PORTRUSH ATLANTIC CHESS FESTIVAL

Friday 12 and Saturday 13 October 2018

3 events:

Atlantic Simul

7:30pm to 9:30pm on Friday 12 October 2018. Tournament organiser/arbiter Brendan Jamison delivered a simul to 14 under 1400 rated players + parents of junior players. Free Entry

Left to right: Adam Fitzsimons, Dexter Harris and Eamon Malone

Deep in thought: Brian Fitzsimons is the second last to finish in the simul

Last Man Standing: Louie McConkey (left) against Brendan Jamison (right)

Last Man Standing: Louie McConkey (right) against Brendan Jamison (left)

Atlantic Rapidplay Championship

10:30am to 6:30pm on Saturday 13 October 2018. Two sections, senior and intermediate. Rated by Ulster Chess Union. Blue trophy for champion. Cup for intermediate champion.

Sergio Esteve Sanchez (left) against Danny Roberts (right)

Chris Hamill (left) against Martin Kelly (right)

Atlantic Blitz Championship

8pm to 10pm on Saturday 13 October 2018. One open section. 12 rounds. Rated by Ulster Chess Union. Small red trophy for winner. Gold medal for Intermediate winner. Free Entry

Louie McConkey (left) against Cian Suitor (right)

Steven Eachus (left) against Ross Harris (right)

Louie McConkey (left) against Brian Fitzsimons (right)

8 year olds Blake Harris (left) against Skyla McConkey (right)

10 year old Adam Fitzsimons (left) against Kevin Fagan (right)

Ross Harris (left) against Rachel Eachus(right)

EVENT REPORT

Intro/Atlantic Blitz

Featuring three events spread over the Friday and Saturday, 41 players attended the inaugural mini chess festival at the Portrush Atlantic Hotel. We welcomed 7 females, of which 8 year old Skyla McConkey scooped a silver medal as the top female in the Friday night simul. Meanwhile, her 14 year old brother Louie McConkey was awarded a medal for ‘Last Man Standing’ after an incredible performance. The only undefeated player was 10 year old Dexter Harris who secured an impressive draw which earned him a gold medal. In the end, Brendan Jamison scored 13.5/14 but was very impressed by the standard of play, especially in terms of youth chess which is developing an at incredible pace. In particular, Steven Eachus who brought his three daughters along to compete - Rachel, Steffanie and Ellen, all of whom contributed so much positive energy and enthusiasm.

Atlantic Rapidplay

With 30 minutes on the clock per player, the intermediate championship was a closely contested battle by the under 1400 rated players. We were delighted to see Mary Dobbs win the tournament with 5/6, defeating Martin Kelly in Round 6, who also ended on 5/6 but came second on tie-breaks. Martin actually delivered a tournament performance rating (TPR) of 1825 which is quite incredible and bodes well for his upcoming league campaign as the much loved Director of Belfast South Chess Club. While Mary took the champion’s cup she kindly donated her £45 prize to be used for our expanding youth chess. Sincere thanks for this generous donation Mary! Other prizes in this section were awarded to Dexter Harris (4.5/6) for the Under 1100 Grading Prize after a TPR of 1673, John Sweeney (4.5/6) for the Under 800 Grading Prize with a TPR of 1253 and Best Newcomer Award was presented to 8 year old Cian Suitor (3/6), with a TPR of 898. Cian was bursting with happiness all day long and constantly making everyone smile in the playing hall.

Meanwhile, in the senior section, rapidplay supremo Sergio Esteve Sanchez (5/6) was awarded the champion’s trophy after securing 4 wins and 2 draws. Second place went to Danny Roberts (4.5/6) and his team captain Mark Newman (3.5/6) won the Under 1600 Grading Prize with a TPR of 1773 and finished joint third alongside two other exceptional strong players, Ross Harris (TPR 1734) and Eamon Malone (TPR 1714).

