Top young chess players compete in fun March tournament
For the Primary competition we played an all play all of 7 rounds and with the time left after these Geoff Hindley who was running this section, setup an all play all Battle Chess tournament. Battle chess is a recommended fun way of improving your endgame. Each player has a King and four pawns. A spare chess board or A3 sheet is held up to split the board in half so each player can only see their half of the board. The players then place their King (on any of the 4 rows apart from the 4th as this could result in the King being in Check), next the Pawns are placed on any squares from rows 2 to 4. Once satisfied with their setup the barrier is removed and play starts with the usual rules of chess. White moves first and the winner is the first to Queen a pawn safely. A fast game starting in an end position.
The puzzle winners
| Cert | Points | Name | Year |
| Gold | 10 | Anjali Singh | P5 |
| Gold | 9 | Aaditya Singh | P3 |
| Gold | 7 | Adam Fitzsimons | P4 |
| Silver | 6 | Jasper Grady | P6 |
| Bronze | 5 | Calvin Patterson | P5 |
| Bronze | 4 | Katy Thornton | P7 |
| Bronze | 4 | Birney Wang | P5 |
| Cert | Points | Name | Year |
| Gold | 14 | Eoin McCorkindale | U6 |
| Silver | 6 | Adam Rushe | F4 |
| Bronze | 4 | Louis McConkey | F2 |
| Bronze | 4 | Thomas Maze | F3 |
| Bronze | 1 | Calum Glendinning | F1 |
Eoin solves the seriously hard problems to get 14 points and wins the Secondary puzzle solving competition.
Puzzle solving is a great way of improving your chess. Recommendation - buy a puzzle solving book and solve 3 puzzles everyday. Good books are:
Chess 5334 Problems, Combinations, and Games by Laszlo Polgar.
The book 1001 Winning Chess Sacrifices and combinations Fred Reinfeld
or if you signup (free membership) to https://www.chess.com/ you get 5 rated free problems per day and one problem of the day.
Gerry and Ross completing the Puzzle certificates.
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With the sequence of chess competitions coming to its end. There are 2 opportunities including todays to gain points for the Elite Competition and Award ceremony. The Grandprix points system takes the position in the groups Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary and also for the puzzle solving Primary and Secondary sections - and gives points to the players positions in these sections:
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 |
| 8 | 1 |
The points over the season for a players best 3 competitions are added and the players sorted in order and the top 4 with Parents and School representatives are invited to the Award ceremony which is held at the beautiful surrounds of Stormont.
Primary - Round 1
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Jasper Grady P6 556 [0] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 2 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [0] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 3 Anjali Singh P5 658 [0] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [0] 4 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [0]
by Swiss Perfect (TM) www.swissperfect.com
No major upsets in round 1.
Primary - Round 2
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [1] 2 Katy Thornton P7 454 [0] .5:.5 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [0] 3 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 0:1 Anjali Singh P5 658 [1] 4 Jasper Grady P6 556 [1] 0:1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [1]
Round 2 sees Katy drawing against Aaditya.
Primary - Round 3
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [2] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 2 Anjali Singh P5 658 [2] 0:1 Jasper Grady P6 556 [1] 3 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [.5] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 4 Dexter Harris P4 874 [2] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [.5]
Going into round 3 we have 3 players on 2 points. Adam. Anjali and Dexter. Adam and Dexter win. Jasper gets a good win against Anjali.
Primary - Round 4
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [.5] 2 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [3] 3 Jasper Grady P6 556 [2] 0:1 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [1.5] 4 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [3] 1:0 Anjali Singh P5 658 [2]
Primary - Round 5
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Anjali Singh P5 658 [2] 0:1 Birney Wang P5 582 [1] 2 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2.5] 0:1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [4] 3 Dexter Harris P4 874 [4] 1:0 Jasper Grady P6 556 [2] 4 Katy Thornton P7 454 [.5] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0]
Primary - Round 6
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [2] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 2 Jasper Grady P6 556 [2] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [1.5] 3 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [5] .5:.5 Dexter Harris P4 874 [5] 4 Anjali Singh P5 658 [2] 1:0 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2.5]
The two leaders play each other. The result a draw - so what can happen in the last round! can an outright winner be crowned.
Primary - Round 7
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2.5] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [3] 2 Dexter Harris P4 874 [5.5] 1:0 Anjali Singh P5 658 [3] 3 Katy Thornton P7 454 [1.5] 0:1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [5.5] 4 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 0:1 Jasper Grady P6 556 [3]
Both Adam and Dexter win. As its an all play all none of the tie breaking systems will determine a winner. So we have 2 winners.
