The afternoons of fun chess and puzzles that are the Childrens Chess: Hindley-Newman tournments combine to make up the Grandprix for the Elite Awards ceremony usually held in the beautiful surrounds of historic Stormont, We will start publishing standings in this after the second tournament of the 5 for the season. Players earn points per tournament and we collect their top 3 out of the five to set their standings.

Karina Campbell, Geoff Hindley and David Corr assisted in the running of the tournament. Many thanks.

We also thank the sponsors:

The afternoon starts with setup of rooms and placement of signs to the rooms of the event. As players register we hand out the puzzle sheets with pencils. We accept arrows on the diagram - and taking the optimisstic view we assume the correct order. These always provide an excellent opportunity to chat about chess and enjoy the beauty of a challenging puzzle. The sheets get collected about an 1hr before the end of the tournament. They are marked and handed back with the certificates. Everyone gets a cert - Gold/Silver and Bronze.

Secondary Puzzle Champion: Rithvik Deekonda

Primary Puzzle Solver Champion : Lorcan Rippon

Examples of the puzzles - have a go - the solutions can be found at the bottom of the page.

We had 25 players and ran one section. Each round followed the previous one with the clocks being set at 15mins each. We looked at fittng as many rounds in the afternoon - in the end we fitted 7 rounds of brilliant chess. We have a top group of chess players. Competing at all levels and challenging each other. An excellent environment for improving your chess.

I looked after the top boards. Geoff, Karina and David looked after the lower boards.

The Room fell into silent concentrated thought and the games were on.

Round 1

Results

No Name                         Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo        L6    [0]      1:0    Ben Guerrero       F1    [0]  
 2 Alessandro Serafino Grande   F2    [0]      1:0    Lorcan Rippon      P7    [0]  
 3 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam  F3    [0]      1:0    Aidan Spence       F1    [0]  
 4 Samudra Chakrabarti-Anjaria  P3    [0]      0:1    Peter Murphy       F3    [0]  
 5 Thomas Loughrey              F3    [0]      1:0    Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [0]  
 6 Alex Gardner                 P6    [0]      0:1    Ryan Anderson      L6    [0]  
 7 Peter Gamble                 L6    [0]      1:0    Matteo Grande      P5    [0]  
 8 Matthew Loughrey             P5    [0]      0:1    Saoirse Rippon     F3    [0]  
 9 Jonah Corr                   F4    [0]      1:0    Joseph Gardner     P4    [0]  
10 Alex McKeown                 P4    [0]      0:1    Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [0]  
11 Aharshi Banerjee             F2    [0]      1:0    Luke Spence        P3    [0]  
12 Erin Tiffney                 P3    [0]      0:1    Tom Busby          F2    [0]  
13 Noah Tiffney                 P4    [0]      1:0    BYE                           

by Swiss Perfect (TM)  www.swissperfect.com

Unfortunately the results dont reflect the complexities and challenges of each of the games. We have a group of very good players. With new faces who are challenging our regular players. One such player Jyuan is very good and a player who is enjoyable to watch. We also are fortunate to have some very young players such as Erin Tiffney, Luke Spence and Samudra Chakraabarti-Anjaria. I think it was Samudra's first tournament he chatted excitedly through-out the game - I allowed as it wasnt putting people off and his enthusiasm was getting a few smiles from other players. Unfortunately Samudra left after round 1. I encouraged his mum to bring him back at the next tournament for a few friendly games.

Round 2

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Saoirse Rippon     F3    [1]      0:1    Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [1]  
 2 Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [1]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [1]  
 3 Peter Murphy       F3    [1]      0:1    Jonah Corr                  F4    [1]  
 4 Tom Busby          F2    [1]      0:1    Thomas Loughrey             F3    [1]  
 5 Ryan Anderson      L6    [1]      1:0    Aharshi Banerjee            F2    [1]  
 6 Noah Tiffney       P4    [1]      0:1    Peter Gamble                L6    [1]  
 7 Ben Guerrero       F1    [0]      1:0    Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [1]  
 8 Lorcan Rippon      P7    [0]      1:0    Matthew Loughrey            P5    [0]  
 9 Aidan Spence       F1    [0]      1:0    Joseph Gardner              P4    [0]  
10 Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [0]      0:1    Alex McKeown                P4    [0]  
11 Luke Spence        P3    [0]      0:1    Alex Gardner                P6    [0]  
12 Matteo Grande      P5    [0]      1:0    Erin Tiffney                P3    [0]  

Jyuan and Krthikeya and Jonah continue to win their games. Also Thomas, Ryan and Peter leave round 2 with 2 points.

