Players representing nation of India:

2126 Mandar Tahmankar

1878 Ali Abul Hassan

1831 Payel Guha

1828 Aashay Kher

1700 Anayraj Tripathi (age 15)

1676 Amol Thoke

1637 Aharshi Banerjee (age 13)

1573 Ashish Shambharkar

1580* Naga Ganja (reserve parent)

1507* Abhiram Ganja (age 9)

1482 Advait Tahmankar (age 11)

1465 Shlok Thoke (age 13)

1450p Madhurya Jagadeesh

1415 Ayush Shambharkar (age 12)

1400p Rishikesh Bhide (chess parent)

1400p Shreyas Chandra Marrivada (age 10)

1400p Anay Bhide (age 9)

1400p Tanish Thoke (age 8)

1400p Sanvi Shambharkar (age 7)

Players representing nation of Northern Ireland:

2006 Caleb McClean

1950 Ben McIlroy

1934 Andrew Campbell

1913 David Jeffers

1895 Danny Roberts

1881 Jack Edens

1826 Bohdan Prokopenko

1747 Chris Kelly

1728 Edward Khanzharov

1682 Gary Johnston

1630 Jake Gourley (age 14)

1605 Peter Campbell

1529 Alex McKeown (age 10)

1513 Josh Whearty

1498 Paul O'Connor

1418 Darren Gourley

1400p Oliver McConkey (age 11)

1400p Conal Caughey (age 11)

1400p Darragh Marsh (age 11)

1400p Tony Marsh (reserve chess parent)

Entry list correct as at 18:47 on February 08, 2026

*players without a FIDE rapid rating are listed with their alternative FIDE ratings (classic is first preference, followed by blitz)

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FIDE rated Team Match: Northern Ireland v India

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Saturday 21 Feb 2026

10:15 to 16:30

A Bangor Chess Club initiative, celebrating the outstanding contribution that players from the local Indian community have made to our chess scene in Northern Ireland.

Venue hire and awards are generously supported by Ards & North Down Borough Council.

Entry is free for participants. The only requirement is that players must have lived for at least 12 months in Northern Ireland before registering for this event. India nation will be drawn from Indian chess players living in Northern Ireland. NI nation will be drawn from Northern Ireland players living in Northern Ireland.

Trophies and medals will be awarded.

Location: Queen’s Hall, 13 West Street, Newtownards, BT23 4EN

Morning rapid games:

4 rounds of 10+5 (FIDE rated)

Players will face 4 different opponents in the morning rounds. For morning games only, each nation will be split into 4 teams, e.g. India 1 will play NI 1, NI 2, NI 3 and NI 4. Players will be ranked on each team by exact FIDE rapid rating. The arbiters will arrange this board order in advance. The 4 highest rated Indian players will be placed on board 1 in India 1, board 1 in India 2, board 1 in India 3, board 1 in India 4. Then the 5th to 8th highest rated players will take board 2 on India 1, Board 2 in India 2, Board 2 in India 3, Board 2 in India 4 etc. This format will be duplicated for the 4 NI teams.

Timetable for rapid games:

10:15 to 10:45

10:50 to 11:20

11:25 to 11:55

12:00 to 12:30

Afternoon games:

1:30 to 4:30 back-to-back

5 round non-rated blitz. Players from each nation will play each other 5 times, alternating colours and each round will see a reduction in time. NI Board 1 v India Board 1, NI Board 2 v India Board 2, etc…

Time controls:

Round 1 at 10+0

Round 2 at 5+5

Round 3 at 5+3 time delay

Round 4 at 5+0

Round 5 at 3+2

Each player can score a maximum of 9 points on the day (4 points in rapid and 5 points in blitz). Each player’s final score will be added to their nation’s grand total.

The nation with the most points at the end of the day will receive 20 gold medals for each player. The nation that comes 2nd will receive 20 silver medals for each player. There will also be trophies awarded to the best team in the morning rapid and to the best overall players across the 9 rounds.

There will be a maximum of 40 players participating, 20 in each nation, divisible by 4 to ensure 4 teams of equal numbers per nation.

Entries to Arbiters B Jamison or C Dorrian at [email protected]