ULSTER CHESS CHRONICLE

CITY OF BELFAST FESTIVAL, CIVIL SERVICE MAYNARD SINCLAIR PAVILION, 5-6 APRIL 2008

As usual there were two events at the City of Belfast - the Nemtzov Cup for players rated 1600 and above and the Henderson Cup for those rated under 1600 or unrated. In the Nemtzov Cup, defending champion Steve Scannell retained his title, dropping only half-a-point to Nicholas Pilkiewicz, who shared second place with Clifton House team-mate, Gareth Annesley. In the Henderson Cup, there was a very popular success for veteran campaigner, Alan Burns, whose trademark attacking style downed all six of his opponents. There were a number of shock results in this section, with John Monaghan's win over 2005 winner Richard Proctor earning him the "David and Goliath" book prize. I hope to have some photographs from the event soon.

QUB OPEN, STUDENTS' UNION, SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY

After two years at the John Mercer Halls about a mile up the road from the University, the QUB Open went in-house at the Students' Union on University Road. An attention-grabbing first prize of £200 hooked some big fish. Biggest among them was the French FIDE Master (FM) Maxime Sorin, who travelled up from Dublin. Four players in all travelled from the Southern capital, including the 2074-rated Gordon Freeman.

ULSTER CHESS NEWS 2008 BULLETIN NUMBER 1