Top Ulster Youngsters playing Chess at Methodist College

On Saturday 8th February 2020 a brilliant chess afternoon took place at Methodist College. Part of the Monthly series of Schools Chess tournaments run by the Ulster Chess Union.

With an excellent contingent from Antrim Grammar School our numbers were up to 24 players. We have one section as some of the younger players are very tough - infact we advised the older players to be warned not to under-estimate their younger opponents.

We were missing our usual volunteer James Fairley but had an extra pair of hands in Brendan Jamison who helped increase our numbers with social media posts and advertised the forth coming major event The Irish Junior Chess Championships : https://www.ulsterchess.org/Members/ucu00450/irish-junior-chess-championships-2020/irish-junior-chess-championships-2020 on the 3rd 4th and 5th April in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast.

As usual each player was offered a puzzle sheet with 24 superb problems. These could be done whilst we were preparing the first draw ( it always takes a little time to place the entrants into the computer) and between the rounds.

Puzzles are an excellent way of improving your chess and a good point for talking chess.

The Primary Champion Puzzle Solver - Aaditya Singh

Name	Year	Points
Singh, Aaditya	P6	16
Harris, Dexter	P7	13
Suitor, Cain	P6	11
Harris, Blake	P5	11
Cole, Ethan	P3	11
Webster, Zach	P7	7
Cole, Alannah	P2	7
Toogood, Daniel	P7	5
Wright, Dylan	P7	4

The Secondary Champion Puzzle Solver - Anjali Singh Sharing pointss with Calum Glendinning the sheet has a space to place your own problem and Anjali was awarded the Championship based on this.

Name	Year	Points
Singh, Anjali	F1	16
Glendinning, Calum	F4	16
Huang, James	F1	12
Taufik, Kamal	F1	9
Rushe, Adam	U6	8
Subramanian, Ashwanth	F4	3
Webster, Josh	F3	2

Some examples of the puzzles - solutions at the end of this page.

Round 1

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 James Wong           U6    [0]      1:0    Cain Suitor      P6    [0]  
 2 Daniel Toogood       P7    [0]      0:1    Kamal Taufik     F1    [0]  
 3 Adam Rushe           U6    [0]      1:0    Ethan Cole       P3    [0]  
 4 Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [0]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P7    [0]  
 5 James Huang          F1    [0]      1:0    Dylan Wright     P7    [0]  
 6 Blake Harris         P5    [0]      0:1    Ben Toogood      F3    [0]  
 7 Calum Glendinning    F4    [0]      1:0    Lucy Davis       L6    [0]  
 8 Cormac McCrudden     L6    [0]      0:1    Calvin Patterson F1    [0]  
 9 Aaditya Singh        P6    [0]      0:1    Jacob Miller     L6    [0]  
10 Josh Webster         F3    [0]      1:0    Daniel Marrion   F3    [0]  
11 Callum Magennis      F4    [0]      1:0    Zach Webster     P7    [0]  
12 Alannah Cole         P2    [0]      0:1    Anjali Singh     F1    [0]

by Swiss Perfect (TM) www.swissperfect.com

So good to see so many players from different ages, spanning Alannah Cole P2 to James Wong U6.

Round 2

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Calvin Patterson F1    [1]      0:1    James Wong           U6    [1]  
 2 Kamal Taufik     F1    [1]      0:1    Calum Glendinning    F4    [1]  
 3 Anjali Singh     F1    [1]      0:1    Adam Rushe           U6    [1]  
 4 Dexter Harris    P7    [1]      1:0    Callum Magennis      F4    [1]  
 5 Jacob Miller     L6    [1]      1:0    James Huang          F1    [1]  
 6 Ben Toogood      F3    [1]      1:0    Josh Webster         F3    [1]  
 7 Dylan Wright     P7    [0]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        P6    [0]  
 8 Daniel Marrion   F3    [0]      0:1    Blake Harris         P5    [0]  
 9 Cain Suitor      P6    [0]     .5:.5   Cormac McCrudden     L6    [0]  
10 Lucy Davis       L6    [0]      0:1    Daniel Toogood       P7    [0]  
11 Ethan Cole       P3    [0]      1:0    Alannah Cole         P2    [0]  
12 Zach Webster     P7    [0]      0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [0]

Calum Glendinning beats former Ulster Schools Champion Kamal Taufik. Calum has recently travelled to Germany where he did very well in a Schools Chess Competition coming second out of 80 entrants.

