25 players with a good mix of ages set down to face each other and battle to become an Ulster Champion.

After setting the room up, Geoff Hindley places the direction arrows to let players know the location of the room. Registration takes place and the round 1 draw is done. To allow any age group to win the title of Ulster Champion we play one section.

The players are paired by the resonant and authoritative voice of volunteer James Fairley.

We were lucky to have 7 players from Ballymena Academy brought by their excellent teacher Patrick Scullion.

This years Ulster Champion is James Wong being presented with the trophy by last years Champion Kamal Taufik.

The Ulster Girls Champion : Anjali Singh

Our brilliant Chair of the Ulster Chess Union Ross Harris was at hand to present the trophies. Ross runs the Childrens Chess Club at The Strand Cinema on Sundays, the Strand Primary School Chess Club and the Strand Chess team that has done such a fantastic job of introducing School Children to the world of League Chess.

So how did they get to be the champions - the full results and more photos are shown below.

One of the key things that happens during all our tournaments is the problem solving competition. Its been  a long tradition to calculate the solutions on the day of the tournament - this is easier as more time when the tournament is a full day. Both myself and Ross Harris worked through the sheets. We both scratched our heads and discussed the solutions - one of the parents humorously compared us to two school boys doing their homework late...

And we collected the sheets in at 3:00pm and Ross marked them. One interesting solution from Winner Ciaran Rowan actually put our solution to shame...

	We had the solution 1. ... Rd2+ 2. Kc1 Rc2+ 3. Kb1 Rh2+ 4. Kc1 Qe3+ 5.Kd1 Rxh1# Ciaran came up with the much simpler - 1. ... Bc2+ 2. Kc1 Qe3+ 3. Kb2 Be4# We were rightly humbled...

Ulster Primary Puzzle Champion: Aaditya Singh

Ulster Secondary Puzzle Champion : Rowan Ciaran.

Again we had a tough puzzle competition. Here are some of the puzzles for you to solve - find the solutions at the bottom of the page.

Round 1

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 James Wong        U19   [0]      1:0    Thomas Arthur        U19   [0]  
 2 Alex Buchanan     U16   [0]      0:1    Kamal Taufik         U14   [0]  
 3 Ciaran Rowan      U19   [0]      1:0    Niall Douglas        U19   [0]  
 4 David Gordon      U16   [0]      0:1    Dexter Harris        U12   [0]  
 5 Ben Toogood       U14   [0]      1:0    William McCartney    U16   [0]  
 6 Rebecca McCartney U12   [0]      0:1    Calvin Patterson     U14   [0]  
 7 Eoin Boyle        U14   [0]      1:0    Mohammed Rakeeb      U16   [0]  
 8 Daniel Toogood    U10   [0]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        U10   [0]  
 9 Patrick Maguire   U14   [0]      1:0    Blake Harris         U10   [0]  
10 Ethan Cole        U8    [0]      0:1    Anjali Singh         U14   [0]  
11 Ryan Anderson     U14   [0]      1:0    Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [0]  
12 James Huang       U12   [0]      1:0    Peter Wong           U8    [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

The pairing system aims to keep the top players apart for a long as possible. No upsets on the first round. The favourites are James Wong with a rating of 1397, Kamal Taufik (the defending Ulster Champion) with rating of 1342, Ciaran Rowan rating of 1293 closely followed by Dexter Harris 1221 and Ben Toogood 1152. So it will be a tough competition.

Round 2

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Eoin Boyle           U14   [1]      0:1    James Wong        U19   [1]  
 2 Kamal Taufik         U14   [1]      1:0    Patrick Maguire   U14   [1]  
 3 Aaditya Singh        U10   [1]      0:1    Ciaran Rowan      U19   [1]  
 4 Dexter Harris        U12   [1]      1:0    Ryan Anderson     U14   [1]  
 5 Anjali Singh         U14   [1]     .5:.5   Ben Toogood       U14   [1]  
 6 Calvin Patterson     U14   [1]      0:1    James Huang       U12   [1]  
 7 Thomas Arthur        U19   [0]      1:0    Mohammed Rakeeb   U16   [0]  
 8 Blake Harris         U10   [0]      0:1    Alex Buchanan     U16   [0]  
 9 Niall Douglas        U19   [0]      0:1    Daniel Toogood    U10   [0]  
10 Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [0]      0:1    David Gordon      U16   [0]  
11 William McCartney    U16   [0]      0:1    Ethan Cole        U8    [0]  
12 Peter Wong           U8    [0]      1:0    Rebecca McCartney U12   [0]  

Anjali Singh gets a good draw against Ben Toogood. James Huang gets a good win against tough opponent Calvin Patterson. Some of the younger players get points off the older pupils.The advice given at the beginning of the tournament was not to under-estimate the younger players and to not to rush your moves as you will make a mistake and miss something. Ethan Cole beats William McCartney and Peter Wong gets a point off Rebecca McCartney.

