You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles Contributors Chess Notes by Rookie

Chess Notes by Rookie

Between 1983 and 1990, a weekly column was published in the Irish News with the byline of Rookie
Chess Notes by Rookie

Rookie in 1984

Rookie, in real life the irrepressible Martin Kelly, published over 300 of his chess columns in the Irish Press. Fortunately for us, we have been able to gather cuttings of his column and add them to our archive including the regular game posted along with each issue. Usually these games were from local competitions giving us a unique insight into Ulster chess of the 80's.

During these years, Martin honed his Extreme Punning skills to grandmaster level; these days his weekly reports of Belfast South's League Results - some of which have crept on to this site - often have a pun-count in double-figures.

Additional material appeared sporadically in various local papers over the same period and some of these - usually with photos - have also been recovered and will be appearing here soon. These include Ireland's Saturday Night (the Pink), Belfast Newsletter, Belfast Telegraph, The Down Recorder, Andersonstown News and the County Down Spectator.

Indexes

Reports are listed in each seasons archive but you can access Rookie specific items from the following lists:

News
Join the FIDE Social Chess Storytelling Challenge 2025 – Every Move Counts! A message from The FIDE Social Commission Team:- FIDE has made 2025 the Year of Social Chess and invites you to particip... Apr 28, 2025
Final Standings for the 2025 Childrens Chess Grandprix With the April Childrens Chess completed we have the final standings for the 2025 Grandprix. The top four of each sectio... Apr 26, 2025
UCU League 2024/25 final tables and board prizes Report on the UCU Belfast & District League 2024/25 Apr 20, 2025
City Of Bangor Chess Club hosted the Ulster Team Rapidplay Championship 2024/25 The Ulster Chess Team Rapidplay Championships are run every two years. Top players and team travelled to the fantastic B... Apr 16, 2025
Aprils Monthly Childrens Chess Tournament at Methodist College On April 12th 2025 Children from all over Ulster meet at Methodist College to play brilliant chess at the Ulster Chess U... Apr 16, 2025
More news…
« May 2025 »
May
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
Upcoming Events
Delancey Schools UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal May 10th Our Monthly Children's Chess Tournaments continues with the UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal Sat 10th May - an oppor... May 10, 2025 09:45 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
GM Simul with Alex Baburin May 23, 2025 06:30 PM - 11:00 PM — Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Belfast
FIDE RATED City of Belfast Classic Championship 2025 Sat 24th May, Sun 25th May, Mon 26th May Venue: Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards R... May 24, 2025 - May 26, 2025 — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE RATED Belfast Blitz Championship 2025 May 24, 2025 07:15 PM - 10:00 PM — Castleview Suite, Maynard Sinclair Sports Pavilion, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2025 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 8th June at the Civil Service Pavilion. Jun 08, 2025 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
Upcoming events…