We had a room move and the challenge of keeping our players away from the corridors where a film crew were filming. Which was more a worrying concern of us organisers than an actual problem - as everyone was more interested in the chess.

With 17 players we decided to amalgamate the Secondary and Primary sections and run a single swiss tournament. This gives the younger players the opportunity to play some of the older players.

This is the third tournament in the Childrens Chess series - which ends in a special tournament and prize giving ceremony usually held at Stormont in June. The players for this win their places through a scheme of Grandprix points. The top 4 from the Primary Students , Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary and Puzzle solving are invited. Watch this website for the standing the Grandprix which will be published shortly.

As usual we had our brilliant puzzle competition.

The Winner of the Secondary Puzzle solving was Olgierd Myszor

The Winner of the Primary Puzzle solving was Ali Shahzad with a fantastic 19 out of 22.

Some of the puzzles that were solved.... solutions at the bottom of the article.

Round 1

Results

No Name              Feder Rtg  Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 Adam Rushe        F5    1008 [0]      0:1    Aaditya Singh    P4    720 [0]  
 2 Connor Reilly     F1    600  [0]      0:1    Samuel Todd      L6    966 [0]  
 3 Dexter Harris     P5    930  [0]      1:0    Jasper Grady     P7    471 [0]  
 4 Ali Shahzad       P6    427  [0]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P6    913 [0]  
 5 James Wong        F5    880  [0]      1:0    Katy Thornton    F1    413 [0]  
 6 TJ MacCartney     P7    400  [0]      0:1    Olgierd Myszor   L6    854 [0]  
 7 Calum Glendinning F2    818  [0]      1:0    Cian Suitor      P4    350 [0]  
 8 Blake Harris      P3    340  [0]      0:1    Minaahil Shahzad F3    801 [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

In the first round all games go to rating apart from Aaditya Singh win over Adam Rushe who as highest rated player would be favourite to win. A brilliant result from the younger player.

Although sometimes with ratings its difficult especially with younger players who are likely to be improving and under-rated. Also in quick games it is so easy to make

a blunder and loose. We always stress not to rush moves and to think - look at more than one choice for a move before touching a piece.

Round 2

Results

No Name             Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name              Feder Rtg  Total

 1 Samuel Todd      L6    966 [1]     .5:.5   Olgierd Myszor    L6    854  [1]  
 2 Minaahil Shahzad F3    801 [1]      0:1    Dexter Harris     P5    930  [1]  
 3 Calvin Patterson P6    913 [1]      1:0    Calum Glendinning F2    818  [1]  
 4 Aaditya Singh    P4    720 [1]     .5:.5   James Wong        F5    880  [1]  
 5 Katy Thornton    F1    413 [0]      0:1    Adam Rushe        F5    1008 [0]  
 6 TJ MacCartney    P7    400 [0]      1:0    Connor Reilly     F1    600  [0]  
 7 Jasper Grady     P7    471 [0]      1:0    Blake Harris      P3    340  [0]  
 8 Cian Suitor      P4    350 [0]      0:1    Ali Shahzad       P6    427  [0]  

With Samuel and Olgierd drawing the tournament is more open having Dexter and Calvin leading on 2 points. Would they meet in the next round and who would win?

Aaditya gets a good draw against James.

Round 3

Results

No Name              Feder Rtg  Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 Dexter Harris     P5    930  [2]      1:0    Calvin Patterson P6    913 [2]  
 2 James Wong        F5    880  [1.5]    1:0    Samuel Todd      L6    966 [1.5]
 3 Olgierd Myszor    L6    854  [1.5]   .5:.5   Aaditya Singh    P4    720 [1.5]
 4 Adam Rushe        F5    1008 [1]      1:0    Jasper Grady     P7    471 [1]  
 5 Calum Glendinning F2    818  [1]      1:0    TJ MacCartney    P7    400 [1]  
 6 Ali Shahzad       P6    427  [1]      1:0    Minaahil Shahzad F3    801 [1]  
 7 Connor Reilly     F1    600  [0]      0:1    Cian Suitor      P4    350 [0]  
 8 Anjali Singh      P6    740  [0]      1:0    Katy Thornton    F1    413 [0]  
 9 Blake Harris      P3    340  [0]      1:0    BYE          

Dexter takes the lead with full points.James gets a good point off Samuel whilst Aaditya stays unbeaten with a draw against Olgierd. Some friendly family rivalry between brother and sister, Ali and  Minaahil - Ali taking the point.

