ICC98R

The 1998 Irish Chess Championships were held in the Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square, Dublin from Saturday the 11th to Sunday the 19th July 1998 inclusive. A total of 124 entries to four different sections were received with an additional 22 entries in the novices section.

Senior (Closed) >1900

The Senior Irish Championships were played over nine days from Saturday the 11th to Sunday the 19th July 1998 inclusive, one round per day at the rate of 40 moves in 2 hours, 20 moves in 1 hour and 30 mins to finish. 20 players entered the Senior Section, four aged U-19, three who would shortly play in the Faber and Glorney Cups in Holland later in July: Danielle Collins, Adam Kelly and Michael Dooley. This year's field was slightly stronger than usual with the reappearance of Mark Quinn after a year of relative inactivity, who "just" needs to get his rating above 2400 to became an international master. Mark Heidenfeld made the trip from Germany to be second seed. With the notable exceptions of Joe Ryan, the 1997 champion, busy in a new job and Stephen Brady, last year's runner up, many of Irelands strongest regular tournament players took part: Colm Daly, Mel O'Cinnéide, Richard O'Donovan and Tom Clarke among others.

There were no upsets in round 1 although Ray O'Rourke drew with Mark Quinn.

In round 2 all players confirmed their seeding strength.

Round 3 saw a fine win by Colm Daly over Mark Heidenfeld with a tactical finish where discovered check winning the queen was threatened. On board 2 the other Mark drew with Mel. Ray's win against Richard on board 3 was analysed in the commentary room and confused many stronger players by its complexity.

The fourth round saw Colm and Mel fight it out in a minor piece ending which ended drawn. Ray continued his winning streak by beating Peter Cafolla, making it to the commentary room again.

Colm ended Ray's winning streak by demolishing his King's Indian Defence in round 5 giving him a clear point lead on 4.5/5 over the chasing pack of the two Marks (who drew), Gerry O'Connell and Ray on 3.5.

In round 6 Mark Quinn let Colm sac the exchange for two clear passed pawns which eventually won the game for Colm. Gerry kept up the chase with a win over Ray with Mark H and Mel following.closely.

Colm put pay to Gerry's challenge in round 7 with a win (6.5/7) while Mark H and Mel drew leaving Colm 2 points clear. Mark Q retained his chances with a win over Richard leaving him on 4.5.

Needing only to draw in round 8 to ensure clear first place, Colm played on in a protracted double rook and pawn ending against Richard, eventually winning while the chasing pack all drew with each other.

Mark Q arrived 59 mins 58 secs late for round 10 on Sunday morning and did well to draw with Anthony Fox to secure joint 4th-5th place with him on 5.5/9. Meanwhile Mark H beat Gerry to share 2nd-3rd place with Mel on 6/9 who showed Stephen Scannell how strong a bishop pair can be. Colm beat Tom Clarke in style to finish on 8.5/9, only the third time this has been achieved, to become the 1998 Irish Champion, taking with him the fabulous large "Chess Board" Irish Champion's Trophy.

At the bottom end of the field Danielle finished well on 4.5, winning the Ladies Prize, being pipped to the post along with Brian Fitzpatrick by Stephen Scannell on 4.5/9 who won the U-2100 grading prize on tie break. Apart from getting his picture in the paper, John P.A.Kennedy (Jnr.) consolidated his new FIDE rating with a creditable 3/9 while Colm Fitzpatrick justified his inclusion to even the numbers with another 1950+ performance finishing on 4/9. Michael and Adam both gained valuable experience for the forthcoming Glorney Cup while Liam Porter will henceforth be known as the drawing master! Despite his early flourish Ray finished on 4.5.

Irish Chess Championships, 1998, Senior Section, Final Ranking with Crosstable

Place

Name (Club)

FIDE

ICU

Pts

1st

Colm Daly (Swords)

2295

W+ 7

B+ 5

W+ 2

B= 3

W+ 9

B+ 4

W+ 6

B+ 12

W+ 8

8.5/9

=2-3

Mark Heidenfeld

2335

2288

B+ 19

W+ 8

B- 1

W+ 5

B= 4

W= 12

B= 3

W= 7

B+ 6

=2-3

Mel O'Cinnéide (Crumlin)

2285

2228

B+ 10

W+ 20

B= 4

W= 1

B- 6

W+ 18

W= 2

B= 5

B+ 7

=4-5

Mark Quinn (UCD)

2350

2308

W= 9

B+ 17

W= 3

B+ 8

W= 2

W- 1

B+ 12

B= 6

W= 5

5.5

=4-5

Anthony Fox (Dun Laoire)

2115

2022

B+ 14

W- 1

B+ 20

B- 2

W= 7

W+ 15

B+ 9

W= 3

B= 4

5.5

Gerry O'Connell (St. Benil.)

