NEWRY RAPIDPLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019

Saturday February 2, 2019

11:00am to 5:30pm

This event is FIDE rated

Round 1 will begin at 11:15am sharp

Kindly sponsored by

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

"We were delighted to launch the first ever rapidplay chess championships in Newry, acting as a celebration of the recent affliation of the Ulster Chess Union [UCU] with the Irish Chess Union [ICU]. Press attended the event along with representatives from the UCU and leading players from the ICU. The tournament was held in the Bell Gallery on the first floor of the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre and was kindly sponsored by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council" - Brendan Jamison, UCU Tournament Director

Tournament Report

by Assistant Arbiter John Bradley

52 players flocked to Newry from across Ireland, both North and  South, on a very cold February morning. There was a great turnout from Omagh (with 10 players);4 from nearby Armagh, 6 from Dublin, 5 from Bangor, 2 from Portadown, 3 from Hillsborough, 2 from Enniskillen, as well as a large contingent from several Belfast clubs.

These consisted of many experienced battle hardened veterans but it was also great to see many young players making their tournament debuts. The 25 minutes each player Rapidplay format maybe does not suit some players, but it does lead to some very exciting finales.

There were some notable competitors in top seed 19 year old Irish Olympiad player FM  Conor O'Donnell (2205) from Gonzaga Chess Club, Dublin and highly rated newcomers Rasmus Jorgensen (2065) from Denmark and Kamil Szulc (1582) from Poland.   

There were 3 sections: Senior >1500 (16 players), Intermediate 1100-1500 (12 players) and Junior <1100 (24 players).        

In the Senior section the winner, on 5.5/6, was fourth seed Gabor Horvath (Strand CC, Belfast) with a fantastic unbeaten performance, achieving a TPR of 2267. Runner up, scoring 5/6 and also unbeaten with an equally brilliant TPR of 2223, was eight seed Danny Roberts (Civil Service CC, Belfast). Both of these players beat the top seed Conor O'Donnell. The Under 1700 grading prize went to David Hill (Strand CC, Belfast) scoring 3/6.

In the Intermediate section the winner, on 5/6, was 16 year old James Wong (Strand CC, Belfast), with a TPR 395 points greater than his rating. Runner up, scoring 4.5/6, was Adrian Gilmore (Omagh CC). The Under 1150 grading prize went to Aaron Wafflart (Strand CC). A measure of how competitive this section was that no player survived unbeaten.

In the Junior section the winner, on 5/6, was Paul Anderson (Ballynafeigh CC, Belfast). Runner up, on tie-break, also scoring 5/6 was Brian Fitzsimmons (Strand CC). It was a double celebration for Brian on Saturday as it was also his birthday but he was keeping that score a secret. The Under 850 grading prize went Tom Johnson (Omagh CC), who came all the way from Enniskillen.

There was also a special prize for the top female player (out of  a magnificent entry of 7 players) which was won by 10 year old Lucy Bueckert from Dublin.

This was certainly the most competitive section - going into the last round 5 players were vying for top place. As in the Intermediate section, each player lost at least one game.

LIST OF 10 PRIZE-WINNERS

Newry Rapidplay Champion:  Gabor Horvath (5.5/6) from Strand Chess Club, Belfast

2nd Place: Danny Roberts (5/6) from Civil Service Chess Club, Belfast

Under 1700 Grading Prize: David Hill (3/6) from Strand Chess Club, Belfast

Newry Rapidplay Intermediate Champion: 16 year old James Wong (5/6) from Strand Chess Club, Belfast

Intermediate 2nd Place: Adrian Gilmore (4.5/6) from Omagh Chess Club

Under 1150 Grading Prize: Aaron Wafflart (3/6) from Strand Chess Club, Belfast

Newry Rapidplay Junior Champion: Paul Anderson (5/6) from Ballynafeigh Chess Club, Belfast

Junior 2nd Place: Brian Fitzsimons (5/6) from Strand Chess Club, Belfast

Under 850 Grading Prize: Tom Johnston (4/6) from Omagh Chess Club

Top Female Player: 10 year old Lucy Bueckert (3.5/6) from Dublin

ARBITERS:

Senior & Intermediate Sections:

Chief Arbiter: Ross Harris(UCU President)

Assistant Arbiter: Evan Elwood

Junior Section:

Chief Arbiter Brendan Jamison (UCU Tournament Director)

Assistant Arbiters: Adam Rushe and John Bradley

52 ENTRANTS:

SENIOR SECTION

INTERMEDIATE SECTION (1100 to 1500 - subject to change, depending on number of entries)

JUNIOR SECTION (under 1100 - subject to change, depending on number of entries)

EVENT TITLE: Newry Rapidplay Championships 2019

DATE: Saturday February 2, 2019

START TIME: 10:45am to 11am for check-in / payment of entry fees. Round 1 at 11:15am

END TIME: 5:30pm (Prize-giving at 5:25pm).

REGISTRATION:

Emailing to register means that you have read the information below and agree to abide by the rules. Please email Ross Harris or Brendan Jamison at playchessni@gmail.com by 12 noon on Monday January 28, 2019. Entries after 12 noon will not be accepted. Entries through other people will not be accepted so please make direct contact. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE HOST VENUE HAS PLACED A LIMIT OF 50 PLAYERS IN THE PLAYING ROOM

ENTRY FEES:

£10 per player for ICU and UCU members.

£5 for under 18 year olds.

£5 for students.

All entry fees will be redistributed as prizes

Total prize fund = £400

PRIZES:

Senior Section

Champion: £100

2nd Place: £70

Grading Prize: £20

Intermediate Section:

Champion: £60

2nd Place: £40

Grading Prize: £20

Junior Section:

Champion: £40

2nd Place: £30

Grading Prize: £20

CHIEF ARBITERS: Ross Harris (Senior + Intermediate) & Brendan Jamison (Junior)

FORMAT: 6 rounds. 3 sections: Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

TIME CONTROL: 25 minutes per player for all the moves therefore each game will last a maximum of 50 minutes.

TIE 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.

Remember FIDE rules about mobile phones is very strict. If your phone makes a noise during the game, you will automatically lose the game therefore always remember to have your phone switched off. If you are a doctor on call, please notify Arbiter in advance.

PUNCTUALITY: Players who arrive at their board after their clock has been started will receive a strike against their name. Even if it is 10 seconds after the clock has been started, you will still be marked down as late. If this continues for a third time in the same tournament, you will be disqualified. For rapidplay chess tournaments, we request that ALL PLAYERS TAKE THEIR SEATS 2 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING TIME.

LOCATION: Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, 1A Bank Parade, Newry, BT35 6HP

Playing hall: the Bell Gallery

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