UCU Web 2014
Caro Kan - Panov attack
At Mark Newman's suggestion I am sending the following game for publication as we consider it both interesting and entertaining. I have attached my notes and hope Chris Armstrong will add his comments on the game. Although the game was agreed drawn for several reasons - not least because of its complexity and time pressure - we think it is a double-edged position. Hope you enjoy!
Autumn Tournament Kicks Off
The latest Autumn tournament hosted by Belfast South started last Monday. After the UCU Master event held over the weekend, the turnout was understandably "meagre". There were plenty of new faces at the Masters and adding their names to list of the nearby QUB League Team - this regular tournament gives ample opportunity for the new guys to sharpen their online-technique into successful over-the-board play. The old guard had better watch out.
BS Monday Tournament
Belfast South host the regular Autumn and Winter Tournaments every Monday evening at the Bankers Club on the Malone Road, Belfast. The competition run from October through till March with a variety of cash prizes including "Best Game"; this is a "flexible" tournament - competitors do not need to play every week.
Rookie Speaks Out
After losing 6-1 to Muldoon's last time around, Belfast South's A-Team played above their rankings. Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Kelly's Heroes stride ahead in division 2 as the pun count rockets.
Just for Pun
After 2 encouraging results against Ballynafeigh 2 and Muldoon's 1, the "white van men" fell down to earth with an almighty bump last night against a team we previously beat 5.5-1.5 ! Meanwhile over at the Pavilion, Kelly's Heroes got a cool reception from NICS.
Lavery Snaffles "Best Game" Prize Again
Robert Lavery was awarded the "Best Game" prize again after this season Winter series in the 3rd Belfast South Monday Tournament. Controller Neil Green explains...
Monday Tournament Races to a Close
With only a few weeks to go the tournament is reaching a climax, as players not only have to play a minimum of 10 games but also play at least twice in the last 3 weeks.
3rd Belfast South Tournament results
Last Monday, 23rd March, saw the finale of the 3rd Belfast South Tournament
NICS vs Lindores 2
Lindores 1 are in self-destruct mode; are their juniors any better. Meanwhile, despite the addition of some Lagan ronin, NICS are managing their own demise pretty well too.
Ballynafeigh 4 vs NICS
Photos from the match
Stormont Action
NICS entertained Muldoons on Thursday acting as hosts too for the Division 1 fixture between Lindores & Ballynafeigh. The two home teams have struggled to find form so far this season and it looked like another disastrous match for NICS; would Lindores fail as well to Division 1 challengers?
Alan Burns Grand Prix 2015
The Alan Burns Grand Prix starts on 14th December 2014
Poles Position
This season's NICS Grand Prix kicked off with their first Lackadaisical Rapidplay; 6 intense matches on Sunday afternoon. Great to see so many new faces and, as some wag noted, folks with strong links to Poland monopolised the honours!
Lindores vs NICS
NICS offer up their best squad yet and get shot down again
NICS Intense Rapidplay #2
The Alan Burns Grand Prix series continues on 1st March. Now in its second year, the NICS Rapidplays offer the chance for an excellent Sunday lunch followed by an afternoon of entertaining chess. Next up is an Intense tourney with as many games as we can manage in an afternoon.
Alan Burns Grandprix: NICS Intense Rapidplay
The Alan Burns Grandprix series for tournaments continues with its second event and intense rapidplay.
Third of the Four Alan Burns Tournaments
The Third in the series of four Alan Burns Tournaments. Was held on Sunday March 22nd.
Summer Tournament: Week 11
News Article with photos
Summer Chess School 2014
Photos and article form the Summer Chess School 2014
photos-culturenight-2014
photos-culturenight-2014
Summer Tournament: 2014 Week 15
Summer Tournament: 2014 Week 15
Belfast Culture Night 2014
Photos and article from Belfast Culture Night 2014
The Eglantine Summer Tournament 2014: Prize-Giving and mini Tournament
Photos and news item of The Eglantine Summer Tournament 2014: Prize-Giving and mini Tournament
The Belfast and District Leagues re-organised
Due to the unfortunate departure of the current holders of the Silver King, Fisherwick. The league controller has had to make some late changes to the fixtures. The league starts this coming week. We are looking forward to 21 weeks of chess battles. Ending week of March 31st.
Childrens Chess Champion Crowned
On October 4th this years series of Childrens Chess tournaments started at Methodist College. We had battleChess, Chess Puzzles, informal coaching and plenty of chess games. A form1 pupil Peter Todd (Bangor Grammar) won the Secondary school section and P5 Pheobe Patterson (home educated) won the Primary section.....The gauntlet has been thrown who out there can beat these champions?
Eddie Whiteside Library
The first books were loaned out of the new Eddie Whiteside Library at the Ulster Masters.