Round 3

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 James Wong           U6    [2]      1:0    Ben Toogood      F3    [2]  
 2 Adam Rushe           U6    [2]      1:0    Jacob Miller     L6    [2]  
 3 Calum Glendinning    F4    [2]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P7    [2]  
 4 Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [1]      0:1    Kamal Taufik     F1    [1]  
 5 James Huang          F1    [1]      1:0    Anjali Singh     F1    [1]  
 6 Daniel Toogood       P7    [1]      0:1    Calvin Patterson F1    [1]  
 7 Aaditya Singh        P6    [1]      1:0    Ethan Cole       P3    [1]  
 8 Callum Magennis      F4    [1]      0:1    Blake Harris     P5    [1]  
 9 Josh Webster         F3    [1]      0:1    Cain Suitor      P6    [.5] 
10 Cormac McCrudden     L6    [.5]     1:0    Daniel Marrion   F3    [0]  
11 Zach Webster         P7    [0]      1:0    Dylan Wright     P7    [0]  
12 Alannah Cole         P2    [0]      0:1    Lucy Davis       L6    [0]

After round 3 we have 3 leaders on 3 points. James Wong, Adam Rushe and Dexter Harris. Dexter Harris gets a good win over Calum Glendinning. Blake Harris gets a good win against Callum Magennis.

Round 4

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris    P7    [3]      0:1    James Wong           U6    [3]  
 2 Kamal Taufik     F1    [2]      0:1    Adam Rushe           U6    [3]  
 3 Calvin Patterson F1    [2]     .5:.5   James Huang          F1    [2]  
 4 Ben Toogood      F3    [2]      1:0    Aaditya Singh        P6    [2]  
 5 Blake Harris     P5    [2]      0:1    Calum Glendinning    F4    [2]  
 6 Jacob Miller     L6    [2]      1:0    Cormac McCrudden     L6    [1.5]
 7 Cain Suitor      P6    [1.5]    0:1    Callum Magennis      F4    [1]  
 8 Anjali Singh     F1    [1]      1:0    Josh Webster         F3    [1]  
 9 Ethan Cole       P3    [1]      1:0    Daniel Toogood       P7    [1]  
10 Lucy Davis       L6    [1]      1:0    Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [1]  
11 Daniel Marrion   F3    [0]      1:0    Zach Webster         P7    [1]  
12 Dylan Wright     P7    [0]      1:0    Alannah Cole         P2    [0]

Round 4 and now the top players meet. James Wong beats Dexter Harris whilst Adam Rushe stays in joint lead by winning against Kamal Taufik.

We collected the puzzle sheets and Ross Harris marked them.

Round 5

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 James Wong           U6    [4]      1:0    Adam Rushe       U6    [4]  
 2 Jacob Miller         L6    [3]      0:1    Dexter Harris    P7    [3]  
 3 Calum Glendinning    F4    [3]     .5:.5   Ben Toogood      F3    [3]  
 4 James Huang          F1    [2.5]    1:0    Ethan Cole       P3    [2]  
 5 Aaditya Singh        P6    [2]      0:1    Calvin Patterson F1    [2.5]
 6 Anjali Singh         F1    [2]      1:0    Kamal Taufik     F1    [2]  
 7 Callum Magennis      F4    [2]      1:0    Lucy Davis       L6    [2]  
 8 Cormac McCrudden     L6    [1.5]    0:1    Blake Harris     P5    [2]  
 9 Zach Webster         P7    [1]      0:1    Cain Suitor      P6    [1.5]
10 Daniel Toogood       P7    [1]      1:0    Daniel Marrion   F3    [1]  
11 Josh Webster         F3    [1]      1:0    Dylan Wright     P7    [1]  
12 Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [1]      1:0    Alannah Cole     P2    [0]

James Wong takes the outright lead by beating Adam Rushe. Some excellent games of chess - just fun to watch.

Round 6

Results

No Name             Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 James Huang      F1    [3.5]    0:1    James Wong           U6    [5]  
 2 Adam Rushe       U6    [4]     .5:.5   Dexter Harris        P7    [4]  
 3 Calvin Patterson F1    [3.5]    1:0    Calum Glendinning    F4    [3.5]
 4 Ben Toogood      F3    [3.5]    1:0    Anjali Singh         F1    [3]  
 5 Blake Harris     P5    [3]      0:1    Jacob Miller         L6    [3]  
 6 Daniel Toogood   P7    [2]      0:1    Callum Magennis      F4    [3]  
 7 Cain Suitor      P6    [2.5]    0:1    Ashwanth Subramanian F4    [2]  
 8 Lucy Davis       L6    [2]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        P6    [2]  
 9 Ethan Cole       P3    [2]      1:0    Josh Webster         F3    [2]  
10 Cormac McCrudden L6    [1.5]    1:0    Zach Webster         P7    [1]  
11 Daniel Marrion   F3    [1]     .5:.5   Dylan Wright         P7    [1]  
12 Alannah Cole     P2    [0]      1:0    BYE

The final round. Calvin Patterson gets a good win over Calum Glendinng. Dexter Harris gets a very good draw in a very close and exciting game against Adam Rushe. Going down to Bishops and Pawns. The young Alannah Cole who has thoroughly enjoyed the day gains her first point. Its good to see a player enjoying playing the game and the only way to improve is to keep playing learning from your losses. A lesson to us all.

