The Time Traveller
Simultaneous exhibitions
This section will document simultaneous play against local chess players by strong masters, including three World Champions.
2nd Irish Chess Association Congress 1886
The short-lived Irish Chess Association organised three Congresses in 1885, 1886 and 1889. The second of these was held in Belfast and featured a Masters' Tournament won by W.H.K. Pollock, an Handicap (odds) Tournament won by Amos Burn and a blindfold simultaneous exhibition by J.H. Blackburne.
Early Ulster Championships 1892-1902
The first Ulster Individual Championship was held in 1892 as part of the North of Ireland Chess Congress. After 1892 there were five further championships before the series petered out. J.J. O'Hanlon won the sixth championship in 1902 and continued to hold the title until 1913, when he decided to resign as Ulster champion, upon winning the Irish Championship. The championship only resumed in 1933 after the Ulster Chess Union was formally established the previous year.
The Silver King
The UCU's oldest piece of silverware is the Ulster Trophy, more commonly known as the Silver King. It is awarded to the team winning Division One of the Belfast and District League.
Inter City Matches 1926-1936
Between 1926 and 1936 an annual match was played between the chess-players of the cities of Belfast and Dublin. There were only 9 encounters in those years - no match being played in either 1930 or 1933. Honours were even over the 9 matches, with 4 wins to Belfast, 4 wins to Dublin and 1 draw.
