The Alan Burns lacksidasicals form part of the regular Ulster Chess scene. Four of them contribute to four afternoons of exciting fighting chess. With a Grandprix run over the series to add extra excitement.

The next dates for your diaries are : Sunday 8th March, 19th April, 10th May.

With a brilliant time limit of 20 mins and 5 seconds - the blitz finish is prevented and you get more of a quality endgame.

The line up included Danny Roberts one of Ulsters top players and speed expert Damien Lavery and tough 3rd cede Richard Gould followed by a bunch of 1500 players. A quality line up.

As players arrived a couple par-took of the delicious lunch menu at the Pavilion - I setup and registered the players - would we have an odd no of players and I would have to play! - as luck or bad luck would have it ( I am not the best at fast chess) - I got to play.

Round 1

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name              Loc  Total

 1 Danny Roberts   1819 [0]      1:0    Robert Lavery     1570 [0]  
 2 Michael Sheerin 1541 [0]      1:0    Damien Lavery     1782 [0]  
 3 Richard Gould   1654 [0]      0:1    Conor Spackman    1406 [0]  
 4 Chris Dorrian   1400 [0]      1:0    Christopher Kelly 1591 [0]  
 5 Mark Newman     1587 [0]      1:0    Vincent O'Brien   1383 [0]  
 6 Joe Gunning     1300 [0]      0:1    David Jackson     1577 [0]  

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Round 1 and the race is on. a couple of upsets Michael Sheerin beats Damien Lavery. Conor Spackman took out Richard Gould and Chris Dorrian won against Christopher Kelly. Sometimes it takes the first round to get the brain neurons warmed up and firing on all cylinders.

Round 2

Results

No Name              Loc  Total  Result   Name          Loc  Total

 1 Michael Sheerin   1541 [1]      0:1    Danny Roberts 1819 [1]  
 2 Conor Spackman    1406 [1]     .5:.5   Mark Newman   1587 [1]  
 3 David Jackson     1577 [1]      0:1    Chris Dorrian 1400 [1]  
 4 Damien Lavery     1782 [0]      1:0    Robert Lavery 1570 [0]  
 5 Vincent O'Brien   1383 [0]      0:1    Richard Gould 1654 [0]  
 6 Christopher Kelly 1591 [0]     .5:.5   Joe Gunning   1300 [0]  

Conor Spackman gets a draw against Mark Newman. Chris Dorrian continues to upset by beating David Jackson. Joe Gunning gets a good draw against Christopher Kelly. Joe has had a break from chess and its good to see him back and enjoying the game, hes very solid and difficult to beat.

Round 3

Results

No Name          Loc  Total  Result   Name              Loc  Total

 1 Danny Roberts 1819 [2]      1:0    Chris Dorrian     1400 [2]  
 2 Mark Newman   1587 [1.5]    1:0    Damien Lavery     1782 [1]  
 3 David Jackson 1577 [1]      0:1    Conor Spackman    1406 [1.5]
 4 Richard Gould 1654 [1]     .5:.5   Michael Sheerin   1541 [1]  
 5 Robert Lavery 1570 [0]      0:1    Christopher Kelly 1591 [.5] 
 6 Joe Gunning   1300 [.5]     0:1    Vincent O'Brien   1383 [0]  

Danny Roberts continues his ownership of board one with three out of three - would anyone challenge for the lead? Damien mixes things up against Mark but with a bit of luck Mark wins. Conor Spackman continues todo well against higher rated players and beats David Jackson.

Round 4

Results

No Name              Loc  Total  Result   Name            Loc  Total

 1 Conor Spackman    1406 [2.5]   .5:.5   Danny Roberts   1819 [3]  
 2 Chris Dorrian     1400 [2]      0:1    Mark Newman     1587 [2.5]
 3 Christopher Kelly 1591 [1.5]   .5:.5   Richard Gould   1654 [1.5]
 4 Vincent O'Brien   1383 [1]      0:1    Michael Sheerin 1541 [1.5]
 5 Damien Lavery     1782 [1]      0:1    David Jackson   1577 [1]  
 6 Robert Lavery     1570 [0]      1:0    Joe Gunning     1300 [.5] 

A dent in the armour of that accurate play from Danny Roberts - Conor continues his disruption and gets a draw. Giving the shared lead going into round 5 with Danny Roberts and Mark Newman.

Round 5

Results

No Name            Loc  Total  Result   Name              Loc  Total

 1 Danny Roberts   1819 [3.5]   .5:.5   Mark Newman       1587 [3.5]
 2 Michael Sheerin 1541 [2.5]    1:0    Conor Spackman    1406 [3]  
 3 Richard Gould   1654 [2]      0:1    Chris Dorrian     1400 [2]  
 4 David Jackson   1577 [2]      0:1    Christopher Kelly 1591 [2]  
 5 Vincent O'Brien 1383 [1]      0:1    Robert Lavery     1570 [1]  
 6 Joe Gunning     1300 [.5]     0:1    Damien Lavery     1782 [1]  

Mark gets a draw against very tough opposition - with a little luck - against Danny  and they both share the lead. Michael Sheerin beats Conor Spackman gaining 3 place. Chris Dorrian gets a good win against Richard Gould.

A day of wonderful relaxing! Chess.

Standings

Place Name              Loc  Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

 1-2  Danny Roberts     1819 4         9.5  15.5   13.5
      Mark Newman       1587 4         8.0  13.0   12.5
  3   Michael Sheerin   1541 3.5       7.0  12.0    9.5
 4-6  Conor Spackman    1406 3         9.5  15.5   11.0
      Chris Dorrian     1400 3         9.0  15.0   10.0
      Christopher Kelly 1591 3         6.0   9.5    7.0
7-10  Richard Gould     1654 2         9.0  13.5    6.5
      David Jackson     1577 2         8.0  11.5    7.0
      Damien Lavery     1782 2         7.5  12.0    5.0
      Robert Lavery     1570 2         6.0  10.5    3.0
 11   Vincent O'Brien   1383 1         7.5  12.0    3.0
 12   Joe Gunning       1300 0.5       6.0  10.0    2.0

1st Place - Danny Roberts

2nd Place - Mark Newman

Grading Prize - Conor Spackman

Thanks to all the players for an excellent afternoon - see you at our next Lacksidasical on 8th March.