Round 3

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [2]      1:0    Ryan Anderson      L6    [2]  
 2 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [2]      0:1    Peter Gamble       L6    [2]  
 3 Thomas Loughrey             F3    [2]      0:1    Jonah Corr         F4    [2]  
 4 Ben Guerrero                F1    [1]      0:1    Lorcan Rippon      P7    [1]  
 5 Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [1]      0:1    Peter Murphy       F3    [1]  
 6 Aidan Spence                F1    [1]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon     F3    [1]  
 7 Alex Gardner                P6    [1]      0:1    Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [1]  
 8 Aharshi Banerjee            F2    [1]      1:0    Noah Tiffney       P4    [1]  
 9 Alex McKeown                P4    [1]      1:0    Tom Busby          F2    [1]  
10 Matthew Loughrey            P5    [0]      0:1    Matteo Grande      P5    [1]  
11 Erin Tiffney                P3    [0]     .5:.5   Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [0]  
12 Joseph Gardner              P4    [0]     .5:.5   Luke Spence        P3    [0]  

Leaving round 3 we have Jyuan Bendo, Peter Gamble and Jonah leading on 3 points. Would round 4 see an absolute winner.

Round 4

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Peter Gamble       L6    [3]      0:1    Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [3]  
 2 Jonah Corr         F4    [3]      1:0    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [2]  
 3 Lorcan Rippon      P7    [2]      1:0    Aharshi Banerjee            F2    [2]  
 4 Peter Murphy       F3    [2]      1:0    Aidan Spence                F1    [2]  
 5 Matteo Grande      P5    [2]      0:1    Thomas Loughrey             F3    [2]  
 6 Ryan Anderson      L6    [2]      1:0    Alex McKeown                P4    [2]  
 7 Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [2]      1:0    Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [1]  
 8 Saoirse Rippon     F3    [1]      1:0    Ben Guerrero                F1    [1]  
 9 Tom Busby          F2    [1]      1:0    Alex Gardner                P6    [1]  
10 Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [.5]     1:0    Noah Tiffney                P4    [1]  
11 Joseph Gardner     P4    [.5]     1:0    Erin Tiffney                P3    [.5] 
12 Luke Spence        P3    [.5]     0:1    Matthew Loughrey            P5    [0]  

Jonah beats Kathikeya and Jyuan wins against Peter. Lorcan Rippon is up on the top boards and Alex McKeown is doing well on 2 points.

Round 5

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name               Feder Total

 1 Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [4]      1:0    Jonah Corr         F4    [4]  
 2 Ryan Anderson               L6    [3]      1:0    Lorcan Rippon      P7    [3]  
 3 Peter Gamble                L6    [3]      0:1    Peter Murphy       F3    [3]  
 4 Thomas Loughrey             F3    [3]      0:1    Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [3]  
 5 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [2]      1:0    Tom Busby          F2    [2]  
 6 Alex McKeown                P4    [2]      1:0    Saoirse Rippon     F3    [2]  
 7 Aharshi Banerjee            F2    [2]      1:0    Matteo Grande      P5    [2]  
 8 Aidan Spence                F1    [2]      0:1    Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [1.5]
 9 Ben Guerrero                F1    [1]      1:0    Joseph Gardner     P4    [1.5]
10 Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [1]      1:0    Matthew Loughrey   P5    [1]  
11 Noah Tiffney                P4    [1]      0:1    Alex Gardner       P6    [1]  
12 Erin Tiffney                P3    [.5]    .5:.5   Luke Spence        P3    [.5] 

The top players battle and Jyuan wins so leaves the 5th round on full points. Alex McKeown wins against Saoirse Rippon. I collected the puzzles sheets and started marking them. With time pressure I have now got into a habit of printing off the solutions prior to the tournament.

Round 6

Results

No Name               Feder Total  Result   Name                        Feder Total

 1 Rithvik Deekonda   F2    [4]      0:1    Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [5]  
 2 Jonah Corr         F4    [4]      0:1    Ryan Anderson               L6    [4]  
 3 Peter Murphy       F3    [4]     .5:.5   Thomas Loughrey             F3    [3]  
 4 Lorcan Rippon      P7    [3]      0:1    Peter Gamble                L6    [3]  
 5 Aharshi Banerjee   F2    [3]      0:1    Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [3]  
 6 Alex Gardner       P6    [2]      0:1    Alex McKeown                P4    [3]  
 7 Malachy Yao Duffin P7    [2.5]    0:1    Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [2]  
 8 Tom Busby          F2    [2]      1:0    Aidan Spence                F1    [2]  
 9 Matteo Grande      P5    [2]      0:1    Ben Guerrero                F1    [2]  
10 Saoirse Rippon     F3    [2]      1:0    Joseph Gardner              P4    [1.5]
11 Matthew Loughrey   P5    [1]      1:0    Erin Tiffney                P3    [1]  
12 Luke Spence        P3    [1]      1:0    Noah Tiffney                P4    [1]  

We started Round 6 at about 3:25pm - so I started considering the possibility of having a round 7. Jyuan goes into round 7 on 6 out of 6. Chased by Ryan Anderson on 5 out of 6.

Round 7

Results

No Name                        Feder Total  Result   Name             Feder Total

 1 Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo       L6    [6]      0:1    Peter Murphy     F3    [4.5]
 2 Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam F3    [4]      0:1    Ryan Anderson    L6    [5]  
 3 Peter Gamble                L6    [4]      0:1    Rithvik Deekonda F2    [4]  
 4 Alex McKeown                P4    [4]      1:0    Jonah Corr       F4    [4]  
 5 Thomas Loughrey             F3    [3.5]    0:1    Lorcan Rippon    P7    [3]  
 6 Alessandro Serafino Grande  F2    [3]      0:1    Saoirse Rippon   F3    [3]  
 7 Ben Guerrero                F1    [3]      1:0    Aharshi Banerjee F2    [3]  
 8 Malachy Yao Duffin          P7    [2.5]    0:1    Tom Busby        F2    [3]  
 9 Aidan Spence                F1    [2]      1:0    Luke Spence      P3    [2]  
10 Joseph Gardner              P4    [1.5]    0:1    Matteo Grande    P5    [2]  
11 Erin Tiffney                P3    [1]      0:1    Alex Gardner     P6    [2]  
12 Noah Tiffney                P4    [1]      0:1    Matthew Loughrey P5    [2]  

Peter Murphy gets a win against the leader Jyuan thereby with Ryans win placing the two players on 6 points - a tie break will determine the champion. Alex McKeown P4 does brilliantly and with a win against Jonah Corr gains 5 out of 7 points and is in 4th place overall.

Standings

Place Name                         Feder Score M-Buch. Buch. Progr.

 1-2  Jyuan Miguel G. Bendo        L6    6        22.5  32.5   27.0
      Ryan Anderson                L6    6        20.0  29.0   23.0
  3   Peter Murphy                 F3    5.5      17.5  26.5   21.0
 4-5  Alex McKeown                 P4    5        20.0  28.5   17.0
      Rithvik Deekonda             F2    5        19.5  28.5   20.0
6-12  Jonah Corr                   F4    4        24.0  31.5   22.0
      Peter Gamble                 L6    4        21.5  28.0   20.0
      Karthikeya Karpagavinayagam  F3    4        20.0  29.0   18.0
      Saoirse Rippon               F3    4        18.0  25.5   14.0
      Lorcan Rippon                P7    4        17.5  26.5   16.0
      Ben Guerrero                 F1    4        17.0  24.5   12.0
      Tom Busby                    F2    4        16.0  22.0   14.0
 13   Thomas Loughrey              F3    3.5      20.0  28.0   18.0
14-19 Alessandro Serafino Grande   F2    3        20.0  28.0   12.0
      Aharshi Banerjee             F2    3        17.0  23.5   15.0
      Alex Gardner                 P6    3        17.0  23.5   10.0
      Aidan Spence                 F1    3        16.5  23.5   12.0
      Matteo Grande                P5    3        15.0  20.0   12.0
      Matthew Loughrey             P5    3        13.0  17.5    7.0
 20   Malachy Yao Duffin           P7    2.5      14.5  20.0    9.5
 21   Luke Spence                  P3    2        11.5  15.0    6.0
 22   Joseph Gardner               P4    1.5      16.0  21.0    6.5
23-24 Noah Tiffney                 P4    1        15.0  21.0    7.0
      Erin Tiffney                 P3    1        13.5  19.0    4.0
25-31 Samudra Chakrabarti-Anjaria  P3    0         5.5   5.5    0.0

Form 4 and above Champion: Jyuan Miguel G Bendo  ( also overall winner ).

Form 3 Champion: Peter Murphy

Form 2 Champion Rithvik Deekonda

Form 1 Champion Ben Guerrero

P7 Champion Lorcan Rippon

P6 Champion Alex Gardner

P5 and Under Champion Alex McKeown

Again many thanks to volunteers Geoff Hindley, Karina Campbell and David Corr. Also thanks to Methodist College for the excellent venue and a big thanks to all the players for making this tournament possible and to their parents for all their support.

Our next tournament is the Ulster Schools Championships on December 2nd at Methodist College - email mark.chris.newman@googlemail.com with Name, School and Dob for registration.

Solutions to the puzzles.