Strand Chess Club Annual Awards 2018

5:30pm to 6pm on Sunday April 29, 2018

It has been an epic first season for Strand Chess Club, winning the Senior and Junior sections of the Ulster Team Rapidplay Championships, followed by winning Divisions 3 and 4 in the Belfast and District Chess League. Meanwhile, Strand 1 and Strand 2 also exceeded expectations in Division 1 by finishing in 2nd and 3rd place respectfully. Many players also scooped league board prizes which will be presented at the UCU AGM in June 2018. On Sunday April 29, Strand's annual awards ceremony celebrated all of the team awards over the past season and also 8 individual trophies and medals for 'Player of the Season', 'Most Improved Player', 'Best Newcomer' and 'Performance of the Season' for best victory in each of the Strand teams.

Nikhil Joshi 2044

Player of the Season:

Nikhil Joshi

Awarded for winning an exceptional number of championships and for many impressive Division 1 performances on Board 1 for Strand 1:

Champion, Ulster Rapidplay Championships, Falls Bowling Club, West Belfast, Saturday April 21, 2018

Champion, Williamson Shield, Students' Union, Queen's University, Belfast, March 23-25, 2018

Team Champions, Ulster Team Rapidplay Championship, playing for team Strand 1, Good Shepherd Centre, Belfast, Saturday February 3, 2018

Champion, Ulster Blitz Championship, Ballynafeigh Bowling Club, Belfast, Saturday, December 30, 2017

Champion, Omagh Rapidplay Championship, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, November 25, 2017

Champion, Titanic Quarter Autumn Blitz, Belfast, September 2017

Adam Rushe 967

Most Improved Player of the Season:

Adam Rushe

Awarded for demonstrating strong tactical training and continuous chess study, culiminating in an impressive collection of prizes:

Champion, Youth Rapidplay (ages 4-17), Methodist College, Belfast, April 14, 2018

Under 1050 Grading Prize, Intermediate Section, Williamson Shield, Students' Union, Queen's University, Belfast, March 23-25, 2018

Champion, Youth Rapidplay (ages 4-17), score: 6/7, Methodist College, Belfast, March 10, 2018

Division 4 Champions, Strand Team 3, awarded for winning Division 4 of the Belfast and District Chess League, October 2017 - March 2018

Team Champions, Ulster Junior Team Rapidplay Championship, playing for Strand 3 team, Good Shepherd Centre, Belfast, Saturday February 3, 2018

Board 1 Winner, highest performace on Board 1 of junior section (3/5 = 60%) at Ulster Team Rapidplay Championships, Good Shepherd Centre, Belfast, Saturday February 3, 2018

Puzzle-solving Champion, Ulster Youth Championships, Methodist College, Belfast, December 9, 2017

Under 16 Champion, Munster Junior Championships, West County Hotel, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland, December 5-6, 2017

Junior Champion, Omagh Rapidplay Championship, Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh, November 25, 2017

Champion, Secondary School Level, Children's Chess Competition, Methodist College, Belfast, November 4, 2017

Under 19 Champion, London Junior Chess Championship Qualifiers, Methodist College, Belfast, October 14, 2017

Puzzle-solving Champion, London Junior Chess Championship Qaulifiers, Methodist College, Belfast, October 14, 2017

Under 950 Grading Prize, Junior Section, Ulster Masters, Students' Union, Queen's University Belfast, October 13-17, 2017

Colin Burcombe 1193

Joint Best Newcomer of the Season:

Colin Burcombe

Awarded for delivering an exceptional level of chess throughout his first season:

Intermediate Champion, Ulster Rapidplay Championships, Falls Bowling Club, West Belfast, Saturday April 21, 2018

Trophy for Division 3 Champions, Strand Team 4, trophy awarded for winning Division 3 of the Belfast and District Chess League, October 2017 - March 2018

Board 4 Winner, highest performace on Board 4 of senior section (4/5 = 80%) at Ulster Team Rapidplay Championships, Good Shepherd Centre, Belfast, Saturday February 3, 2018

Team Champions, 24 Player Mega Match Championship, QUB Chess Club v Strand Chess Club, playing on board 7 for the winning Strand team, Lanyon Building, Queen's University, Belfast, Tuesday December 19, 2017

Grading Prize, Lacksidasical Rapidplay, Northern Ireland Civil Service Chess Club, The Pavilion at Stormont, Belfast, December 10, 2017

Michael Wong 968

Joint Best Newcomer of the Season:

Michael Wong

Awarded for delivering an exceptional level of chess throughout his first season:

Division 4 Champions, Strand Team 3, awarded for winning Division 4 of the Belfast and District Chess League, October 2017 - March 2018

Team Champions, Ulster Junior Team Rapidplay Championship, playing for Strand 3 team, Good Shepherd Centre, Belfast, Saturday February 3, 2018

Team Champions, 24 Player Mega Match Championship, QUB Chess Club v Strand Chess Club, playing on board 11 for the winning Strand team, Lanyon Building, Queen's University, Belfast, Tuesday December 19, 2017

Calum Leitch 1813

Strand 1 Performance of the Season:

Calum Leitch

Division 1 Match: Strand 1 v Ballynafeigh 1 on Friday 15 December 2017. Board 2: Calum Leitch (1849) as White defeated Steve Scannell (1972) with a rating difference of 123 points.

After an excellent season, Calum also won the UCU Board 3 prize for Division 1.

Edward Khanzharov 1442

Strand 2 Performance of the Season:

Eddie Khanzharov

Division 1 Match: Strand 2 v Civil Service on Friday 6 April 2018. Board 2: Edward Khanzharov (1442) as White defeated Mark Newman (1747) with a rating difference of 305 points.

Eddie delivered an exceptionally high standard of play in his first league season in Division 1, losing only one game throughout the 7 months.

James Wong 975

Strand 3 Performance of the Season:

James Wong

Division 4 Match: Fruithill 2 v Strand 3 on Monday 15 January 2018. Board 4: James Wong (862) as Black defeated Gerry Collins (1253) with a rating difference of 391 points.

James delivered an exceptionally high standard of play in his first league season, with his rating rising to 975 in the April 2018 rating list.

Jake Patterson 1244

Strand 4 Performance of the Season:

Jake Patterson

Division 2 Match: Strand 4 v Bangor on Friday 26 January 2018. Board 2: Jake Patterson (1152) as White defeated Sam Moore (1562) with a rating difference of 410 points.

Jake delivered an exceptionally high standard of play in his first league season in Division 2, remaining undefeated throughout the 7 months. After a phenomenal season, Jake rose to 1244 in the April 2018 rating list.

2018 Ulster Team Rapidplay Champions