Ulster Chess Union News: January 1998

Chess Ireland web site http://ireland.iol.ie/~jghurley

Results

Nortel Ulster Senior Championships, 27th-30th December 1997: Equal 1st M Holmes, J McDonnell 5.5; T Clarke, S Scannell 4.5; J Nicholson (shared top grading prize) , S Campbell (shared top grading prize), J Brown (second grading prize) 4; A Skelton, T Douglas, N Graham, D Murtagh, S Moore 3.5; D Mallaghan, P McLoughlin, B O'Neill 3; M Kelly 2; D Wilkinson, A Douglas 1.5.

Ulster Intermediate Championships, 13th-14th December 1997: N Graham 5.5; G Annesley 4.5; B O'Neill 4; J Masterson (grading prize), R Henderson, W McGrattan 3.5; A Burns, S McConaghy, S Moore, B Jaffa 3; J Strawbridge, B Jamison, N Fisher, C Dunleavy 2.5; R Proctor 1; P McLoughlin 0.5.

Ulster Junior Championships, 13th-14th December 1997: D Truesdale 6; J Canning 4.5; A Parker 3.5; A Beckett 3 (grading prize); S Scullion, A Elliot, B Shaw, F Marlow 2.5; S Elliot 2. Kilkenny Congress, Nov 30-Dec 1

League tables


Division 1    P  W  D  L Pts   Division 2   P  W  D  L Pts    Division 3   P  W  D  L Pts
----------                     ----------                     ----------
N Belfast A   4  4  0  0 21.5  NorTel       4  3  1  0 21.5   Shorts B     4  4  0  0 23.5
Newtownards   5  2  2  1 19    Bangor A     4  3  0  1 17.5   Fisherwick C 5  3  0  2 20.5
Malachians    4  2  0  2 14    Fisherwick B 3  2  1  0 15     Bangor C     4  2  1  1 15
Fisherwick A  4  1  1  2 13    Shorts A     4  2  0  2 14.5   St Agnes B   4  2  1  1 15
CIYMS A       3  0  1  2  7    Bangor B     4  0  1  3  8.5   Carrick      5  1  0  4 12.5
Civil Service 3  0  0  3  4.5  Magherafelt  3  0  2  1  7.5   Post Office  4  2  0  2 12
N Belfast B   3  1  1  1  1    St Agnes A   4  0  1  3  6.5   CIYMS B      4  0  0  4  6.5

Caledonian Masters - Final IM Norm for Bryan Kelly

Monday 15th to Friday 19th December, 1997. 1st D Gormally (IM 2425) 6.5/9; 2-3rd K Arkell (GM 2480), B Kelly (IRL 2390); 4-7th P Lehtivaara (FIN 2370), L McShane (IM 2455), Ri Bates (IM 2345), C Crouch (IM 2375). With this third norm Bryan needs a rating of 2400 to secure the IM title. Recent performances should achieve this.

UCU Year Book

The UCU year book 1996/97 is now available from David Houston - two pounds fifty pence direct from David (or add 50p for delivery by post). David Houston - 53 Osborne Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6LF, 01232 660620.

Free entry to ICU tournaments!

The new ICU Committee are keen to restore links with Ulster Chess players. To give substance to this sentiment they are offering free entry to selected tournaments in 1998/99 to Ulster players who join the ICU in 1997/98. The tournaments this applies to are: Kilkenny, St Benildus, Bunratty. To become a member of the Irish Chess Union, send 18 pounds (includes subscription to Irish Chess Journal, six issues per year) to IRISH CHESS UNION, 66 Kincora Grove, Clontarf, Dublin 3 giving your name, grading (if any) and address.

New format for tournament

A number of players remarked favourably about the two day format of the Ulster Intermediate Championship. The UCU has decided to adopt this format for the Williamson Shield. Your comment is welcome.

Chess Calendar 97/98

Bold entries show events which have been confirmed. The rest were drawn up by comparison with last year. I will list definite dates as they become available.

I'm keen to get as many people as possible reading this newsheet. Please let others know. Subscription costs 4 pounds (cheques payable to Ulster Chess Union) from Geoffrey Collins, 94 Newtownbreda Road, Belfast, BT8 4BP, phone 640409. News stories welcome.