Delancey UK Schools' Chess Challenge - 2018 Gigafinals

On 14th/15th July 7 players from Ulster travelled to Manchester to compete in the Northern Gigafinal and test themselves against some of the top junior players in the United Kingdom. Each player had previously taken part in a local qualifier to reach this stage. Over 40,000 children took part in this years Chess Challenge across the UK and only the top 5% reached the Gigafinal.

It was an excellent event run by Sarah Longson. There was an incredible atmosphere in the playing hall and around the venue as all the children battled over the chess board, played during the breaks, made new friends, and ultimately became much better players because of the experience. For players, parents and coaches alike it was an experience to be remembered for the rest of their lives. 

Our local players all acquitted themselves very well in this incredibly tough tournament.

Blake Harris  - U7 Boys

Points Total - 3/6

Ali Shahzad - U10 Boys

Points Total - 2/6

Taufik Kamal - U10 Boys

Points Total - 3.5/6

Dexter Harris - U10 Boys

Points Total - 4/6

Maxim Dobrynin - U12 Boys

Points Total - 3/6

Minaahil Shahzad - U14 Girls

Points Total - 3/6

James Wong - U15-18 Boys

Points Total - 2.5/6

By scoring 4 points Dexter Harris progressed to the Challenger stage of the competition to be held in Liverpool in September. Well done all the players on an excellent weekend of chess!!

Delancey Northern Giga Finals

Once again Wright Robinson College in Manchester was the host of the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge Northern Giga Final. The atmosphere in the venue was an incredible mixture of high tension and over excitement with approximately 1000 enthusiastic children (and their parents!) all chomping at the bit to start their games and earn a place in the much coveted Tera Finals in London.

12 of Northern Ireland's finest young chess players made the journey across to Manchester to test themselves against the top juniors in the UK. To attend the Giga Finals you must win a local qualifying tournament, so just reaching this stage is quite an achievement. All the players acquitted themselves very well against incredibly tough opposition - as an example there was a player rated over 2000 in the U9 boys section! Special mention must go to Daniil Zelenchuk (U14's) and Maxim Dobrynin (U11 boy's) who both scored a fantastic 4/6.

NAME	SECTION	SCORE
Adam Rushe	U16	3
Ciaran Rowan	U16	2
Daniil Zelenchuk	U14	4
Aditya Shah	U14	1.5
Calum Glendinning	U12 Boys	3
Maxim Dobrynin	U11 Boys	4
Rahul Shah	U10 Boys	2
Anjali Singh	U9 Girls	3
Dexter Harris	U9 Boys	3
Adam Fitzsimons	U8 Boys	3
Aaditya Singh	U7 Boys	3

Congratulations to all our local juniors who attended and many thanks to all at the Giga Finals for staging such a fantastic event!