Atlantic Blitz

This was run as one open section with 12 rounds. Damian Marchlewicz (1924) finished on 11.5/12 to win the little gold trophy, with his brother Kamil Marchlewicz securing second place with 11/12. John Bradley delivered an excellent performance to take 3rd place with 9/12. Nial Troughton ended on 8.5/12 to lift a gold medal as the Intermediate Blitz Champion. Congratulations to all the winners and a giant thank you to all the parents who brought their children along to compete. The buzz in the room was amazing and everyone really enjoyed the weekend.

FULL LIST OF AWARDS

Atlantic Blitz Prizes:

Blitz Champion: Gold trophy awarded to Damian Marchlewicz (11.5/12)

Intermediate Blitz Champion (Under 1400): Gold medal awarded to Nial Troughton (8.5/12)

Atlantic Rapidplay Prizes:

Rapidplay Champion: Blue Trophy + £60 awarded to Sergio Esteve Sanchez (5/6)

2nd Place: £45 awarded to Danny Roberts (4.5/6)

Under 1600 Grading Prize: £30 awarded to Mark Newman (3/6)

Intermediate Champion: Silver Cup + £45 awarded to Mary Dobbs (5/6)

2nd Place £35: Martin Kelly (5/6)

Under 1100 Grading Prize of £20 awarded to Dexter Harris (4.5/6)

Unrated 800 Grading Prize of £20 awarded to John Sweeney (4.5/6)

Best Newcomer Award: Gold medal presented to 8 year old Cian Suitor (3/6)

Atlantic Simul Awards:

Brendan Jamison scored 13.5/14 in a 14 player simul.

10 year old Dexter Harris was awarded a gold medal as the only undefeated player.

14 year old Louie McConkey won a silver medal for being the ‘last man standing’.

8 year old Skyla McConkey was the top female player from a field of 5 females.

ATTENDEES:

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP (UNDER 1400)

EVENT TITLE: Atlantic Rapidplay Championship

DATE: Saturday October 13, 2018

START TIME: 10:15am to 10:30am for payment of entry fees. Round 1 at 10:45am.

END TIME: 6:30pm (Prize-giving at 6:20pm).

ENTRY FEES: £10 per player. £5 for under 18 year olds.

ARBITER: Brendan Jamison

FORMAT: 6 rounds. 2 sections: Senior and Intermediate.

RATINGS: All games will be rated by Ulster Chess Union [UCU].

TIME CONTROL: 30 minutes per player for all the moves therefore each game will last a maximum of 1 hour.

PRIZES: Prizes will be determined on the day after all money is received from entry fees.

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 automactially lose the game therefore always remember to have your phone switched off.   

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. The reason that this new rule is being introduced is because it is extremely disruptive to the entire playing hall when a player wanders in late and shuffles about to find their board and the latecomer can often be heard issuing appolgies/excuses to the arbiter and their opponent, both of which are further distractions to players at nearby boards. For rapidplay and blitz tournaments, we request that ALL PLAYERS TAKE THEIR SEATS 2 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING TIME.

LOCATION: Castle Suite, Ground floor, Portrush Atlantic Hotel, 73 Main Street, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8BN 

CAR PARKING: The hotel has a car park for about 10 spaces at the rear of hotel (entrance on Mark Street) but it is on a 'first come, first served' basis. However, on-street parking is free. There is also a large public car park overlooking the ocean on Lansdowne Crescent which is free and is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel.

REGISTRATION: By registering, you are hereby agreeing to the above terms/conditions/rules of the tournament so please read them carefully. Please email B. Jamison at playchessni@gmail.com by noon on Thursday October 11, 2018. Entries after 12 noon will not be accepted. Entries through other people will not be accepted so please make direct contact.

REMEMBER: When emailing, please state if you will be participating in all three events or only the Saturday rapidplay.

SATURDAY TIMETABLE:

Venue: Portrush Atlantic Hotel, 73 Main Street, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8BN 

Brendan Jamison outside the entrance to the Portrush Atlantic Hotel, 73 Main Street, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8BN 

Portrush East Strand. This is a 3 minute walk from the front of the hotel. Photographed on Friday 25 May 2018

Venue: Portrush Atlantic Hotel, 73 Main Street, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8BN

Venue: Portrush Atlantic Hotel, 73 Main Street, Portrush, County Antrim, BT56 8BN