Primary
Standings
Place Name Feder Loc Score Berg. Wins
1-2 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 6.5 18.25 6
Dexter Harris P4 874 6.5 18.25 6
3 Jasper Grady P6 556 4 7.50 4
4 Aaditya Singh P3 579 3.5 7.75 3
5-6 Anjali Singh P5 658 3 5.00 3
Birney Wang P5 582 3 4.50 3
7 Katy Thornton P7 454 1.5 1.75 1
8 Blake Harris P2 300 0 0.00 0
Adam and Dexter share first place. Followed by Jasper Grady on 4 points and Aaditya Singh on 3.5 points.
Secondary - Round 1
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [0] 1:0 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [0] 2 James Kane F3 849 [0] 0:1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [0] 3 Peter Todd F3 1150 [0] 1:0 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [0] 4 Louis McConkey F2 811 [0] 0:1 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [0] 5 Adam Rushe F4 943 [0] 1:0 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [0] 6 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0] 0:1 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [0]
Again Calvin plays in the Senior section - how well will he do? The first round goes to rating - no upsets.
Secondary - Round 2
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [1] 0:1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [1] 2 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [1] 1:0 Adam Rushe F4 943 [1] 3 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [1] 0:1 Peter Todd F3 1150 [1] 4 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [0] 0:1 Louis McConkey F2 811 [0] 5 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [0] 1:0 James Kane F3 849 [0] 6 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [0] 1:0 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0]
Louis McConkey beats Calvin Patterson whilst Nathan Byrne beats James Kane - theres no easy game.
Secondary - Round 3
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [2] 0:1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [2] 2 Peter Todd F3 1150 [2] 1:0 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [1] 3 Adam Rushe F4 943 [1] 1:0 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [1] 4 Louis McConkey F2 811 [1] 1:0 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [1] 5 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0] 0:1 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [1] 6 James Kane F3 849 [0] 1:0 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [0]
Eoin and Peter go into the lead. Louis continues to beat higher rated players with a win against Calum. Whilst James beats Calvin.
Secondary - Round 4
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [3] 1:0 Peter Todd F3 1150 [3] 2 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [2] 0:1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [2] 3 Louis McConkey F2 811 [2] 0:1 Adam Rushe F4 943 [2] 4 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [1] 0:1 James Kane F3 849 [1] 5 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [1] 1:0 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [1] 6 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [0] 1:0 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0]
Eoin beats Peter and goes into the lead. James Kane does well to beat Samuel Todd.
Secondary - Round 5
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [2] 0:1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [4] 2 Edward Doak L6 1300 [3] 0:1 Peter Todd F3 1150 [3] 3 Adam Rushe F4 943 [3] 1:0 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [2] 4 James Kane F3 849 [2] 1:0 Louis McConkey F2 811 [2] 5 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [1] 0:1 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [1] 6 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0] 0:1 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [1]
Eoin continues to lead. Peter gets a good result against Edward Doak. Calvin gets a point of Phoebe.
Secondary - Round 6
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [5] 1:0 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0] 2 Peter Todd F3 1150 [4] 0:1 Adam Rushe F4 943 [4] 3 James Kane F3 849 [3] 0:1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [3] 4 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [2] 1:0 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [2] 5 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [2] 0:1 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [2] 6 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [1] 0:1 Louis McConkey F2 811 [2]
Adam Rushe does excellently to beat Peter Todd and now chases Eoin, trailing him by 1 point. Calvin continues to pick up points.
Secondary - Round 7
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Louis McConkey F2 811 [3] 0:1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 [6] 2 Adam Rushe F4 943 [5] 0:1 Edward Doak L6 1300 [4] 3 Thomas Maze F3 700 [0] 0:1 Peter Todd F3 1150 [4] 4 Calvin Patterson P5 911 [3] 1:0 Samuel Todd F5 1017 [3] 5 Calum Glendinning F1 916 [2] 1:0 James Kane F3 849 [3] 6 Nathan Byrne F3 795 [2] 0:1 Pheobe Patterson F1 841 [1]
The final round and Eoin wins without a defeat 7 out of 7. and Edward challenges Adam Rushes challenge for 2nd place. 3 people on 5 points Edward, Adam and Peter - the tie break will determine the order. Calvin continues to gain points and ends on a brilliant 4 out of 7..
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Secondary
Standings
Place Name Feder Loc Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.
1 Eoin McCorkindale U6 1272 7 18.0 23.0 28.0
2-4 Edward Doak L6 1300 5 20.0 29.0 20.0
Adam Rushe F4 943 5 18.0 27.0 21.0
Peter Todd F3 1150 5 18.0 25.0 22.0
5 Calvin Patterson P5 911 4 14.0 19.0 10.0
6-9 Louis McConkey F2 811 3 18.0 27.0 13.0
James Kane F3 849 3 18.0 27.0 12.0
Samuel Todd F5 1017 3 17.0 22.0 12.0
Calum Glendinning F1 916 3 17.0 22.0 12.0
10-11 Nathan Byrne F3 795 2 18.0 25.0 11.0
Pheobe Patterson F1 841 2 17.0 22.0 7.0
12 Thomas Maze F3 700 0 17.0 26.0 0.0
Clear leader Eoin McCorkindale followed by Edward Doak then Adam Rushe and Peter Todd. Calvin gets 5th place which in such a strong competition is a brilliant result.
The Primary students had time to play an all-play-all battle chess.. Would the results match the main tournament?
Primary Battle Chess:Round 1
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Jasper Grady P6 556 [0] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 2 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [0] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 3 Anjali Singh P5 658 [0] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [0] 4 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [0]
Primary Battle Chess:Round 2
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [1] 2 Katy Thornton P7 454 [0] 0:1 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [0] 3 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 0:1 Anjali Singh P5 658 [1] 4 Jasper Grady P6 556 [1] 1:0 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [1]
Jasper does well to beat Adam.
Primary Battle Chess:Round 3
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [1] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 2 Anjali Singh P5 658 [2] 1:0 Jasper Grady P6 556 [2] 3 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [1] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 4 Dexter Harris P4 874 [2] 0:1 Katy Thornton P7 454 [0]
Katy does brilliantly to beat Dexter.
Primary Battle Chess:Round 4
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [0] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [1] 2 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [2] 3 Jasper Grady P6 556 [2] 1:0 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2] 4 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [2] 1:0 Anjali Singh P5 658 [3]
Primary Battle Chess:Round 5
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Anjali Singh P5 658 [3] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [1] 2 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2] 0:1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [3] 3 Dexter Harris P4 874 [3] 1:0 Jasper Grady P6 556 [3] 4 Katy Thornton P7 454 [1] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0]
Primary Chess Battle:Round 6
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Birney Wang P5 582 [1] 1:0 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 2 Jasper Grady P6 556 [3] 1:0 Katy Thornton P7 454 [2] 3 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [4] 0:1 Dexter Harris P4 874 [4] 4 Anjali Singh P5 658 [4] 1:0 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2]
The two top players meet Adam and Dexter - Dexter wins.
Primary Battle Chess:Round 7
Results
No Name Feder Loc Total Result Name Feder Loc Total 1 Aaditya Singh P3 579 [2] 1:0 Birney Wang P5 582 [2] 2 Dexter Harris P4 874 [5] 1:0 Anjali Singh P5 658 [5] 3 Katy Thornton P7 454 [2] 0:1 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 [4] 4 Blake Harris P2 300 [0] 1:0 Jasper Grady P6 556 [4]
Blake Harris gets a brilliant result against Jasper Grady.
Primary Battle Chess
Standings
Place Name Feder Loc Score Berg. Wins
1 Dexter Harris P4 874 6 20.00 6
2-3 Adam Fitzsimons P4 702 5 13.00 5
Anjali Singh P5 658 5 12.00 5
4 Jasper Grady P6 556 4 12.00 4
5 Aaditya Singh P3 579 3 5.00 3
6-7 Katy Thornton P7 454 2 7.00 2
Birney Wang P5 582 2 3.00 2
8 Blake Harris P2 300 1 4.00 1
The top players are similar to the main tournament - with Dexter being overall winner, Adam sharing second with Anjali who is positioned higher. A brilliant way to improve your endgame.
Thanks to all the brilliant players for an excellent afternoon of chess. Also thanks to the volunteers without whom the event couldnt take place. Thanks also to the generous donation of prizes. and Methodist College for the excellent venue. See you in April 8th at Methodist College for our next event.
The solutions to the problems:
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13.
1. ... Rd1
2. Qxd1 Qxe3+
3. Kg2 Nh4+
4. gxh4 Bh3#
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14. 1. ... Rxg2+ 2. Kxg2 Qxe4+ |
15. 1. ... Nd4 Threatening Nxf4+ followed by Qh2 |
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16. 1. ... Bxe4 2. Qxb6 Bxb6 |
17. 1. ... Nf3+ 2. Kh1 Nxe4 3. Qxc6 Nxc6 |
18. 1. ... Qxe4 2. Bxe4 Nf3+ 3. Kf1 Bb5+ 4. Qc4 Bxc4# |
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19. 1. ... Qxh3+ 2. Nxh3 Nxf3# |
20. 1. ... Rg1+ 2. Kxg1 Qxe2 |
21. 1. ... Nxf3+ 2. Qxf3 Bxd2+ |
