Ulster Chess Union present David McAlister with an 'Honorary Lifetime Membership Award'
At the Ulster Rapidplay Championships on Saturday April 21, the Ulster Chess Union presented David McAlister with an 'Honorary Lifetime Membership Award' for decades of voluntary service to Ulster Chess and Irish Chess, through extensive writing on chess history, reporting results, controlling over 100 tournaments and serving for 12 years as President of the Ulster Chess Union.
Brendan Jamison states that "David will be greatly missed when he moves to live in Scotland this summer. A true gentleman with an inspirational amount of passion for our local chess community, he set the foundations for so much of the success we currently enjoy in our expanding chess scene. A living legend with super high intelligence, strong interpersonal skills, perpetual level-headedness and a great sense of humour, and all this combined with superb historical knowledge of Ulster Chess and Irish Chess. He has contributed so much time and energy since the 1970s and has influenced generations of chess lovers. David first won the coveted 'Silver King' in 1973 as captain of the QUB Division 1 team. He went on to win it three more times - in 1979 with CIYMS, followed up in 1992 and 1994 with Newtownards Chess Club. David is held in the absolute highest regards and we wish him every success as he begins this new chapter of his life. Hopefully David will return every now and again to play in some of our major Belfast events in the years ahead."