Standings

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

  1   James Wong           U6    1397 6        17.0  24.0   21.0
 2-5  Dexter Harris        P7    1221 4.5      16.0  25.0   17.5
      Adam Rushe           U6    1324 4.5      14.5  23.0   18.5
      Ben Toogood          F3    1152 4.5      12.5  20.5   16.0
      Calvin Patterson     F1    1034 4.5      12.5  20.5   14.5
 6-7  Jacob Miller         L6    500  4        14.0  21.0   15.0
      Callum Magennis      F4    845  4         9.5  15.0   12.0
 8-9  James Huang          F1    1200 3.5      14.5  22.0   13.5
      Calum Glendinning    F4    1100 3.5      14.5  21.0   15.0
10-14 Blake Harris         P5    658  3        14.0  20.0   11.0
      Aaditya Singh        P6    924  3        13.5  19.5   10.0
      Anjali Singh         F1    841  3        12.5  17.5   11.0
      Ethan Cole           P3    700  3        10.5  15.5    9.0
      Ashwanth Subramanian F4    700  3         8.0  13.0    8.0
15-16 Cain Suitor          P6    828  2.5      11.5  18.5    8.5
      Cormac McCrudden     L6    500  2.5      11.0  16.5    7.5
17-20 Daniel Toogood       P7    800  2        11.5  17.5    7.0
      Lucy Davis           L6    500  2        11.5  16.0    7.0
      Josh Webster         F3    500  2        10.0  16.0    8.0
      Kamal Taufik         F1    1342 2         9.5  16.0    8.0
21-22 Daniel Marrion       F3    900  1.5       8.0  12.0    3.5
      Dylan Wright         P7    700  1.5       7.5  11.5    3.5
23-24 Alannah Cole         P2    300  1        11.0  15.5    1.0
      Zach Webster         P7    500  1         9.5  15.0    4.0

James Wong has a brilliant tournament with full points 6 out of 6 in a tough field. In Second place Dexter Harris P7 an excellent result sharing the same points 4.5 as Adam Rushe, Ben Toogood and Calvin Patterson.

Winners

F5 and above: 1st James Wong, 2nd Adam Rushe, 3rd Jacob Millar

F4 : 1st Callum Magennis, 2nd Calum Glendinning, 3rd Ashwanth Subramanian

F3 : 1st Ben Toogood, 2nd Josh Webster, 3rd Daniel Marrion

F1 : 1st Calvin Patterson, 2nd James Huang, 3rd Anjali Singh

P7 : 1st Dexter Harris, 2nd Daniel Toogood, 3rd Dylan Wright

P6 : 1st Aaditya Singh, 2nd Cian Suitor

P5 and under: 1st Blake Harris, 2nd Ethan Cole, 3rd Alannah Cole

Our next tournament is 12:30pm Methodist College on March 14th see you then.

Thanks to our volunteers - Geoff Hindley, Ross Harris and Brendan Jamison.

winners

Prob 13 1. Qc4+ if Rf7 2. d7 Qd2 3. Rd1 1. if Kh8 2. Qxg4	Prob 14 1. Qc4+ (Qb3+) Kg8 2. Qf7 winning	Prob 15 1. Qc3 Qb4 2. Rxf8+ Qxf8 3. Qxb2
Prob 16 1. Rxe5 if Qxc4 2. Re8# 1. if Nxe5 2. Qc8+ Qd8 3. Qxd8#	Prob 17 1. Nf5 winning the exchange	Prob 18 1. Qxf6+ Rxf6 2. Rd8+ Qe8 3. Rxe8+ Rf8 4. Rxf8#
Prob 19 1. ... Rf2+ 2. Kh1 Rh2+ 3. Kxh2 Nf3+ 4. Kh1 Rxg1#	Prob 20 1. ... exd4 2. Qxf7+ Bxf7 3. Rxc8+ Be8 4. Rxe8#	Prob 21 1. ... Qg2+ 2. Rxg2 Nf3+ 3. Kh1 Rd8+ 4. Rg1 Rxg1#

Prob 13

1. Qc4+ if Rf7

2. d7 Qd2

3. Rd1

1. if Kh8

2. Qxg4

p13

Prob 14

1. Qc4+ (Qb3+) Kg8

2. Qf7 winning

p14

Prob 15

1. Qc3 Qb4

2. Rxf8+ Qxf8

3. Qxb2

p15

Prob 16

1. Rxe5 if Qxc4

2. Re8#

1. if Nxe5

2. Qc8+ Qd8

3. Qxd8#

p16

Prob 17

1. Nf5 winning the

exchange

p17

Prob 18

1. Qxf6+ Rxf6

2. Rd8+ Qe8

3. Rxe8+ Rf8

4. Rxf8#

p18

Prob 19

1. ... Rf2+

2. Kh1 Rh2+

3. Kxh2 Nf3+

4. Kh1 Rxg1#

p19

Prob 20

1. ... exd4

2. Qxf7+ Bxf7

3. Rxc8+ Be8

4. Rxe8#

p20

Prob 21

1. ... Qg2+

2. Rxg2 Nf3+

3. Kh1 Rd8+

4. Rg1 Rxg1#

p21