2180

2174

W= 15

B= 16

W= 7

B+ 13

W+ 3

B+ 9

B- 1

W= 4

W- 2

=7-11

Stephen Scannell (N. Bfast)

2055

2133

B- 1

W+ 14

B= 6

W= 12

B= 5

W= 8

B+ 18

B= 2

W- 3

4.5

=7-11

Tom Clarke (North Belfast)

2195

2075

B+ 11

B- 2

W+ 16

W- 4

B- 18

B= 7

W+ 13

W+ 9

B- 1

4.5

=7-11

Ray O'Rourke (Elm Mount)

2095

1963

B= 4

W+ 13

B+ 12

W+ 18

B- 1

W- 6

W- 5

B- 8

B+ 17

4.5

=7-11

Brian Fitzpatrick (Ph'boro)

1984

W- 3

W- 18

B= 14

W+ 11

B- 15

B= 13

W+ 19

B= 16

W+ 20

4.5

=7-11

Danielle Collins (Crumlin)

1923

W- 8

W= 19

B- 13

B- 10

W= 17

W+ 14

B= 16

W+ 18

B+ 15

4.5

=12-14

Richard O'Donovan (P. Serv)

2195

2134

W= 16

B+ 15

W- 9

B= 7

W+ 20

B= 2

W- 4

W- 1

B= 13

=12-14

Colm Fitzpatrick (Phibsboro)

1859

= FF

B- 9

W+ 11

W- 6

B= 16

W= 10

B- 8

B+ 19

W= 12

=12-14

Michael Dooley (St. Benil.)

1882

W- 5

B- 7

W= 10

B= 17

W= 19

B- 11

W= 15

B+ 20

W+ 16

=15-17

Adam Kelly (Gonzaga )

1910

B= 6

W- 12

B= 19

W= 16

W+ 10

B- 5

B= 14

W= 17

W- 11

3.5

=15-17

Liam Porter

1949

B= 12

W= 6

B- 8

B= 15

W= 13

B= 20

W= 11

W= 10

B- 14

3.5

=15-17

Cormac Brady (Bray)

2065

1852

= FF

W- 4

B- 18

W= 14

B= 11

B= 19

W+ 20

B= 15

W- 9

3.5

=18-19

Peter Cafolla (Rathmines)

2110

2048

W- 20

B+ 10

W+ 17

B- 9

W+ 8

B- 3

W- 7

B- 11

- FF

=18-19

John P.A.Kennedy (St. Benil)

2080

1848

W- 2

B= 11

W= 15

B- 20

B= 14

W= 17

B- 10

W- 13

+ FF

Danny Roberts (Rathfarn.)

1877

B+ 18

B- 3

W- 5

W+ 19

B- 12

W= 16

B- 17

W- 14

B- 10

2.5

Prizes

1st	Colm Daly (Swords)	8.5/9	£500
=2nd-3rd	Mark Heidenfeld	6	£140
=2nd-3rd	Mel O'Cinnéide (Crumlin)	6	£140
=4th-5th	Mark Quinn (UCD)	5.5	£52.50
=4th-5th	Anthony Fox (Dun Laoighire)	5.5	£52.50
U 2100 Grading Prize	Stephen Scannell (North Belfast)	4.5/9	£35
Ladies Prize	Danielle Collins (Crumlin)	4.5/9	£20

Intermediate <1900

The Intermediate Irish Championships were played over three days from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th July, 1998, two rounds per day, at the rate of all moves in 2 hours each.

Despite the guaranteed £200 first prize the entry was poor particularly among the stronger players. 18 entered including 5 young players. Eric Bennett took an early lead and finished first on an impressive 5.5/6. His will be the first name on a mahogany plaque with a depiction of a bishop specially commissioned and hand carved by Andrew Thomson for the Intermediate Championship.

Irish Chess Championships, 1998, Intermediate Section, Final Rank with Crosstable

