Summary
18 round FIDE rated blitz (3 min + 2 sec/move) in Greenisland FC, Belfast on Thu 28/12/2023 from 10am - 5pm. Highest placed Ulster player wins the Jamison Cup. With players from ESP, ENG, SCO, SUI, HKG, FRA, IRL, IND.
Photo of prizewinners
Standing, L-R, Chris Dorrian (Arb), Aashay R Kher, Jack Edens, Christopher John Neill, Andrzej Wesolowski, JFinn Cummins, John Loughran (Arb).
Seated, L-R, Adrian Gillen, Stephen Gillen, Alex Goss, Caleb McClean.
Report
18 rounds, yes 18 rounds of blitz chess was played in Greenisland Football Club today. What a day it was. By the end of the day we crowned a new Ulster Champion and left some exhausted, but highly satisfied Arbiters looking forward to the next event.
The field was 46 players deep with India, Hong Kong, Scotland, England, France and Ireland all represented. We saw the return of the Gillen brothers to the Irish Chess scene. We saw the returning Champion Robbie Wright, and Ross Du Berry who ran him so close last year put up massive resistance to the brothers Gillen.
At the half way point, Adrian and Stephen were both on 7.5 points. It was at this point that dark horse, Alex Goss showed his metal and potential to be the Gillen’s biggest rival with 7 points. Lunch must have done something, we saw another win by Stephen Gillen, but a loss from Adrian Gillen and we had an outright leader with a chasing pack of 6 players a point behind.
It was now we saw the resilience of top class players. After 13 rounds, Stephen, Adrian (Gillen) and Alex Goss pulled ahead of the pack by 2 points. The race to the finish was on. In the remaining rounds the top three players traded win for win but in the end Stephen Gillen won on tie break from his brother Adrian with 15.5/18 and Alex Goss pushing them to the end on 14.5/18.
Special mention should go to Henry Majury and Christopher Dunseath who were playing in their first FIDE tournament. What a one to choose.
A huge thank you to FA John Loughran and NA Edward Khanzharov for their help in arbitrating the tournament.
Prizewinners
Overall
Champion: Stephen Gillen, 15.5/18
2nd: Adrian Gillen, 15.5
3rd: Alex Goss, 14.5
Intermediate (1700-1400 FIDE)
Champion: Jack Edens, 10.5/18
2nd: Caleb McClean, 10
3rd: Aashay R Kher IND, 10
Junior (U1400 FIDE)
Champion: Andrzej Wesolowski, 9.5/18
2nd: Finn Cummins, 9
3rd: Christopher John Neill ESP, 9
Controllers
Organizer and Arbiter: Chris Dorrian NA
Asst. Arbiter: Edward Khanzharov NA
Chief Arbiter: John Loughran FA