April marks the last of the afternoons of Childrens Chess and the final battle in the Grandprix. As usual we had a wonderful selection of puzzles to solve. The students discussed and solved these between rounds. This Saturday we managed to get 8 rounds of chess. all these games are rated by the Ulster Chess Union as active games. So players will be able to check for their ratings on the members ratings pages : https://www.ulsterchess.org/membership/members

Calum Glendinning won the Secondary Puzzle Solving.

Secondary Puzzle Solving.

Adam Fitzsimons won the Primary Puzzle Solving, Anjali Singh scored the same points but Adam had included his own puzzle problem.

Primary Puzzle Solving

Now a regular part of the event the Parents puzzle solving was win with a brilliant score of 17 by Ranjit Singh followed very closely by Graham Glendinning.

Parents Puzzle Solving

Some of the problems that were set. This week a couple of end game problems were set from the excellent book : Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games by Bruce Pandolfini and László Polgár. Solutions to these are at the end of this page.

Childrens Chess April - Round 1

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P6    [0]      1:0    Anjali Singh      P7    [0]  
 2 Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [0]      0:1    Taufik Kamal      P7    [0]  
 3 Ciaran Rowan     L6    [0]      1:0    Calum Glendinning F3    [0]  
 4 Callum McGuiness F3    [0]      0:1    Ben Toogood       F2    [0]  
 5 Aaditya Singh    P5    [0]      1:0    Zach Williamson   F2    [0]  
 6 Cian Suitor      P5    [0]      0:1    Reuben Magill     P7    [0]  
 7 Daniel Toogood   P6    [0]      0:1    Patrick Maguare   F1    [0]  
 8 Ethan Cole       P2    [0]      1:0    BYE                          

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The players ratings are included in the swiss perfect system with the idea that the top players dont meet each other until the latter rounds of the tournament. With an odd number of players a player will get a full point for a bye each round - we had on hand our excellent volunteer Geoff Hindley who gave these players a game and some informal coaching. Although he did mention that he was seriously challenged by some of the players.

Childrens Chess April - Round 2

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Reuben Magill     P7    [1]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P6    [1]  
 2 Taufik Kamal      P7    [1]      1:0    Aaditya Singh    P5    [1]  
 3 Patrick Maguare   F1    [1]      0:1    Ciaran Rowan     L6    [1]  
 4 Ben Toogood       F2    [1]      1:0    Ethan Cole       P2    [1]  
 5 Calum Glendinning F3    [0]      0:1    Daniel Toogood   P6    [0]  
 6 Anjali SIngh      P7    [0]      1:0    Callum McGuiness F3    [0]  
 7 Zach Williamson   F2    [0]      0:1    Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [0]  
 8 Cian Suitor       P5    [0]      1:0    BYE                     

Childrens Chess April - Round 3

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P6    [2]      1:0    Ben Toogood       F2    [2]  
 2 Ciaran Rowan     L6    [2]      1:0    Taufik Kamal      P7    [2]  
 3 Aaditya Singh    P5    [1]      1:0    Patrick Maguare   F1    [1]  
 4 Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [1]      0:1    Reuben Magill     P7    [1]  
 5 Daniel Toogood   P6    [1]      0:1    Cian Suitor       P5    [1]  
 6 Ethan Cole       P2    [1]      0:1    Anjali SIngh      P7    [1]  
 7 Callum McGuiness F3    [0]      0:1    Calum Glendinning F3    [0]  
 8 Zach Williamson  F2    [0]      1:0    BYE       

Round 3 and we have leaders Dexter Harris and Ciaran Rowan both unbeaten.

Childrens Chess April - Round 4

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 1 Ciaran Rowan      L6    [3]     .5:.5   Dexter Harris   P6    [3]  
 2 Taufik Kamal      P7    [2]      1:0    Reuben Magill   P7    [2]  
 3 Ben Toogood       F2    [2]      1:0    Anjali Singh    P7    [2]  
 4 Cian Suitor       P5    [2]      0:1    Aaditya Singh   P5    [2]  
 5 Zach Williamson   F2    [1]      0:1    Daniel Toogood  P6    [1]  
 6 Patrick Maguare   F1    [1]      0:1    Adam Fitzsimons P6    [1]  
 7 Calum Glendinning F3    [1]      1:0    Ethan Cole      P2    [1]  
 8 Callum McGuiness  F3    [0]      1:0    BYE                    

Round 4 and a draw between Ciaran and Dexter. So the gap is closed between these leaders and the chasing seconds on 3 points - Taufik Kamal, Ben Toogood and Aaditya Singh.

Childrens Chess April - Round 5

Results

No Name            Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris   P6    [3.5]    0:1    Taufik Kamal      P7    [3]  
 2 Aaditya Singh   P5    [3]      0:1    Ciaran Rowan      L6    [3.5]
 3 Reuben Magill   P7    [2]      0:1    Ben Toogood       F2    [3]  
 4 Anjali SIngh    P7    [2]      0:1    Calum Glendinning F3    [2]  
 5 Adam Fitzsimons P6    [2]      1:0    Cian Suitor       P5    [2]  
 6 Daniel Toogood  P6    [2]      1:0    Callum McGuiness  F3    [1]  
 7 Ethan Cole      P2    [1]      0:1    Zach Williamson   F2    [1]  
 8 Patrick Maguare F1    [1]      1:0    BYE         

Dexter looses to the current Ulster Champion Taufik Kamal. Ciaran continues undefeated.

Childrens Chess April - Round 6

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 1 Ben Toogood       F2    [4]      0:1    Ciaran Rowan    L6    [4.5]
 2 Taufik Kamal      P7    [4]      1:0    Daniel Toogood  P6    [3]  
 3 Adam Fitzsimons   P6    [3]      0:1    Dexter Harris   P6    [3.5]
 4 Calum Glendinning F3    [3]     .5:.5   Aaditya Singh   P5    [3]  
 5 Reuben Magill     P7    [2]      1:0    Patrick Maguare F1    [2]  
 6 Cian Suitor       P5    [2]      1:0    Zach Williamson F2    [2]  
 7 Callum McGuiness  F3    [1]      1:0    Ethan Cole      P2    [1]  
 8 Anjali SIngh      P7    [2]      1:0    BYE             

Taufik Kamal stays within reach of the lead by beating Daniel Toogood. Ciran Rowen continues his wins beating Ben Toogood. Its brilliant to watch the games of players who are so close in strength and skill. These are some of the top young players in Northern Ireland.

Childrens Chess April - Round 7

Results

No Name            Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Ciaran Rowan    L6    [5.5]    1:0    Cian Suitor       P5    [3]  
 2 Ben Toogood     F2    [4]      0:1    Taufik Kamal      P7    [5]  
 3 Dexter Harris   P6    [4.5]    1:0    Calum Glendinning F3    [3.5]
 4 Anjali SIngh    P7    [3]      1:0    Aaditya Singh     P5    [3.5]
 5 Daniel Toogood  P6    [3]     .5:.5   Reuben Magill     P7    [3]  
 6 Zach Williamson F2    [2]      1:0    Callum McGuiness  F3    [2]  
 7 Patrick Maguare F1    [2]      0:1    Ethan Cole        P2    [1]  
 8 Adam Fitzsimons P6    [3]      1:0    BYE           

We started each round as soon as the previous one finished. and this month squeezed in 8 rounds - this the second to last. Ciaran still undefeated, chased by Kamal Taufik with only 1/2 point between them. Ethan Cole a new player and only in P2 so our youngest gets a point off Patrick Maguare. Ethan had played some good chess and it was brilliant to see this win. I always say you learn by your mistakes but it is still challenging to deal with many losses. I always admire the youngsters who return every month who dont win but enjoy the game and these players improve every month.

Childrens Chess April - Round 8

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name            Feder Total

 1 Ciaran Rowan      L6    [6.5]    1:0    Adam Fitzsimons P6    [4]  
 2 Taufik Kamal      P7    [6]      1:0    Anjali SIngh    P7    [4]  
 3 Aaditya Singh     P5    [3.5]    0:1    Dexter Harris   P6    [5.5]
 4 Daniel Toogood    P6    [3.5]    0:1    Ben Toogood     F2    [4]  
 5 Reuben Magill     P7    [3.5]    0:1    Zach Williamson F2    [3]  
 6 Ethan Cole        P2    [2]      0:1    Cian Suitor     P5    [3]  
 7 Callum McGuiness  F3    [2]      1:0    Patrick Maguare F1    [2]  
 8 Calum Glendinning F3    [3.5]    1:0    BYE           

The final round and Ciaran wins the tournament without a loss followed by Taufik Kamal.

Standings

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

  1   Ciaran Rowan      L6    1193 7.5     26.0  34.5   33.5
  2   Taufik Kamal      P7    1202 7        25.5  36.5   30.0
  3   Dexter Harris     P6    1236 6.5      26.5  37.5   29.5
  4   Ben Toogood       F2    1118 5        26.5  35.5   25.0
  5   Calum Glendinning F3    800  4.5      23.5  32.5   17.5
 6-9  Adam Fitzsimons   P6    860  4        28.0  37.0   18.0
      Anjali Singh      P7    900  4        25.5  34.0   18.0
      Cian Suitor       P5    711  4        21.5  30.5   17.0
      Zach Williamson   F2    771  4        20.0  25.5   13.0
10-12 Aaditya Singh     P5    962  3.5      28.0  37.0   20.5
      Reuben Magill     P7    928  3.5      25.5  34.0   18.0
      Daniel Toogood    P6    916  3.5      22.0  30.5   17.0
 13   Callum McGuiness  F3    800  3        20.0  26.5    9.0
14-15 Ethan Cole        P2    300  2        21.0  27.5   10.0
      Patrick Maguare   F1    700  2        20.5  29.5   12.0

Form 4 and above Winner: Ciaran Rowan

Form 3 Winner: Calum Glendinning   Second: Callum McGuiness

Form 2 Winner: Ben Toogood   Second: Zach Williamson

Form 1 Winner: Patrick Maguare

Primary 7 Winner: Taufik Kamal  Second: Anjali Singh

Primary 6 Winner: Dexter Harris  Second: Adam Fitzsimons

Primary 5 Winner: Cian Suitor  Second: Aaditaya Singh

Primary 4 and below Winner: Ethan Cole

An excellent day of good chess and fun problem solving.

Many thanks to the volunteers Ross Harris, James Fairley and Geoff Hindley and to the Methodist College.

Our next tournament is the Delancey UK Chess Challenge Northern Ireland Megafinal 2019 May 11th at Methodist College. Enjoy your chess.

Watch out for the article with our final grandprix standings for this season....

Solutions to the chess Puzzles: