You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2020-2021 season UCU Web 2020 Global Chess Festival on Saturday 10 October 2020. Bangor Blitz. The 7th Open Air Chess Event celebrated the 6th year of The Global Chess Festival

The 7th Open Air Chess Event celebrated the 6th year of The Global Chess Festival

Held on 10th October 2020 at Bangor's McKee Clock chess players from 7 nations fought out an exciting Chess Blitz. Report from Organiser Brendan Jamison.

Open Air Event 7:  Global Chess Festival lands at Bangor’s McKee Clock with 7 Nations Blitz

Built in 1915, the McKee Clock was host to this year’s Global Chess Festival on Saturday 10 October.

The annual event, now in its 6th year, sees over a million people playing the game across the world under the tagline, “chess connects us”.  Following an invitation from Bangor Chess Club Treasurer James O’Fee, this year’s festival saw Chess NI select the iconic landmark of the McKee Clock as the hot spot for 2 hours of open air chess fun.

image1image2
image3 image4

Rated by the Ulster Chess Union, the blitz tournament featured players from 7 nations, including 20 year olds Edward Hanzharov and Aaron Wafflart, flying the flags for Russia and France respectively. Other notable chess champions included Gerard Obasi (Poland), Andrew Todd (Scotland) and Adrian Dornford-Smith (England). Meanwhile, all the way from Sweden, young player Jakob Synott joined on the day, currently sailing solo around Europe!

 

During World War II, the McKee Clock was involved in a very different type of blitz as 1941 saw the German Lutftwaffe drop a bomb on it. Thankfully the damage to the clock was very minor. 79 years later, Saturday’s chess battles were enjoyed with mutual friendship and respect and the McKee Clock remained completely intact!

staindings

The six prize-winners received a round of applause as they collected their certificates. Three players all finished on 4 points so tie-breaks had to determine the final ranking order.

Champion: Andrew Todd (4/5) Scotland

2nd Place: Aaron Wafflart (4/5) France

3rd Place: Danny Roberts (4/5) NI

Under 1400 Rating Award: Calum Glendinning from NI

Under 1200 Rating Award: Adrian Dornford Smith from England

Most Improved Player: 8 year old Ethan Cole from NI

image5

image6

 

The event’s organiser, Brendan Jamison, Director of Chess NI, said “chess is a wonderful cross-cultural activity which celebrates the richness of diversity. It also transcends the language barrier. Chess is a powerful tool to bring communities together as we actively welcome all ages, all abilities and all races. Apart from the social aspect, the mental gymnastics offers an incredible buzz for our brains and helps with logic and problem-solving skills in the real world.”

Navigation
News
Ulster Championships 2025 - Results This year’s championships were held over the August Bank holiday at Lisburn Chess Club. Aug 27, 2025
Ulster Championships 2025 at full capacity This year's Ulster Championships are hosted at Lisburn Chess Club with a limited number of entrants and we can now confi... Aug 16, 2025
Football, Family activities, Live Music, Live Dancing and Chess at EMSONI 2025 Festival. We were honoured to be invited to the EMSONI Festival on 26th July 2025 and enjoyed Chess, fantastic company and convers... Aug 02, 2025
The Annual Citi Charity Rapidplay took place on July 24th 2025. Some 42 players gathered to raise money for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. Organised by Citi's chess team captain Micha... Aug 02, 2025
Celebrating Young Chess talent at Stormont. MLA Naomi Long invites top players. Our series of monthly tournaments concludes with the top players their parents and Principals being invited to Stormont ... Jul 11, 2025
More news…
« September 2025 »
September
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930
Upcoming Events
18th Sept. FIDE RATED City of Bangor Rapid Congress 2025 Rounds 1-5 10 rounds of FIDE Rapid play at City of Bangor Chess Club over 2 evenings. 5 Rounds on 18th Sept. 5 Rounds on 25th Sept. Sep 18, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
UK Blitz Championships 2025 - Belfast Qualifier - Sunday Sept 21st: FIDE Rated An opportunity to qualify for the UK Blitz Championships. Belfast is holding one of the 16 qualifying tournaments across... Sep 21, 2025 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
25th Sept. FIDE RATED City of Bangor Rapid Congress 2025 Rounds 6-10 10 rounds of FIDE Rapid play at City of Bangor Chess Club over 2 evenings. 5 Rounds on 18th Sept. 5 Rounds on 25th Sept. Sep 25, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
First Executive Board Meeting Agenda TBC Sep 30, 2025 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM — Lisburn Chess Club
Bangor: FIDE RATED Blitzmania 10 Rounds 1-10 Thursday 2 October 2025 Blitzmania at Bangor - a series of exciting Blitz tournaments at City of Bangor Chess Club. Oct 02, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — City of Bangor Chess Club, Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street Groomsport
Upcoming events…