in association with Ulster Chess Union presents

GROOMSPORT RAPIDPLAY 2019

Thursday 21st February 2019

7:45pm to 10:45pm

Players from USA and Poland flock to Groomsport for speed chess competition

Tournament report by Arbiter Brendan Jamison

On Thursday 21 February 2019, a special gathering of players arrived for the Groomsport Rapidplay Chess Championships. With 15 minutes each on the clock, it was an exciting 5 rounds of super-fast mental gymnastics.

During his introduction, the arbiter extended a special welcome to two Polish guest players, 11 year old Adam Gawroński who won 2nd place in the Junior section and his 9 year old brother Grzegorz who scooped the certificate for ‘Top Visiting Player’. The brothers had registered for the tournament while still in Poland, before travelling to Northern Ireland for a week’s vacation.

The international flavour of local chess events always creates an extra buzz and the club was delighted to also host two players from Michigan, USA. Abraham Lorber won 2nd place in the Intermediate and his 8 year old son Zev brought lots of positive energy to the Junior section as he competed in his first ever tournament.

Another key goal of the club is to keep it family-orientated and this drive was reflected in 3 awards won by the Eachus family. Father Steven scooped 2nd place in the Senior Section while his 18 year old daughter Rachel was awarded ‘Top Bangor Newcomer’ and 16 year old Ellen won the certificate for ‘Top Female’.

Two other brothers won prizes, 9 year old chess prodigy Daniel Toogood finished on 3.5/5 to win 3rd place in the Junior while 12 year old Ben Toogood won 3rd in the Intermediate, putting many of the adult players under a lot of pressure. Ben is the Ulster Under 14 Champion and no doubt should take credit for helping Daniel to blossom into a great young player.

Two gentlemen from Lisburn Chess Club delivered excellent performances with rapidplay supremo Stephen Cullen winning 3rd place in the Senior section with 4/5 and Neil Gardner was crowned Intermediate Champion in a very competitive category.

Meanwhile, all the way from Newry, Pat Coleman was the star of the night, delivering a perfect score of 5/5 and an outstanding tournament performance rating (TPR) of 2353.

Bangor player Sam Bowman won the Junior Championship with an excellent score of 4/5, the culmination of great improvement over the past two months.

Two promising up-and-coming young talents at the club also shinned on the night, both playing games with brilliant chess tactics, 13 year old Callum Magennis won ‘Best Teenager’ while Zach Williamson was awarded ‘Top Child Player’. Of the 14 prizes awarded, 8 went to youth chess players aged 9-18 and this bodes well for the future of chess in the region.

Players of all ages and all abilities are welcome at Bangor Chess Club and all chess events across Northern Ireland.

List of all prize-winners:

Champion Pat Coleman (5/5)

2nd Place Steven Eachus (4/5)

3rd Place Stephen Cullen (4/5)

Intermediate Champion Neil Gardner (2.5/5)

Intermediate 2nd Place  Abraham Lorber (2/5)

Intermediate 3rd Place  Ben Toogood (2/5)

Junior Champion Sam Bowman (4/5)

Junior 2nd Place Adam Gawronski (4/5)

Junior 3rd Place Daniel Toogood (3.5/5)

Top Female Player Ellen Eachus (3/5)

Top Teenage Player Callum Magennis (3/5)

Top Child Player Zach Williamson (2/5)

Top Club Newcomer  Rachel Eachus (2/5)

Top Visiting Player  Grzegorz Gawronski (3/5)

Zev Lorber (White) v Rachel Eachus (Black)

Ellen Eachus (Black) v Adam Gawronski (White)

Pat Coleman (White) v Walter Wilson (Black)

Senior + Intermediate (combined section): Final Scores

Junior: Final Scores

UCU Classic rating is used for players without a rapidplay rating

Players are ranked below with their UCU rapidplay ratings. If a player has no rapidplay rating, their classic rating (c) will be used. If a player has neither classic or rapidplay ratings, then a provisional rating (p) will be adopted based on league performances.

26 entrants

GROOMSPORT JUNIOR RAPIDPLAY CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (800 & Under)

LOCATION:

Bangor Chess Club, Groomsport Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR

TIMETABLE:

Check-in / pay entry fees: 7:30pm-7:35pm.

Round 1 - 7:45pm to 8:15pm

Round 2 - 8:20pm to 8:50pm

Round 3 - 8:55pm to 9:25pm

Round 4 - 9:30pm to 10:00pm

Round 5 - 10:05pm to 10:35pm

Prize-giving - 10:40pm to 10:45pm

5 rounds in total. The tournament will be completed by 10:45pm.

TRAVELLING BYES:

Players are permitted to take a half point travelling bye for round 1 and round 4. Any player unable to compete in round 5 will be scored zero (to avoid affecting those playing for a certificate in round 5). If you need a travelling bye, please inform Arbiter at point of registering.

SECTIONS:

Senior and Intermediate will be combined. Junior section (800 & Under) will run separetly.

Players rated between 801-1399 are eligible for the Intermediate prize certificates for 1st/2nd/3rd.

Junior prize certificates for 1st/2nd/3rd.

TIME CONTROL:

15 minutes per player. No increments. Each round will last approximately 30 minutes.

PRICE:

Free entry for members of Bangor Chess Club

£1 for non-members of Bangor Chess Club. This will be used to cover the cost of producing the 14 certificates.

ELIGIBILITY:

Because this is a UCU rated tournament, if you wish to play in the tournament, you must be a fully paid up member of the Ulster Chess Union or Bangor Chess Club. Visiting players from other countries may pay £1 without joining UCU.

CERTIFICATES:

14 certificates will be awarded for:

Champion

2nd Place

3rd Place

Intermediate Champion (highest score by a player rated 800-1399)

Intermediate 2nd Place (2nd highest score by a player rated 800-1399)

Intermediate 3rd Place (3rd highest score by a player rated 800-1399)

Junior Champion

Junior 2nd Place

Junior 3rd Place

Top Female Player (highest score by a female player)

Top Teenage Player (highest score by a player aged 13-19)

Top Child Player (highest score by a player aged 12 and under)

Top Club Newcomer (highest score by a member of Bangor Chess Club who is a newcomer to competitive chess in the 2018/2019 season)

Top Visiting Player (highest score by a non-member of Bangor Chess Club who is visiting the club)

BREAKS: For tie-breaks, players will be ranked based on their scores by Median Buchholz, followed if necessary by Buchholz and then Progressive Scores.

RULES: FIDE rules will apply. Touchmove will apply. The second illegal move will result in the immediate loss of the game, however, your opponent must announce when the first illegal move has been played and then once again announce the second illegal move has been played before claiming the win, provided the player still has mating material left on the board, otherwise only a draw can be claimed. If play continues, the opponent may not claim the win retrospectively.

If your opponent makes an illegal move, you are entitled to claim an extra 2 minutes on the clock. In such cases, immediately pause the clock and call the arbiter over.

Remember FIDE rules about mobile phones is very strict. If your phone makes a noise during the game (be it a text, phone call or any other audio distractation), you will automactially lose the game therefore always remember to have your phone switched off. If you are a doctor on call, please notify Arbiter in advance.

To register please email Brendan Jamison

Registration deadline: 12 noon on Tuesday 19th February 2019