Ulster Masters 2014
Ulster Masters 2014
Childrens Chess Nov2014
Childrens Chess Nov2014 - news and photos
Belfast Culture Night. Cafe Chess Playing at Caffe Nero, 19 Lombard St. 19th September 4:00pm til late
Enjoy meeting potential new chess players. Play chess and enjoy the cafe experience. Share your enthusiasm for the game. At Caffe Nero, 19 Lombard St. September 19th 4:00pm til late. This is part of the Belfast annual Culture Night ( http://culturenightbelfast.com ). With lots of exciting public events celebrating culture.
simultaneous-feb2015
simultaneous-feb2015
ComórtasFichille2015
Irish Speaking Primary School Competition
Eglantine2015
Eglantine Summer Tournament 2015
Raymond Keene Bangor Simultaneous
Raymond Keene Bangor Simultaneous
Kruk returns from Tromso with WFM title
There was Ulster interest in the recent Chess Olympiad in Tromso as Ballynafeigh's Karina Kruk performed well for the Irish women's team.
B & D Leagues 2014/15 - Week 1
The Belfast & District Leagues are now underway for the 2014/15 season - despite the withdrawal of the Silver King holders Fisherwick, it looks set to be as competitive as ever.
B&D Leagues 14/15 week 2 - Things go south for Lindores
Lindores 1 may have been among the favourites to lift the Silver King this season, but their Week 2 opponents Belfast South 1 were in no mood to be intimidated and scored the result of the week with an upset win.
Ballynafeigh two good for Lindores
B&D Leagues 14/15 week 3 - Lindores 1's Silver King ambitions received another blow after another shock defeat - this time at Ballynafeigh 2. Meanwhile, "Kelly's Heroes" maintain their lead in the John Strawbridge Cup.
Fruithill ripe for the picking
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 5) In the only Division 1 fixture to go ahead this week, Muldoons 1 cemented their lead with a dominant win over Fruithill. In Division 2, Lindores 2 closed the gap with a whitewash of Ballynafeigh 4.
The underdogs bite back
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 8) This week saw Ballynafeigh 1 and Belfast South 2 extend their leads in their respective divisions, but the big story was the success of Craig Kelly (895), Ross Smith (983) and Owen McEvoy (1066) against significantly higher-rated opposition.
Coffee-house men too hot to handle
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 9) For the first time in a long time, Lindores 1 look like a threat in the title race after a whitewash of Belfast South 1. Their second team were also victorious, narrowing the gap at the top of Division 2.
B&D Leagues 14/15 week 10
B&D Leagues 14/15 week 10
A happy new year for Ballynafeigh 1
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 11) League leaders Ballynafeigh 1 got 2015 off to a good start as they duly defeated Bangor, extending their lead to 13 points as Lindores 1 had a free week. However, third-place Muldoons 1 kept the leaders within sight with a whitewash of Ballynafeigh 2.
Ballynafeigh 1 increase the gap
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 12) Ballynafeigh 1 took advantage of Muldoons 1's slip-up with victory over Lindores 1, tightening their grip on the lead in Division 1. In Division 2, Ballynafeigh 3 have "Kelly's Heroes" in their sights after a convincing win over NICS.
"Kelly's Heroes" keep their noses in front in Strawbridge chase
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 13) The big story of the week was in Division 2, where Belfast South 2 left Ballynafeigh Community House on Tuesday night with their five-point lead (and match in hand) intact, but it could have been different as Ballynafeigh 3 squandered opportunities to close the gap.
A fruitful night for Ballynafeigh 1
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 14) Despite conceding a surprise draw on board 1, Ballynafeigh 1 extended their lead to 20 points as the Belfast and District Leagues reach the two-thirds mark. Meanwhile, Belfast South 2 edged further ahead in Division 2.
Ballynafeigh 1 hand on the Silver King
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 15) Ballynafeigh 1 were the only one of the top three sides to win this week - surely they cannot be caught now? "Kelly's Heroes" are also a step closer to the John Strawbridge Cup despite a surprisingly unconvincing win over Ballynafeigh 5.
Ballynafeigh 5 win - cue the flying pigs
(B&D League 2014/15 Week 17) At the 17th attempt, Ballynafeigh 5 finally win a match as they defeat Ballynafeigh 4. In Division 1, Fruithill improve their survival chances with a win against Bangor.
Success for Ulster players at Bunratty
Over 30 Ulster players travelled to Co. Clare to compete in the world-famous Bunratty Chess Festival. Three of them returned with prizes, and several others put in good performances.
Ballynafeigh 1 win Silver King
(B&D League 2014/15 Week 18) The Silver King's destination was settled on Thursday night as leaders Ballynafeigh 1 defeated Bangor while in a rescheduled match from earlier in the season, second-placed Muldoons 1 were beaten by Lindores 1. In Division 2, although Ballynafeigh 3 made some inroads into Belfast South 2's lead, it looks like too little, too late.
Ballynafeigh 1 finally beaten
(B&D League 2014/15 Week 19) It came too late to alter the destination of the Silver King, but champions-elect Ballynafeigh 1 fell to defeat against Lindores 1. In Division 2, "Kelly's Heroes" continued their march towards the John Strawbridge Cup with victory over QUB.
"Kelly's Heroes" secure Strawbridge Cup
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 20) The new home of the John Strawbridge Cup was confirmed this week as Belfast South 2 defeated their nearest rivals Ballynafeigh 3. They will (barring any changes in league structure) swap divisions with Fruithill, whose 5-0 defeat at the hands of Lindores 1 consigned them to last place in Division 1.
