August 2024 FIDE NI rating report

By Brendan Jamison. The 1st August FIDE rating list covers 5 Northern Ireland tournaments that were held over the past 5 weeks and were rated on 31st July 2024.

The 1st August FIDE rating list covers the following 5 Northern Ireland tournaments that were held over the past 5 weeks and were rated on 31st July 2024:

Bangor Aurora Summer Blitz

Sunshine Blitz at Ards Arts Centre

Bangor Castle Park Summer Blitz

Bangor Towerview ‘Teen Challenge’ Charity Blitz - 25th July

Bangor Club Masters Rapid Championship - 27th July

Please note the Lisburn Summer Rapidplay (charity event for Crohn’s Disease) was held on Saturday 27th July but not submitted to the Irish Chess Union [ICU] in time to be rated in this cycle. It is hoped to appear on the 1st September rating list.

On the subject of the ICU, the wider chess community should be aware that we can only run FIDE rated events through the ICU and the ICU has to pay a fee to FIDE for every single player in a FIDE-rated tournament. Therefore, as the new season approaches on 1st September, to maintain a healthy relationship with the ICU to continue to host our FIDE rated requests, it is important that Northern Ireland tournament organisers, arbiters and clubs directors (working collectively as a team in our shared goal to deliver high-standard FIDE-rated events) strive to ensure the majority of entrants in our FIDE competitions are paid-up members of the ICU. It is also a stipulation of FIDE that anyone playing in a FIDE-rated tournament should be a member of their National Federation, which in our case is the ICU.

To pay your ICU fees for the 2024/2025 season, please pay online through the ICU website from 1st September 2024 at https://www.icu.ie/shop

If you are only playing UCU league chess (which is not FIDE rated) then you only need to renew your UCU membership for the new season.

SUMMER GAINS

Northern Ireland’s highest rated active player, Mandar Tahmankar (2100 FIDE classic), rises again in his speed chess ratings with his rapid increasing to 2053 and his blitz to 2020. Mandar remains a great inspiration to the younger players and we thank him for participating in so many of our events to raise the standard and allow the other players to gain such valuable experience against him. It is also wonderful to see his 10 year old son Advait competing regularly and he’s now gained a FIDE rapid and blitz rating, very well done!

Looking at today’s FIDE rating list, some of our younger players made significant leaps into the 1900s, with 16 year old Caleb McClean hitting 1926 with both his rapid and blitz ratings. Given his exceptional rate of development, he may break 2000 before the end of 2024. Similarly, Adam Rushe jumped to 1903 with his FIDE blitz rating. Meanwhile, 11 year old Ethan Cole rises to 1870 with his FIDE classic rating, an incredible achievement as he continues to skyrocket!

Congratulations to 5 more players making a FIDE rating debut today:

Declan McKee (Belfast City Chess, Royal Ave) makes his FIDE rapid debut at 1776

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2527960

Rory McConnell (No Club) makes his FIDE rapid debut at 1668

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2533197

10 year old Advait Tahmankar (No Club) makes his FIDE rapid debut at 1595 and his FIDE blitz debut at 1514

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2520826

Micheal Alangara (Bangor Chess Club) makes his FIDE rapid debut at 1556 and FIDE blitz at 1477

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2533111

17 year old Jude Dunne (Bangor Chess Club) makes his FIDE blitz debut at 1444

https://ratings.fide.com/profile/2525020

UPCOMING FIDE RATED EVENTS: