Sometimes things happen that make you celebrate Chess - today was one such day. We played a round robin of all play all, seven rounds. 15 minutes each on the clock. Although alot of games end fast and mistakes get made when impulsive moves are made - we encourage slower thoughtful play. Geoff Hindley one of our brilliant volunteers commented that it was a half day of some elegant chess with tough endings and clever combinations - a good battle between some tough players. Between rounds the pupils focused on the challenging puzzles - which allow for plenty of discussion on chess. Battle chess is also taught -a brilliant way of improving and practicing your endgame.

Our next tournament is on Saturday February 8th at Methodist College - 12:30pm registration.

Lets start with the puzzles - one of the fun items of the day with plenty of learning... and what if logic.

Secondary School Puzzle Solving

Champion: James Huang.

Primary School Puzzle Solving

Champion: Blake Harris at only P5 a brlliant result.

Try some of the puzzles - these are taken from the brilliant puzzle book: 1000 Checkmate Combinations – Victor Henkin

I recommend problem solving for improving your game.Chess.com allows 5 free per day and these are rated.

Solutions at the bottom of the page.

Round 1

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name        Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P7    [0]     .5:.5   Ethan Cole  P3    [0]  
 2 Blake Harris     P5    [0]      0:1    Peter Wong  P3    [0]  
 3 Kamal Taufik     F1    [0]      1:0    James Wong  U6    [0]  
 4 James Fitzsimons P5    [0]      0:1    James Huang F1    [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Ethan Cole starts well with a draw against Dexter Harris one of the favourites of the competition. Kamal Taufik last years Schools Ulster Champion beats this year Ulster Champion James Wong.

Round 2

Results

No Name          Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole    P3    [.5]     0:1    James Huang      F1    [1]  
 2 James Wong    U6    [0]      1:0    James Fitzsimons P5    [0]  
 3 Peter Wong    P3    [1]      0:1    Kamal Taufik     F1    [1]  
 4 Dexter Harris P7    [.5]     1:0    Blake Harris     P5    [0]  

Only round 2 James Huang and Kamal Taufik take the lead with 2 out of 2.

Round 3

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name          Feder Total

 1 Blake Harris     P5    [0]      0:1    Ethan Cole    P3    [.5] 
 2 Kamal Taufik     F1    [2]      0:1    Dexter Harris P7    [1.5]
 3 James Fitzsimons P5    [0]      0:1    Peter Wong    P3    [1]  
 4 James Huang      F1    [2]      1:0    James Wong    U6    [1]  

Ethan Cole wins against Blake Harris. Dexter Harris beats Kamal Taufik allowing James Huang to take the solitary lead with 3 points. But All play All means anything can happen as pairings arent determined by points.

Round 4

Results

No Name          Feder Total  Result   Name         Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole    P3    [1.5]    0:1    James Wong   U6    [1]  
 2 Peter Wong    P3    [2]      0:1    James Huang  F1    [3]  
 3 Dexter Harris P7    [2.5]    1:0    BYE                     
 4 Blake Harris  P5    [0]      0:1    Kamal Taufik F1    [2]  

James Hunag continues his wins followed closely by Dexter Harris who has yet to loose a game.

Round 5

Results

No Name         Feder Total  Result   Name          Feder Total

 1 Kamal Taufik F1    [3]     .5:.5   Ethan Cole    P3    [1.5]
 2 BYE                         0:1    Blake Harris  P5    [0]  
 3 James Huang  F1    [4]      0:1    Dexter Harris P7    [3.5]
 4 James Wong   U6    [2]      1:0    Peter Wong    P3    [2]  

Ethan Cole has another brilliant result this time against Kamal Taufik gaining a draw. James Huang is knocked off the lead by Dexter Harris who takes the lead on 4.5 points.

Round 6

Results

No Name          Feder Total  Result   Name        Feder Total

 1 Ethan Cole    P3    [2]      1:0    Peter Wong  P3    [2]  
 2 Dexter Harris P7    [4.5]   .5:.5   James Wong  U6    [3]  
 3 Blake Harris  P5    [1]      0:1    James Huang F1    [4]  
 4 Kamal Taufik  F1    [3.5]    1:0    BYE  

James Wong dents Dexters lead getting a draw. Allowing James Huang to catch and share the lead with 5 points.

Round 7

Results

No Name        Feder Total  Result   Name          Feder Total

 1 BYE                        0:1    Ethan Cole    P3    [3]  
 2 James Huang F1    [5]      1:0    Kamal Taufik  F1    [4.5]
 3 James Wong  U6    [3.5]    1:0    Blake Harris  P5    [1]  
 4 Peter Wong  P3    [2]      1:0    Dexter Harris P7    [5]  

The final round. the two leaders play each other - James Huang wins against tough player Kamal Taufik. Peter Wong gets a good result against Dexter Harris.

Standings

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

  1   James Huang      F1    6        15.5  20.0   25.0
  2   Dexter Harris    P7    5        18.5  25.0   22.5
 3-4  Kamal Taufik     F1    4.5      19.0  25.5   20.5
      James Wong       U6    4.5      15.5  21.5   15.0
  5   Ethan Cole       P3    4        19.5  26.0   13.0
  6   Peter Wong       P3    3        17.0  23.0   13.0
  7   Blake Harris     P5    1        20.0  29.0    3.0
  8   James Fitzsimons P5    0        19.5  26.0    0.0

Overall Winner James Huang - a brilliant result against very tough opposition.

Age group winners - the First and second places win trophies - the top 3 of each group get certificates.

Form4 and above  1st : James Wong

Form1 1st : James Huang   2nd : Kamal Taufik

P7 1st : Dexter Harris

P5 1st : Blake Harris  2nd : James Fitzsimons

P4 and below  1st  :  Ethan Cole   2nd : Peter Wong

Thanks to all our volunteers - and the players for an enjoyable days chess..  See you on the 8th February.

Problem solutions