aaditya Singh   .5:.5   Adam Lundy   

Round 4

No Name               Result   Name               

 1 Mark Newman          1:0    Michael Callaghan  
 2 Calum Glendinning    1:0    Luca Kerloc'h      
 3 Leon Geraghty        0:1    Patrick McGurnaghan

Round 5

No Name             Result   Name         

 1 Adam Lundy         0:1    Geoff Hindley
 2 Adam Fitzsimons    1:0    Aaditya Singh
 3 Benjamin Lundy     0:1    Anjali Singh 

Round 5

No Name                 Result   Name             

 1 Patrick McGurnaghan   .5:.5   Gareth Annesley  
 2 Luca Kerloc'h          0:1    Leon Geraghty    
 3 Michael Callaghan      0:1    Calum Glendinning

Standings

Place Name                        Score Berg. Wins

 1-2  Anjali Singh                  3.5    4.75    3
      Adam Fitzsimons               3.5    4.75    3
  3   James Fairley                 3      7.50    3
  4   Geoff Hindley                 2      2.50    2
  5   Adam Lundy                    1.5    1.25    1
  6   Benjamin Lundy                1      0.50    1
  7   Aaditya Singh                 0.5    0.75    0

Standings

Place Name                            Score Berg. Wins

  1   Patrick McGurnaghan               4.5    7.25    4
  2   Calum Glendinning                 4      5.00    4
  3   Geoff Hindley                     2      2.00    2
 4-7  Leon Geraghty                     1      1.00    1
      Luca Kerloc'h                     1      1.00    1
      Michael Callaghan                 1      1.00    1
      Mark Newman                       1      1.00    1
  8   Gareth Annesley                   0.5    2.25    0

 

theteam

 

 

Navigation
News
Saturday 14th Feb 2026 and another brilliant monthly Childrens Chess Tournament. Youngsters from all over Ulster gathered at Methodist College to compete in an afternoon of Chess, a swiss tournament an... Feb 21, 2026
UCU Events Update – Remainder of the Season This has been a challenging year for UCU events; however, we have been fortunate to secure arbiters for events held so f... Feb 21, 2026
Standings of the Childrens Chess Grandprix after January 2026. The Ulster Chess Union runs monthly tournaments at Methodist College. All pupils are welcome to play. Five of these tour... Feb 07, 2026
The new year and the chess league continues.... Playing chess in a team is one of those joys of chess. You have the beautiful game and the team spirit. Each player focu... Feb 01, 2026
Williamson Shield 2026: Storms, Strategy, and a New Champion A report by Chris Dorrian Jan 28, 2026
More news…
« February 2026 »
February
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
Upcoming Events
FIDE rated Ulster Rapidplay Championship 2026 Feb 28, 2026 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Rd, Belfast, BT11 9AH
Women's Chess Day with special guest - WGM Trisha Kanyamarala Mar 08, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Lisburn Chess Club, 60-62 Longstone Street
FIDE RATED Coalisland Blitz Championship 2026 Tuesday 10 March 2026. Check-in at 19:50 The 10 rounds will be played back-to-back from 20:00 to 22:30 Time-control 3-... Mar 10, 2026 07:50 PM - 10:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
Third Executive Board Meeting Agenda TBC Mar 10, 2026 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM — Lisburn Chess Club
March 14th 2026 Childrens Chess 12:30 – 5:00 UCU Monthly Schools Chess Tournaments Continues at Methodist College. Mar 14, 2026 12:30 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Upcoming events…