You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2017-2018 season UCU Web 2017 Alan Burns Lacksidasical December 2017

Alan Burns Lacksidasical December 2017

The first of the series of Alan Burns Lacksidasicals took place on Sunday 10th December.

These events are designed to be a fun afternoon of chess. With four tournaments over the year on Sunday afternoons with a grandprix prize for the series. With a time setting on the clocks of 20mins + 5 sec increment the games are pressured but do allow for some thought.

The weather was inclement cold, icey and Snowey so again setup with a feeling that we might not get many players.

A phone call and a couple of players are stuck in traffic - so we started a little late. With 7 players there was the nice opportunity for me to play - and I very stupidly said I it was an opportunity for me to win! - I was to eat my words .....

Round 1

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Robert Lavery   1590 [0]      1:0    Nial Troughton 1448 [0]  
 2 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [0]     .5:.5   Mark Newman    1556 [0]  
 3 Ian Woodfield   1511 [0]      1:0    Colin Burcombe 1000 [0]  
 4 Paul Anderson   984  [0]      0:1    Ram Rajan      1478 [0]  
by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

 

Vincent O;Brien was beating me and only for a mistake - leaving his Rook enprise gave me the opportunity of saving the game from defeat. All the other games went to rating.

Round 2

Results

No Name           Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Ram Rajan      1478 [1]      1:0    Robert Lavery   1590 [1]  
 2 Mark Newman    1556 [.5]     0:1    Ian Woodfield   1511 [1]  
 3 Nial Troughton 1448 [0]      1:0    Vincent O'Brien 1222 [.5] 
 4 Colin Burcombe 1000 [0]      1:0    Paul Anderson   984  [0]  

Ram had a good win against Robert and opened the field - Whilst I lost to Ian - sacrificing too many pieces ... Ram and Ian went into the next round leading the competition.

 

Round 3

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Ian Woodfield   1511 [2]      1:0    Ram Rajan      1478 [2]  
 2 Robert Lavery   1590 [1]      1:0    Colin Burcombe 1000 [1]  
 3 Mark Newman     1556 [.5]     0:1    Nial Troughton 1448 [1]  
 4 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [.5]     1:0    Paul Anderson  984  [0]  

A big fight off for the lead. Ian beats Ram. Robert stays in contention and beats colin. With 8 players a five round swiss means you are playing most of the players. Nial beats Mark - not a good day - but some excellent positions - just not enough time..

 

Round 4

Results

No Name           Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Robert Lavery  1590 [2]      0:1    Ian Woodfield   1511 [3]  
 2 Ram Rajan      1478 [2]      1:0    Nial Troughton  1448 [2]  
 3 Colin Burcombe 1000 [1]     .5:.5   Vincent O'Brien 1222 [1.5]
 4 Paul Anderson  984  [0]      0:1    Mark Newman     1556 [.5] 

I finally get a point off Paul. Ian takes the lead with Ram staying in contention with only a point between them. Colin gets a good draw against Vincent.

 

Round 5

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name           Loc  Total

 1 Nial Troughton  1448 [2]      1:0    Ian Woodfield  1511 [4]  
 2 Vincent O'Brien 1222 [2]      0:1    Ram Rajan      1478 [3]  
 3 Paul Anderson   984  [0]      0:1    Robert Lavery  1590 [2]  
 4 Mark Newman     1556 [1.5]    0:1    Colin Burcombe 1000 [1.5]

Ian looses to Nial and Ram Rajan wins against Vincent so both are on 4 points - the winner will be decided by tie break - medium buchan, buchan, progressive. Colin beats me - an excellent result. I sacrificed one pawn, then another and then another - a pawn too far and Colin defended and then pushed some pawns and I lost ....

A day of brilliant chess, complicated positions, sacrifices and time trouble and good coffee you couldnt ask for anyrhing better (maybe some wins!).

 

Alan Burns Lacksidasical Dec 2017

Standings

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

 1-2  Ian Woodfield   UCU   1511 4         8.5  14.0   14.0
      Ram Rajan       UCU   1478 4         8.0  12.0   12.0
 3-4  Robert Lavery   UCU   1590 3         9.5  13.5    9.0
      Nial Troughton  UCU   1448 3         9.0  14.5    8.0
  5   Colin Burcombe        1000 2.5       6.5  10.5    6.0
  6   Vincent O'Brien UCU   1222 2         7.0  11.0    6.5
  7   Mark Newman     UCU   1556 1.5       7.5  11.5    4.5
  8   Paul Anderson   UCU   984  0         7.5  13.0    0.0

Ian wins on Tie break and Ram comes second both on 4 points.

Colin Burcombe wins the grading prize.

The next one in the series will be in the New Year - have a good christmas - enjoy the Ulster Blitz Championships on Saturday 30th December and watch this space for the next Alan Burns Lacksidasical.

Navigation
News
City of Belfast Chess Tournament Delivers Drama, Upsets, and Two Champions in a Thrilling 2026 Edition The May Bank Holiday weekend brought six intense rounds of competitive chess to Lisburn Chess Club, as 34 players from a... May 22, 2026
Annual General Meeting 2025/2026 2025/2026 season is rapidly coming to a close and with this comes the announcement of the UCU’s Annual General Meeting... May 22, 2026
Treasurer Role Opportunity at the Ulster Chess Union May 13, 2026
The Childrens Chess April Tournament took place on Sat 11th April hosted at Methodist College. An afternoon of fun chess. A tournament and puzzle solving competition. Almost 30 young players gathered to enjoy our mo... May 09, 2026
Bangor club celebrates its 60th anniversary 60 years in 60 minutes. A fun and playful documentary capturing the magic of Bangor Chess Club. Short interviews and eve... May 09, 2026
More news…
« May 2026 »
May
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
Upcoming Events
UCU Annual GM Simul with GM Keith Arkell May 23, 2026 05:30 PM - 11:00 PM — Carrickfergus Community Chess Club, Open Door Centre, Bridewell Drive
Mick Germaine Cup 2026 – Junior teams competition A team event for 4 under 16 players. 6 rounds 15mins time control. May 24, 2026 10:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Artane Beaumont Family Recreation Centre, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5
No Summer Tournament - Weds 27th May Due to International Cricket at the Pavilion - there will be no chess on Weds 27th May May 27, 2026 07:15 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2026 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Saturday 13th June at Loanends Presbyterian Church Hall Jun 13, 2026 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — Loanends Presbyterian Church Hall, Loanends Rd, Loanends, Crumlin BT29 4YR
Annual General Meeting 2026 Agenda to follow post submissions to secretary Monday 8th Jun 15, 2026 07:00 PM - 09:00 PM — Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Rd, Belfast, BT11 9AH
Upcoming events…