You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2020-2021 season UCU Web 2020 virtual league 2020 The virtual league 2020 kicked off with Bangor at home to Civil Service

The virtual league 2020 kicked off with Bangor at home to Civil Service

On October 15th two teams of 6 chess players. Each player at home in front of a screen showing a virtual chess board - took a deep breath and fought a battle - the Virtual league for 2020 had begun ....

We have 3 teams entered. Ballynafiegh, Civil Service and Bangor.

Co-ordinated and organised by our League controller Evan Elwood and Vice Controller Ciaran Rowan.

The teams battling for the league are:

Ballynafiegh

  1. David Houston
  2. Robert Lavery
  3. Eoin Carey
  4. Paul McNaughton
  5. John O'Doherty
  6. Barney McGahan
  7. Kyle Milligan
  8. Jamie Corscadden
  9. Mitch Kee

10.  Billy Jackson

11.  Andy Boal

 

Home matches on Tuesday’s at 7:30pm

Civil Service

  1. David Blair
  2. Mark Newman
  3. Chris Kelly
  4. Chris Armstrong
  5. David Jackson
  6. Adrian Dornford-Smith
  7. Paul Anderson

 

Home matches on Wednesday’s at 7:30pm

Bangor

  1. Michael Sheerin
  2. James O’Fee
  3. Andrew Todd
  4. Gary Johnston
  5. Mike McKimm
  6. Owen Wilson
  7. Geoff Sterrett
  8. George Gamble

Home matches on Thursday’s at 8:00pm

On Thursday Bangor (at home) played Civil Service.

 

Civil Service: Away Bangor : Home
Board Name Lichess UserId Rating Result Name Lichess UserId Rating Game
1 W David Blair Manchester72 1577 1 - 0 B Michael sheerin Rdwrer 1614 https://lichess.org/kGUDIunW
2 B Chris Kelly chriskelly 1534 1/2 - 1/2 W James O'Fee JamesOFee 1581 https://lichess.org/YiIqtEuv
3 W Chris Armstrong pcmorphy 1377 0 - 1 B Andrew Todd Toddy-Aberdeen 1370 https://lichess.org/Elvapeza/
4 B David Jackson jacko297 1288 0 - 1 W Mike Mckimm meitnerium 1192 https://lichess.org/ALsxWBPV
5 W Adrian Dornford-Smith Dornford 1259 1 - 0 B Gary Johnston bluethecat 1139 https://lichess.org/bSJx0yNC
6 B Paul Anderson Number_8 895 1 - 0 W George Gamble ChessGeorge13 640 https://lichess.org/nsFkG1lE

Its so good to have the league and slow chess back in action - although its still not as good as face to face battles.

Thanks to the League Controller and Vice League Controllers for organising this. If you wish to play slow chess - the Winter Tournament has started on Monday evenings. Email mark.chris.newman@googlemail.com to play.

 

David Blair v Michael Sheerin - Board 1.

White has played Ba3. I like Whites open position and development but

this comes at the cost a a pawn sacrifice.

https://lichess.org/kGUDIunW#19

bd1-2

David plays Ng5 with lots of pressure on e6 and f7. Blacks Kings Knight has gone and the Bishop is blocked. The Black King Castles into these pressures.

https://lichess.org/kGUDIunW#31

bd1-3

Davids Queen comes across to weaken the Pawns in front of Blacks King First with Kd3 when Black pushes g6 followed by Qh3 prompting h5.

https://lichess.org/kGUDIunW#36

At this point White has mate in 3. Its telling that Blacks Knight, Queen Rook and Queen Bishop have yet get into play whilst Whites pieces are all in the fight.

https://lichess.org/kGUDIunW#48

bd2-1

James O'Fee v Chris Kelly - Board 2

Chris plans Nb6 - c5 to target support of d3. The recommendation is b4 pushing the Pawn majority.

https://lichess.org/YiIqtEuv#61

bd2-2

James played Qg3 - recommended was b4. Chris plays Kh8 James replies Qc3 and these moves are cycled and a draw agreed.

https://lichess.org/YiIqtEuv#69

bd4-2

bd3-1

Chris Armstrong v Andrew Todd : Board 3

Chris misses the threat of Nf4 winning the trapped Rook. Recommended move Rg2. Chris pushes g4 and looses the exchange after Andrew plays Nf4.

https://lichess.org/Elvapeza#52

bd3-2

At this point analysis suggests c4. Chris plays Kd2 and Andrew returns with bxc3+ bxc3. and goes on to win.

https://lichess.org/Elvapeza#74

bd4-1

Mike McKimm v David Jackson : Board 4

A possible turning point. Mike has missed Rc1 and plays Re4 whilst David might have played Nb5. Which would get rid of the Strong White Knight on d6 and possibly open up the c-file for a swap of pieces which means the R on e4 is misplaced.

https://lichess.org/ALsxWBPV#35

bd4-2On October 15th two teams of 6 chess players. Each player at home in front of a screen showing a virtual chess board - took a deep breath and fought a battle - the Virtual league for 2020 had begun ....

Mike has a good attack. David looses the exchange after playing 26... Ba6  27. Nxf6+ and then moves the Queen. Going on to win the game.

https://lichess.org/ALsxWBPV#51

bd5-1

Adrian Dornford-Smith v Gary Johnston : Board 5

Adrian misses a mating combination - Nf6 and Black cant stop Rxh7#.

Adrian still went on to win - it took a further 6 moves to get the same mate.

https://lichess.org/bSJx0yNC#62

bd5-2

An interesting point in the game - White played Nxe5. Better would be fxe5 followed by Nd6 a beautiful Knight placing pressure on the f7 Square and attacking the Rook and hitting the b7 square.

https://lichess.org/bSJx0yNC#42

bd6-1

George Gamble v Paul Anderson : Board 6

Dont you love an endgame chase - both sides have pawns on the 7th rank. They push and swap pieces going into an endgame of Pawns v Knight and Pawn.

https://lichess.org/nsFkG1lE#117

bd6-2

Now the pawns start racing for the Queening square.Although Whites Knight is only a couple of moves from the Black Pawns - Ne6 frees the g7 square and stops c5.

https://lichess.org/nsFkG1lE#122

bd6-3

Both parties Queen. Paul went on to win. With checks from Queen he managed to remove the Knight. Then George made the mistake of taking Pauls pawn and falling to a Queen check skewer on his Queen. An exciting battle with advantages being swapped from side to side.

https://lichess.org/nsFkG1lE#133

bd6-4

Here Whites advantage drops off a cliff from +62 to 0. The only move is 65 Ne6 if c2 66. Nd4 c1(Q) 67. Nb3+ Kb2 68. Nxc1 and White Queens his pawn to win.

https://lichess.org/nsFkG1lE#128

Navigation
News
Williamson Shield 2026: Storms, Strategy, and a New Champion A report by Chris Dorrian Jan 28, 2026
Chess Players of Carrickfergus and Beyond! The Ulster Chess Union is delighted to have been contacted to share the details of a new club coming in Carrickfergus. Jan 21, 2026
The New Year - Welcome - and Childrens Chess continues at Methodist College : Sat Jan 10th 2026 Young players gathered at Methodist College to compete in the monthly Chess tournaments. Players of all ages from P2 to ... Jan 13, 2026
Christmas and New Year sees the Ulster Blitz Championships 2025/26 Hosted by Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club. A brilliant venue and Chess Club. 37 players played a marathon of 18... Jan 03, 2026
One week left to register for the upcoming Ulster Blitz Championship The Ulster Blitz Championship 2025 will be held on Saturday 27th December in Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club. ... Dec 17, 2025
More news…
« January 2026 »
January
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Upcoming Events
Sligo Chess & Culture Festival Jan 30th - Feb 8th 2026 The Sligo Chess and Culture Festival will have entertainment, social, cultural, and sporting activities, chess talks, wo... Jan 30, 2026 - Feb 08, 2026 — Diamond Coast Hotel, Enniscrone, Ireland
FIDE RATED Coalisland Rapid Championship 2026 Tuesday 3 February Tuesday 3 February 2026, Check-in at 19:50, Please take seats at 19:55, The 5 rounds will be played back-to-back from ... Feb 03, 2026 07:50 PM - 11:00 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
U1800 FIDE RATED Jamison Classical Chess Academy 2026 Sunday 8 February 2026 to Tuesday 10 February 2026 Venue:Maxwell Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6J... Feb 08, 2026 - Feb 10, 2026 — Maxwell Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
February 14th 2026 Childrens Chess 12:30 – 5:00 UCU Monthly Schools Chess Tournaments Continues at Methodist College. Feb 14, 2026 12:30 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE rated Team Match: Northern Ireland v India. Saturday 21 Feb 2026 A Bangor Chess Club initiative, celebrating the outstanding contribution that players from the local Indian community ha... Feb 21, 2026 10:15 AM - 04:30 PM — Queen’s Hall, 13 West Street, Newtownards, BT23 4EN
Upcoming events…