Round 3

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 James Wong        U19   [2]     .5:.5   Dexter Harris        U12   [2]  
 2 Ciaran Rowan      U19   [2]      1:0    Kamal Taufik         U14   [2]  
 3 James Huang       U12   [2]      0:1    Anjali Singh         U14   [1.5]
 4 Ben Toogood       U14   [1.5]    1:0    Calvin Patterson     U14   [1]  
 5 Alex Buchanan     U16   [1]      0:1    Eoin Boyle           U14   [1]  
 6 David Gordon      U16   [1]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        U10   [1]  
 7 Patrick Maguire   U14   [1]      0:1    Daniel Toogood       U10   [1]  
 8 Ryan Anderson     U14   [1]      1:0    Peter Wong           U8    [1]  
 9 Ethan Cole        U8    [1]      1:0    Thomas Arthur        U19   [1]  
10 Mohammed Rakeeb   U16   [0]      0:1    Niall Douglas        U19   [0]  
11 Blake Harris      U10   [0]      0:1    William McCartney    U16   [0]  
12 Rebecca McCartney U12   [0]     .5:.5   Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [0]  

Dexter Harris gets a draw against James Wong allowing Ciaran Rowan to lead the tournament with 3 out of 3. The pressure is now on Ciaran. Anjali Singh holds joint second with James and Dexter and Ben Toogood. Ethan Cole gets a good win off Thomas Arthur.

After round 3 we stopped for a lunch break. With packed lunches and friendly games of chess. Some of the students were taught battle chess - a game with 4 Pawns and a King each and you play to a finish - a brilliant way of practicing your endgame.

Round 4

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Dexter Harris        U12   [2.5]    0:1    Ciaran Rowan      U19   [3]  
 2 Anjali Singh         U14   [2.5]    0:1    James Wong        U19   [2.5]
 3 Kamal Taufik         U14   [2]      1:0    Ben Toogood       U14   [2.5]
 4 Eoin Boyle           U14   [2]     .5:.5   James Huang       U12   [2]  
 5 Aaditya Singh        U10   [2]      0:1    Ethan Cole        U8    [2]  
 6 Daniel Toogood       U10   [2]     .5:.5   Ryan Anderson     U14   [2]  
 7 Calvin Patterson     U14   [1]      1:0    Niall Douglas     U19   [1]  
 8 William McCartney    U16   [1]      1:0    Patrick Maguire   U14   [1]  
 9 Thomas Arthur        U19   [1]      1:0    David Gordon      U16   [1]  
10 Peter Wong           U8    [1]      0:1    Alex Buchanan     U16   [1]  
11 Mohammed Rakeeb      U16   [0]      1:0    Rebecca McCartney U12   [.5] 
12 Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [.5]     0:1    Calum McGuiness   U16   [0]  
13 Blake Harris         U10   [0]      1:0    BYE                          

Talking to volunteers James, Geoff and Ross the games being played showed some fantastic examples of chess play with sacrifices, threats, defending moves and some very accurate endgame play - its a joy to watch.

Ciaran Rowan continues the lead. James Wong is chasing just 1/2 point behind on 3 1/2 points.

Round 5

Results

No Name                 Feder Total  Result   Name              Feder Total

 1 Ciaran Rowan         U19   [4]     .5:.5   James Wong        U19   [3.5]
 2 Ethan Cole           U8    [3]      0:1    Kamal Taufik      U14   [3]  
 3 James Huang          U12   [2.5]   .5:.5   Dexter Harris     U12   [2.5]
 4 Ben Toogood          U14   [2.5]    1:0    Daniel Toogood    U10   [2.5]
 5 Ryan Anderson        U14   [2.5]   .5:.5   Eoin Boyle        U14   [2.5]
 6 Aaditya Singh        U10   [2]     .5:.5   Anjali Singh      U14   [2.5]
 7 Alex Buchanan        U16   [2]      0:1    Calvin Patterson  U14   [2]  
 8 William McCartney    U16   [2]      1:0    Thomas Arthur     U19   [2]  
 9 Patrick Maguire      U14   [1]     .5:.5   Peter Wong        U8    [1]  
10 Niall Douglas        U19   [1]      0:1    Blake Harris      U10   [1]  
11 Calum McGuiness      U16   [1]      0:1    Mohammed Rakeeb   U16   [1]  
12 David Gordon         U16   [1]      1:0    Rebecca McCartney U12   [.5] 
13 Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [.5]     1:0    BYE                       

Brilliant to see the young Ethan Cole on board 2. The top players draw and the competition becomes more open. Going into the last round Ciaran Rowan leads with 4.5 followed by James Wong and Kamal Taufik on 4 points. This round also sees a couple of family matches - Anjali beats brother Aaditya Singh whilst Ben Toogood wins against Daniel. The last round will be exciting.

