Downpatrick chess player’s success at major competition

Downpatrick chess player’s success at major competition

29 November 2017

DOWNPATRICK schoolboy Ciaran Rowan has won second prize in a major chess competition.

The 16 year-old competed at the Omagh Rapidplay Chess Championships at the weekend, which attracted players of all ages from across Northern Ireland.

With the impressive result of four wins and a draw out of six games, Ciaran was awarded second place prize in the Junior Championship.

Ciaran, a pupil at Aquinas College in Belfast, competes each week in the Belfast and District Chess League.

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, has rated Ciaran with 1563 grading for his rapidplay chess, which is considered significantly high for a teenager. The average adult player in Northern Ireland is around 

1400-1500, with the current World Champion Magnus Carlsen weighing in at 2837.  Brendan Jamison, Director of Chess NI, said: “Ciaran is one of the strongest teenager players in Northern Ireland and he is already a multi-award winning chess champion. 

“We are delighted to have him compete in our local chess community and he continues to grow from strength to strength each month. 

“Ciaran has a great future ahead where he will no doubt enjoy much more success.” 

Further information on the local chess scene and the results from the latest competitions is available at: www.chessni.co.uk