The next tournament is on Saturday 9th Feb at Methodist College - A call to all young chess players from 18 to very young - come and test your talents against some of the best in Ulster - all pupils welcome - turn up on the day and play brilliant chess.

The Childrens Chess series of tournaments has been running for some years. It was intended to provide an opportunity for young chess players to play competitive chess, as many schools don't have chess clubs. As part of its development we organised a Grandprix system over the series of tournaments. Players get points according to where they are placed in 1 of 3 sections - Primary, Lower Secondary (Form 3 and below) and Upper Secondary (Form 4 and above). The 3 highest points of each player over the series of tournaments are added together and the top 4 from each section are invited to a special event at Stormont that includes an Elite tournament and prize giving - Students, Parents and Teachers from the pupils schools are invited. A report from the last such event can be found here:      The puzzle solving competition is also included in this grandprix - the top 4 primary and top 4 secondary pupils being also invited to the prize giving.

With the New Year we had 15 young chess players to do battle. We put them in one section and ran as many rounds as we could - with clocks set to 15 mins each. We got in 7 rounds.

Although short in numbers the quality of players was across the range from improving to excelling. Our players would challenge the best. We had the current Schools Ulster Champion Kamal Taufik, the Bangor Rapidplay Champion James Wong. A brilliant fun afternoon of chess ensued.

As usual we had the problem solving sheets - 22 mindbending puzzles and space to set your own. Here are some of the puzzles (solutions at bottom of the page).

The puzzles give an opportunity for players to talk about chess, some players work in groups and some independently - we assist when ask with possible clues to the solutions. Its a great way to improve your chess.

The Winner of the Secondary Puzzle Competition - Louie McConkey

The Winner of the Primary Puzzle Competition - Adam Fitzsimons

With everyone entered into the draw we did the pairings and James Fairley took control of checking the players took their seats with correct opponent and colour of pieces. Then announced to start - and a hush silence of deep thought took over the room.

Geoff Hindley took the job of playing the player with the bye - and had fun trying to win against the youngsters.

Round 1

Results

No Name             Year Total  Result   Name           Year Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P6    [0]      1:0    TJ Macartney   F1    [0]  
 2 Diana Bueckert   P4    [0]      0:1    Louie McConkey F4    [0]  
 3 Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [0]      1:0    Lucy Bueckert  P4    [0]  
 4 Cain Suitor      P5    [0]      0:1    James Wong     L6    [0]  
 5 Calvin Patterson P6    [0]      1:0    Katy Thornton  F2    [0]  
 6 Skyla McConkey   P4    [0]      0:1    Kamal Taufik   P7    [0]  
 7 Aaditya Singh    P5    [0]      1:0    Helen Bueckert P1    [0]  
 8 Peter Wong       P2    [0]      1:0    BYE                       

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

We have approx ratings and these had been entered - the first round went according to rating.

Round 2

Results

No Name           Year Total  Result   Name             Year Total

 1 Kamal Taufik   P7    [1]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P6    [1]  
 2 Louie McConkey F4    [1]     .5:.5   Calvin Patterson P6    [1]  
 3 Peter Wong     P2    [1]      0:1    Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [1]  
 4 James Wong     L6    [1]      1:0    Aaditya Singh    P5    [1]  
 5 TJ Macartney   F1    [0]      0:1    Cain Suitor      P5    [0]  
 6 Katy Thornton  F2    [0]      0:1    Diana Bueckert   P4    [0]  
 7 Lucy Bueckert  P4    [0]      0:1    Skyla McConkey   P4    [0]  
 8 Helen Bueckert P1    [0]      1:0    BYE                         

Dexter gets a good win against Kamal. Calvin gets a good draw against Louie.

Round 3

Results

No Name             Year Total  Result   Name           Year Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P6    [2]      1:0    James Wong     L6    [2]  
 2 Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [2]      0:1    Louie McConkey F4    [1.5]
 3 Calvin Patterson P6    [1.5]   .5:.5   Kamal Taufik   P7    [1]  
 4 Aaditya Singh    P5    [1]      1:0    Skyla McConkey P4    [1]  
 5 Helen Bueckert   P1    [1]      0:1    Diana Bueckert P4    [1]  
 6 Cain Suitor      P5    [1]      1:0    Peter Wong     P2    [1]  
 7 Lucy Bueckert    P4    [0]      1:0    TJ Macartney   F1    [0]  
 8 Katy Thornton    F2    [0]      1:0    BYE                       

Dexter gets an excellent win over James and goes into the lead with an unbeat 3 points. Followed closely by Louie McConkey on 2.5 points.

Round 4

Results

No Name           Year Total  Result   Name             Year Total

 1 Louie McConkey F4    [2.5]    1:0    Dexter Harris    P6    [3]  
 2 Diana Bueckert P4    [2]      0:1    Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [2]  
 3 James Wong     L6    [2]      1:0    Calvin Patterson P6    [2]  
 4 Cain Suitor    P5    [2]      0:1    Aaditya Singh    P5    [2]  
 5 Kamal Taufik   P7    [1.5]    1:0    Lucy Bueckert    P4    [1]  
 6 Peter Wong     P2    [1]      0:1    Katy Thornton    F2    [1]  
 7 Skyla McConkey P4    [1]      0:1    Helen Bueckert   P1    [1]  
 8 TJ Macartney   F1    [0]      1:0    BYE      

A top upset and the competition is opened up again. With Louie getting a point off the leader Dexter. We now have Louie on 3.5 points chased by 4 players on 3 points.