Round 6

Results

No Name              Feder Total  Result   Name                 Feder Total

 1 Ben Toogood       U14   [3.5]    1:0    Ciaran Rowan         U19   [4.5]
 2 James Wong        U19   [4]      1:0    Kamal Taufik         U14   [4]  
 3 Dexter Harris     U12   [3]      0:1    William McCartney    U16   [3]  
 4 Calvin Patterson  U14   [3]      1:0    Ethan Cole           U8    [3]  
 5 Anjali Singh      U14   [3]      1:0    Eoin Boyle           U14   [3]  
 6 James Huang       U12   [3]      1:0    Ryan Anderson        U14   [3]  
 7 Thomas Arthur     U19   [2]      0:1    Aaditya Singh        U10   [2.5]
 8 Daniel Toogood    U10   [2.5]    1:0    Alex Buchanan        U16   [2]  
 9 Blake Harris      U10   [2]      0:1    David Gordon         U16   [2]  
10 Mohammed Rakeeb   U16   [2]      0:1    Patrick Maguire      U14   [1.5]
11 Peter Wong        U8    [1.5]    1:0    Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    [1.5]
12 Niall Douglas     U19   [1]      1:0    Calum McGuiness      U16   [1]  
13 Rebecca McCartney U12   [.5]     1:0    BYE      

Ben Toogood and Ciaran Rowan have a very exciting endgame and are the last to finish - Ciaran has a Rook and Bishop against Bens Queen - a tough endgame and well played by both players. With Ben winning he's on the same points as Ciaran on 4.5 points. James Wong wins against Kamal Taufik and becomes this years Champion. Such a tough battle. Anjali wins against Eoin Boyle and ends on 4 points and the position of Girls Ulster Champion.

An absolutely brilliant day of chess. Thanks to the brilliant players.

Standings

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

  1   James Wong           U19   1397 5        14.0  20.5   18.0
 2-3  Ben Toogood          U14   1152 4.5      16.0  24.0   15.5
      Ciaran Rowan         U19   1293 4.5      15.0  22.0   19.0
 4-8  Anjali Singh         U14   877  4        15.0  23.0   14.5
      Kamal Taufik         U14   1342 4        14.5  21.5   16.0
      James Huang          U12   700  4        13.0  19.5   14.5
      Calvin Patterson     U14   1034 4        11.0  16.5   12.0
      William McCartney    U16   700  4        10.5  16.5   10.0
9-10  Aaditya Singh        U10   924  3.5      13.5  20.0   12.0
      Daniel Toogood       U10   700  3.5      11.0  17.5   11.5
11-15 Dexter Harris        U12   1221 3        15.5  23.5   14.0
      Ethan Cole           U8    650  3        15.5  21.5   12.0
      Eoin Boyle           U14   975  3        13.0  20.0   12.5
      Ryan Anderson        U14   700  3        12.0  17.0   12.5
      David Gordon         U16   700  3         7.5  12.0    8.0
16-17 Patrick Maguire      U14   900  2.5      12.0  17.5    8.0
      Peter Wong           U8    554  2.5       8.5  13.5    7.0
18-22 Thomas Arthur        U19   700  2        13.5  20.5    8.0
      Alex Buchanan        U16   700  2        13.0  18.5    8.0
      Niall Douglas        U19   700  2        11.0  16.5    5.0
      Blake Harris         U10   658  2        10.5  16.5    5.0
      Mohammed Rakeeb      U16   700  2         7.5  11.5    5.0
23-24 Rebecca McCartney    U12   700  1.5      10.5  15.5    3.0
      Aakanksh Sunil Bhari U8    600  1.5       9.5  13.5    4.0
 25   Calum McGuiness      U16   700  1        10.0  14.0    3.0

Ross Harris the Current Ulster Chess Union President gives out the awards.

Thanks to all the Volunteers - Ross Harris, Geoff Hindley, James Fairley.

Thanks to the Venue Methodist College, Belfast.

and thanks to the Players for making the event so enjoyable.

We end the day with our new Ulster Champions - James Wong and Anjali Singh.

Under 19 Champion James Wong

Under 16 Champion William McCartney

Under 14 Champion Ben Toogood

Under 12 Champion James Huang

Under 10 Champion Aaditya Singh

Under 8 Champion Ethan Cole

Primary Champion Puzzle Solver Aaditya Singh

Secondary Champion Puzzle Solver Ciaran Rowan

The puzzle awards

Primary Schools

Secondary Schools Puzzle awards

The Under 8 Prizes

The Under 10 Awards

Under 12 Awards

Under 14 Awards

Under 16 Awards

Under 19 Awards

The current Ulster Champion Kamal Taufik passing on the title to the new Ulster Champion James Wong.

The Girls Ulster Champion Anjali Singh

All the Winners

See you at our next Childrens Chess Tournament on 11th January - have a good Christmas and Happy New Year.

The puzzle solutions