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Ulster Chess News

In 1999, as the new millennium approached, David McAlister began to publish the quarterly Ulster Chess News through his personal website. For the next few years, he documented the local chess scene.

David offered to transfer content from these articles to the Chronicles and has generously taken considerable pains to ensure his original content is presented in a style more appropriate to our new way of doing things.

The content is just as it was but presentation is considerably different with each quarter's reporting deconstructed into individual articles on tournaments and other events. Styling has also been adapted to match the look-and-feel of the UCU site rather than the original which reflected the rather spartan look of the Internet back-in-the-day.

These quarterly reports were about the only record of events at that time. When the UCU Website first started, it could not host the quality articles David was preparing. Over the years, facilities on this website have improved and gradually the recording and reporting of events has been focused here; as a result David's energy's were directed elsewhere and issues of the Ulster Chess News became more sporadic until they stopped altogether in early 2012.

David continues to research and document aspects of the Ulster Chess Union in his always perceptive blog Ulster Chess Chronicle. Documenting the history of Irish chess has always been a favourite subject and his own Irish Chess History site and his postings to the more general Irish chess history & records website IRLchess are always fascinating reads.

News
Standings of the Childrens Chess Grandprix after January 2026. The Ulster Chess Union runs monthly tournaments at Methodist College. All pupils are welcome to play. Five of these tour... Feb 07, 2026
The new year and the chess league continues.... Playing chess in a team is one of those joys of chess. You have the beautiful game and the team spirit. Each player focu... Feb 01, 2026
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
More news…
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Upcoming Events
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
FIDE rated Ulster Rapidplay Championship 2026 Feb 28, 2026 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Fruithill Chess Club, Falls Bowling Club, 63 Andersonstown Rd, Belfast, BT11 9AH
FIDE RATED Coalisland Blitz Championship 2026 Tuesday 10 March 2026. Check-in at 19:50 The 10 rounds will be played back-to-back from 20:00 to 22:30 Time-control 3-... Mar 10, 2026 07:50 PM - 10:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
Third Executive Board Meeting Agenda TBC Mar 10, 2026 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM — Lisburn Chess Club
Upcoming events…