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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 March 2026. The Ulster Chess Union runs monthly tournaments at Methodist College. All pupils are welcome to play. Five of these tour... Mar 22, 2026
Amost 40 young players gather at our Monthly Childrens Chess tournaments Saturday March 14th. Methodist College. We continue our monthly events. An afternoon of Chess games and puzzles. With al... Mar 22, 2026
Standings of the Childrens Chess Grandprix after February 2026. The Ulster Chess Union runs monthly tournaments at Methodist College. All pupils are welcome to play. Five of these tour... Mar 08, 2026
New Rapidplay Ulster Champion Crowned 28th February 2026 Fruithill Bowling Club hosted in its brilliant venue the annual Rapidplay Ulster Championship. Many thanks to the Club a... Mar 07, 2026
Ulster Chess Union Mourns the Passing of Damien Lavery Mar 02, 2026
More news…
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Upcoming Events
FIDE RATED Washingbay Chess Club Spring Rapid 2026 Tuesday 21 April 2026 Check-in opens at 19:30. 5 rounds will be played back-to-back from 20:00 to 22:30 : Time Control:... Apr 21, 2026 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Washingbay Centre, 92 Ballybeg Road, Aughamullan, Coalisland, County Tyrone, BT71 5DX
FIDE Rated City of Belfast 2026 May 02, 2026 - May 04, 2026 — Lisburn Chess Club, 60-62 Longstone Street
Belfast May Day Chess Open May 05, 2026 06:30 PM - 09:30 PM — First Presbyterian Church, Rosemary St, Belfast
Delancey Schools UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal May 9th Our Monthly Children's Chess Tournaments continues with the UK Chess Challenge Belfast Megafinal Sat 9th May - an opport... May 09, 2026 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
The Irish Junior Championships 2026 10th May - 12th May, Venue Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork, P31NY77 Sections u8,u10,u12,u14,u16,u19 Any opportuni... May 10, 2026 - May 12, 2026 — Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, Cork, P31NY77
Upcoming events…