Champions make heavy work of Fruithill
(B&D Leagues 2014/15 Week 21) With nothing of consequence left to play for, the final week of league play threw up a number of surprising results on individual boards, although overall the matches went according to the form book. Ballynafeigh 1 were held to a 3-2 win over bottom side Fruithill, even though the visitors defaulted on board 5.
Spring Rating Lists Issues
Latest ratings have been computed now the League has finished. Including over 1300 games in more than 11 local & foreign events, 136 players get a new rating with 10 new players inducted.
Tournament Photos
Photographs of previous tournaments
League Rules and Squad Lists
Belfast and District League rules and squad lists for the 2014 - 2015 season
Williamson Shield
The Williamson Shield will this year be held in The Pavillion Sports Facility at Stormont Estate over the weekend of 3rd -4th January.
Omagh Rapidplay 2014
The Inaugural Omagh Rapidplay was held on Saturday 22nd November 2014 and was a fantastic weekend of chess for all involved.
Ulster Rapidplay and City of Belfast Championships
Both the Ulster Rapidplay and the City of Belfast Championships will take place in the month of April
City of Belfast Championships 2015
A round up of the 2015 City of Belfast Championships .
Ulster Rapidplay 2015
Ulster Rapidplay 2015
2014 - 2015 League Board Prizes
Congratulations to all the Board Prize winners for the 2014 - 2015 league season.
Ulster Championships 2014 - report after day 2
The Ulster Championships are being held over the August Bank Holiday weekend at the Belfast Europa Hotel.
Ulster Masters 2014
The Ulster Masters 2014 is a weekend event taking place at the Belfast Boat Club on 18th and 19th October 2014. We look forward to seeing you there!
Omagh Rapidplay 2014
The Inaugural Omagh Rapidplay is a one day tournament taking place on 22nd November 2014.
4th Ulster Blitz Championship
The 4th Ulster Blitz Championships will be held this year at the Belfast Boat Club on Sunday 28th December 2014. Come on down for some exciting games of chess!
Williamson Shield 2015
The Williamson Shield will this year be held in The Pavillion Sports Facility at Stormont Estate over the weekend of 3rd -4th January.
City of Belfast Championships 2015
The 2015 City of Belfast Championships are being held on the 11-12th April in the Pavilion Sports Facility at Stormont Estate
Ulster Rapidplay Championship 2015
The 2015 Ulster Rapidplay Championships will be held in the Ballynageigh Community Centre in Belfast.
Kellys-vs-NICS
Photos from Kellys Heroes vs NICS, 18/02/2015
BFeigh5-vs-NICS
Photos from Ballynafeigh 5 vs NICS, 27/01/2015
Muldoons vs NICS
Photos from Muldoons vs NICS, 19/01/2015
NICS vs Muldoons
League match: 26th March 2015
Ballynafeigh 3 vs NICS
League match: 10th March 2015
NICS Lackadaisical #1
The first in the series of NICS rapidplays contributing to the Alan Burns Grand Prix. Enjoy Sunday Lunch followed by entertaining chess.
NICS Intense #2
The second in the this season's series of NICS rapidplays contributing to the Alan Burns Grand Prix. Enjoy Sunday Lunch followed by intense, entertaining chess - as many rounds as we can fit in.
NICS Lackadaisical #3
The third in the series of NICS rapidplays contributing to the Alan Burns Grand Prix. Enjoy Sunday Lunch followed by entertaining chess.
NICS Intense #4
The last of this seasons NICS tournament series ends with a bang: an intense afternoon of 8, 15 minute rounds. This one will conclude the Alan Burns Grand-Prix for 2014/15 - the winner will be rewarded on the day.
Current membership list
Please check that you are on the current membership list and are eligible to play in tournaments.
Current membership list
List of all current UCU members
3rd Belfast South Tournament results
This open tournament which is now well established on the UCU calendar attracted players from different clubs, including Ballynafeigh, Lindores, QUB, Muldoons, Bombardier and Civil Service, as well as Belfast South and this variety was reflected in the prize winners. Prizes were awarded on the overall percentage of individual games won, drawn or lost, with a minimum of 10 games to be played , and at least 2 played within the last 3 weeks of the tournament. Players were also grouped into two grading bands ( under 1300 , 1301 and above) for grading prizes. Further interest was generated by awarding two Best Game prizes which also featured on the UCU website. Prize-winners were : Overall winner: Cathal Murphy ( Belfast South) - 77% Runner-up: Chris Cao ( QUB) - 75% Grading Band (Under 1300): Geoff Hindley ( Civil Service) - 68% Grading Band ( Over 1300): Robert Lavery ( Ballynafeigh) - 63% Best Game ( pre-Xmas): Robert Lavery ( Ballynafeigh) Best Game ( post- Xmas): Chris Kelly ( Ballynafeigh) Overall winner was Cathal Murphy with 77%
Kelly v Woodfield.docx
The 2nd Best Game prize was awarded for this attacking gem by Chris Kelly which is featured below. Notes by Neil Green