Round 5

Results

No Name             Year Total  Result   Name           Year Total

 1 Aaditya Singh    P5    [3]     .5:.5   Louie McConkey F4    [3.5]
 2 Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [3]      0:1    James Wong     L6    [3]  
 3 Dexter Harris    P6    [3]      1:0    Diana Bueckert P4    [2]  
 4 Katy Thornton    F2    [2]      0:1    Kamal Taufik   P7    [2.5]
 5 Calvin Patterson P6    [2]      1:0    Cain Suitor    P5    [2]  
 6 Helen Bueckert   P1    [2]      0:1    TJ Macartney   F1    [1]  
 7 Lucy Bueckert    P4    [1]      1:0    Peter Wong     P2    [1]  
 8 Skyla McConkey   P4    [1]      1:0    BYE                   

James Wong stops Adams path to the top. Whilst Aaditya Singh pauses Louie's climb to the top. At the end of round 5 we have James, Dexter, Louie sharing the lead on 4 points.

Round 6

Results

No Name           Year Total  Result   Name             Year Total

 1 Louie McConkey F4    [4]     .5:.5   James Wong       L6    [4]  
 2 Aaditya Singh  P5    [3.5]    0:1    Dexter Harris    P6    [4]  
 3 Kamal Taufik   P7    [3.5]    0:1    Adam Fitzsimons  P6    [3]  
 4 Peter Wong     P2    [1]      0:1    Calvin Patterson P6    [3]  
 5 TJ Macartney   F1    [2]      0:1    Katy Thornton    F2    [2]  
 6 Diana Bueckert P4    [2]      1:0    Skyla McConkey   P4    [2]  
 7 Helen Bueckert P1    [2]      0:1    Lucy Bueckert    P4    [2]  
 8 Cain Suitor    P5    [2]      1:0    BYE               

The top board ends in another draw. Louie getting a good draw against James. and with Dexter beating Aaditya he ends the round in front with 5 points.

Round 7

Results

No Name            Year Total  Result   Name             Year Total

 1 Dexter Harris   P6    [5]     .5:.5   Calvin Patterson P6    [4]  
 2 James Wong      L6    [4.5]    1:0    Kamal Taufik     P7    [3.5]
 3 Katy Thornton   F2    [3]      0:1    Louie McConkey   F4    [4.5]
 4 Adam Fitzsimons P6    [4]      0:1    Aaditya Singh    P5    [3.5]
 5 Diana Bueckert  P4    [3]      1:0    Cain Suitor      P5    [3]  
 6 Skyla McConkey  P4    [2]      0:1    TJ Macartney     F1    [2]  
 7 Peter Wong      P2    [1]      0:1    Helen Bueckert   P1    [2]  
 8 Lucy Bueckert   P4    [3]      1:0    BYE            

The top board and another draw. Dexter, James and Louie all end on 5.5 points.

Standings

Place Name             Year Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

 1-3  Louie McConkey   F4    5.5      22.5  30.5   22.5
      Dexter Harris    P6    5.5      22.0  30.0   23.5
      James Wong       L6    5.5      22.0  30.0   22.0
 4-5  Aaditya Singh    P5    4.5      20.0  27.0   18.5
      Calvin Patterson P6    4.5      19.5  25.5   18.0
 6-8  Adam Fitzsimons  P6    4        21.0  27.0   19.0
      Diana Bueckert   P4    4        17.0  24.0   14.0
      Lucy Bueckert    P4    4        13.5  18.0   11.0
  9   Kamal Taufik     P7    3.5      20.0  27.0   16.5
10-13 Cain Suitor      P5    3        19.0  25.0   13.0
      Katy Thornton    F2    3        18.0  24.0   11.0
      Helen Bueckert   P1    3        15.0  20.0   11.0
      TJ Macartney     F1    3        14.5  21.5    8.0
 14   Skyla McConkey   P4    2        17.0  24.0    9.0
 15   Peter Wong       P2    1        16.0  23.0    7.0

The top players are Louie McConkey, Dexter Harris and James Wong. We gave prizes and certificates to the following categories: Form 4 and above, Form 3, Form 2, Form 1 and Primary 7, Primary 6, Primary 5 and below.

Before the prize giving started - Brendan Jamison the League Controller and Tournament Director representing the Ulster Chess Union awarded two very special prizes to - Honorary Life Membership to James Fairley and Geoff Hindley for their brilliant contribution to Childrens Chess over the years. These were met with very warm applause. Many thanks to James and Geoff.

Winners:

Form 4 and above

1st: Louie McConkey  2nd: James Wong

Form 2

1st: Katy Thornton

Form 1

1st: TJ Mcartney

P7

1st: Calvin Patterson 2nd: Kamal Taufik

P6

1st: Dexter Harris 2nd: Adam Fitzsimons

P5

1st: Aaditya Singh 2nd: Cain Suitor

P4 and below

1st: Diana Bueckert, Lucy Bueckert 2nd: Skyla McConkey 3rd: Peter Wong