You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2016-2017 Season UCU Web 2016 Report - Ulster Championships 2016, Europa Hotel Belfast

Report - Ulster Championships 2016, Europa Hotel Belfast

Report - Ulster Championships 2016, Europa Hotel Belfast

Left to right: Ulster Champion Stephen Rush, Intermediate Champion Jonathan Peoples and Junior Champion Dominic Gallagher

 

The Europa Hotel continued its sponsorship of the Ulster Championships, the largest event on the UCU calendar.  Entrants from UCU and ICU enjoyed the luxury of playing in the hotels Euro Business Centre.  Six rounds were staged over three days with players having 90 minutes and 30 second increments each game to fight for titles and prizes.

Following his Nemtzov Cup victory, Stephen Rush (4.5/6) continued his successful summer after he was declared Ulster Champion in a tense final day.  Tied with Stephen in first place was former winner Ray Devenney and top seed Gerard MacElligot.  The grading prize for the senior section was awarded to UCU stalwart Mark Newman (3.5/6) from Civil service chess club.

The intermediate section was the only category not to require a tie-break with Jonathon Peoples of Derry winning with a convincing 5/6.  Tied for second on 4/6 were strong contenders Mikhail Pavlov, Ian Woodfield and Karina Kruk.  The intermediate grading prize was won by impressive displays by one of the tournaments youngest competitors, Dayna Ferguson (3/6), one to watch out for in future events.

The junior section, the largest in the tournament, was fiercely competitive.  After day two Alan York had established himself as frontrunner by dispatching with everyone in his path with 4/4.  However after a slow start so to speak, Dominic Gallagher made a surge on the final two days to claim the title with 4.5/6.  Narrowly missing out on the trophy was Ram Rajan (4.5/6) who also had a fine tournament and missed out in the tie-break.  Finally congratulations go to John Monaghan (3/6) and Samuel Todd (3/6) winning the U1150 and U1000 grading prizes respectively.

We would like to thank the hotel staff, competitors, Adrian Domford-Smith (live boards), Brendan Jamison (cashier!) and Ross Harris (arbiter) who chalked up the event as part of his national arbiters title.

Full results are available in UCU "competition results".

We look forwards to another exciting Ulster Championships next year.

Navigation
News
Childrens Chess Grandprix Standings after February 2024 Tournament. We celebrate young chess talent at the end of year Award Ceremony and Elite Chess tournament. Usually held at Stormont i... Mar 03, 2024
March 2024 FIDE NI Rating Report – 14 players make a debut by FIDE National Arbiter Brendan Jamison Well done to 14 more players gaining a FIDE rating on the 1st March rating list. The season is almost over but we have o... Mar 02, 2024
Lisburn Chess Club organises WIM Tijana Mandura coaching opportunity! Message from Lisburn Chess Club: Tuition Opportunity Feb 22, 2024
February Schools Chess at Methodist College The UCU's monthly Schools tournaments continued on 10th February 2024 with 37 entrants and some top chess and brilliant ... Feb 22, 2024
Knockagh Monument Rapid Places Still Available Feb 22, 2024
More news…
« March 2024 »
March
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
Upcoming Events
FIDE-RATED Bangor Spring Rapid Championship 2024 Mar 21, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
FIDE rated Ulster Rapidplay 2024 Apr 06, 2024 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2024 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 7th April at the Civil Service Pavilion. Apr 07, 2024 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE 100th Anniversary Groomsport Classic 2024 (Round 1) Apr 11, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Newman Hindley Series : Childrens Chess Fun afternoon with a chess tournament and puzzle competition. Apr 13, 2024 12:15 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Upcoming events…