Round 4

Results

No Name             Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name              Feder Rtg  Total

 1 James Wong       F5    880 [2.5]    0:1    Dexter Harris     P5    930  [3]  
 2 Calvin Patterson P6    913 [2]      0:1    Adam Rushe        F5    1008 [2]  
 3 Olgierd Myszor   L6    854 [2]      0:1    Ali Shahzad       P6    427  [2]  
 4 Aaditya Singh    P4    720 [2]      0:1    Calum Glendinning F2    818  [2]  
 5 Samuel Todd      L6    966 [1.5]    1:0    Cian Suitor       P4    350  [1]  
 6 Minaahil Shahzad F3    801 [1]      1:0    Anjali Singh      P6    740  [1]  
 7 Blake Harris     P3    340 [1]      1:0    TJ MacCartney     P7    400  [1]  
 8 Jasper Grady     P7    471 [1]      1:0    Katy Thornton     F1    413  [0]  

The top 4 boards win with Black and the bottom 4 with White. Dexter continues his wins. Calum beats Aaditya. Ali Shahzad gets 3 points out of 4 and can threaten the lead as can Calum Glendinng and Adam Rushe.

Round 5

Results

No Name              Feder Rtg Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg  Total

 1 Dexter Harris     P5    930 [4]      1:0    Adam Rushe       F5    1008 [3]  
 2 Calum Glendinning F2    818 [3]      1:0    Ali Shahzad      P6    427  [3]  
 3 Jasper Grady      P7    471 [2]      0:1    Samuel Todd      L6    966  [2.5]
 4 Blake Harris      P3    340 [2]      0:1    James Wong       F5    880  [2.5]
 5 TJ MacCartney     P7    400 [1]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P6    913  [2]  
 6 Cian Suitor       P4    350 [1]      0:1    Olgierd Myszor   L6    854  [2]  
 7 Anjali Singh      P6    740 [1]      1:0    Aaditya Singh    P4    720  [2]  
 8 Katy Thornton     F1    413 [0]      0:1    Minaahil Shahzad F3    801  [2]  

Adam gets his chance to change the lead - their exciting game draws a crowd. But looses against Dexter who has won all his games. Calumn stays within reach by beating Ali.

Round 6

Results

No Name              Feder Rtg  Total  Result   Name             Feder Rtg Total

 1 Calum Glendinning F2    818  [4]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P5    930 [5]  
 2 Samuel Todd       L6    966  [3.5]    1:0    Calvin Patterson P6    913 [3]  
 3 Olgierd Myszor    L6    854  [3]      0:1    James Wong       F5    880 [3.5]
 4 Adam Rushe        F5    1008 [3]      1:0    Minaahil Shahzad F3    801 [3]  
 5 Ali Shahzad       P6    427  [3]     .5:.5   Jasper Grady     P7    471 [2]  
 6 Aaditya Singh     P4    720  [2]      1:0    Blake Harris     P3    340 [2]  
 7 Cian Suitor       P4    350  [1]      0:1    Anjali Singh     P6    740 [2]  
 8 Katy Thornton     F1    413  [0]      0:1    TJ MacCartney    P7    400 [1]  

Again Dexter is challenged and if Calum can beat him the lead would be shared. But Dexter wins and has a complete score of 6 out of 6.

Samuel Todd and James Wong share second with 4.5 points. Giving Dexter a clear lead of 1.5 points. An exciting tournament.

Standings

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

  1   Dexter Harris     P5    930  6        14.0  21.0   21.0
 2-3  James Wong        F5    880  4.5      12.0  18.0   15.5
      Samuel Todd       L6    966  4.5       9.5  15.0   14.5
 4-5  Calum Glendinning F2    818  4        11.5  18.5   15.0
      Adam Rushe        F5    1008 4        11.5  17.5   13.0
  6   Ali Shahzad       P6    427  3.5      11.5  16.5   12.5
7-11  Calvin Patterson  P6    913  3        16.0  24.0   13.0
      Aaditya Singh     P4    720  3        14.0  20.0   11.5
      Olgierd Myszor    L6    854  3        13.0  18.5   12.5
      Minaahil Shahzad  F3    801  3        12.0  18.0   11.0
      Anjali Singh      P6    740  3        10.0  13.0    7.0
 12   Jasper Grady      P7    471  2.5      13.5  19.5    8.5
13-14 Blake Harris      P3    340  2        11.5  18.0    7.0
      TJ MacCartney     P7    400  2         8.5  12.5    6.0
 15   Cian Suitor       P4    350  1        13.5  19.0    4.0
16-17 Katy Thornton     F1    413  0        12.5  19.0    0.0
      Connor Reilly     F1    600  0         4.5  10.0    0.0

All the players played some excellent chess. And its exciting that we have players that are challenging each other and are close in ratings. A brilliant competition.

Looking forward to see what happens next month....

Many thanks to all the volunteers - Geoff Hindley and Ross Harris. Also to Methodist College for the Room. And special thanks to the anonymous donor for the provision of the trophies.