Place	Rnk	Name	Club	ICUR	Rnd1	1	Rnd2	2	Rnd3	3	Rnd4	4	Rnd5	5	Rnd6	6	Pts/6

1st	1	Eric Bennett	Dun Laoire	1795	B+	15	W+	5	B+	14	B+	2	W+	7	B=	3	5.5
2nd	2	Brendan Bruen	Malahide	1593	W+	8	B+	6	B+	3	W-	1	W+	5	B+	10	5
3rd	3	Roland McDermott	Pub.Serv.	1718	W+	12	B+	4	W-	2	B+	14	B+	6	W=	1	4.5
4th	4	David Path	Phibsboro	1532	B+	7	W-	3	B+	17	W-	6	B+	13	W+	9	4
=5-7	5	Vincent Bissett	Malahide	1514	W+	9	B-	1	W+	13	W+	8	B-	2	B=	7	3.5
=5-7	6	Brendan Horan, jnr.	Tallaght	1498	W+	10	W-	2	B+	11	B+	4	W-	3	B=	8	3.5
=5-7	7	Hameed Khonji		1778	W-	4	B+	16	W+	18	B+	9	B-	1	W=	5	3.5
=8-11	8	Ray Woodhouse	Ballyfermot	1438	B-	2	W=	11	W+	12	B-	5	B+	17	W=	6	3
=8-11	9	Eoghan Casey	Gonzaga	1750	B-	5	W+	17	B+	10	W-	7	W+	14	B-	4	3
=8-11	10	Gerard Casey	UCD	1638	B-	6	B+	12	W-	9	W+	17	B+	15	W-	2	3
=8-11	11	Stephen Burns	Dun Laoire	1539	W-	18	B=	8	W-	6	B=	13	W+	16	B+	14	3
=12-13	12	Kieran Rogers	Drogheda	1503	B-	3	W-	10	B-	8	B=	16	W+	18	W+	15	2.5
=12-13	13	Shannon Clements	Dublin	1555	B-	17	W+	15	B-	5	W=	11	W-	4	B+	18	2.5
=14-15	14	Tomás O'Connolláin	Bray/G	1653	W+	16	B+	18	W-	1	W-	3	B-	9	W-	11	2
=14-15	15	Joe Reid	Drogheda	1424	W-	1	B-	13	W+	16	B+	18	W-	10	B-	12	2
16th	16	Carl Jackson	Gonzaga	1480	B-	14	W-	7	B-	15	W=	12	B-	11	W+	17	1.5
=17-18	17	Peter Hayes	Rathmines	1405	W+	13	B-	9	W-	4	B-	10	W-	8	B-	16	1
=17-18	18	Tomás McManus	Elm Mount	UnRat	B+	11	W-	14	B-	7	W-	15	B-	12	W-	13	1

Prizes

1st

Eric Bennett

Dun Laoire

5.5/6

£200

2nd

Brendan Bruen

Malahide

£60

3rd

Roland McDermott

PublicService

4.5

£35

U-1700 Grading Prize

David Path

Phibsboro

£25

Junior <1500

The Junior Irish Championships were played over three days from Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th July, 1998, two rounds per day, at the rate of all moves in 1 hour 45 mins each. In all 39 players entered the Junior section including 15 young players and 2 female players. This was 50% up on last year although still low. The competition was close with 4 players sharing the prize money finishing joint first on 5/6 with the Junior Cup and title of Junior Champion going to Aidan Corcoran on tiebreak. (Sum opponents scores.)

Irish Chess Championships, 1998, Junior Section, Final Rank with Crosstable

Place	Rnkk	Name	Club	ICUR	Rd	1	Rd	2	Rd	3	Rd	4	Rd	5	Rd	6	Pts/6

=1-4	1	Aidan Corcoran	P'marnock	1391	B+	20	W+	16	B+	12	W+	2	B+	5	W-	3	5
=1-4	2	Tom Fitzpatrick	Phibsboro	1374	W+	27	B+	21	W+	7	B-	1	W+	8	B+	6	5
=1-4	3	David Smith	Cork	1388	W=	30	B+	28	W+	14	B=	5	W+	7	B+	1	5
=1-4	4	Andrew Rodger	Ballyfermot	1321	W-	14	B+	37	W+	9	B+	26	W+	11	B+	13	5
5th	5	Paul McLoughlin	Nth. Belfast	1321	B+	39	W+	17	B+	6	W=	3	W-	1	B+	23	4.5
=6-10	6	Karl Vernor	Elm Mount	1189	W+	23	B+	13	W-	5	B+	21	B+	12	W-	2	4
=6-10	7	Niall O'Higgins	UCD	1304	B+	36	W+	29	B-	2	W+	16	B-	3	W+	19	4
=6-10	8	Shay Scott	Malahide	1248	B-	29	W+	36	B+	20	W+	15	B-	2	W+	17	4
=6-10	9	Basil Henrick	Mater Hosp.	1125	B+	34	W-	15	B-	4	W+	31	B+	18	W+	16	4
=6-10	10	John Thompson Jnr.	Inchicore	1111	B-	18	W+	34	B-	16	W+	38	B+	29	B+	25	4
=11-13	11	Aaron O'Kearney	Lucan	1207	B=	25	W+	19	B=	15	W+	18	B-	4	W=	12	3.5
=11-13	12	Martin Gartry	Inchicore	1320	W+	37	B+	26	W-	1	B+	14	W-	6	B=	11	3.5
=11-13	13	Stephen Kelly	Ayrfield	1341	B+	32	W-	6	B=	27	W+	30	B+	17	W-	4	3.5
=14-25	14	Karl Vogelsang	Phibsboro	1155	B+	4	W+	18	B-	3	W-	12	B=	15	W=	20	3
=14-25	15	Gearóidín Uí Laighléis	Aer Lingus	1393	=	FF	B+	9	W=	11	B-	8	W=	14	B=	22	3
=14-25	16	Brendan Byrne	Phibsboro	1265	W+	35	B-	1	W+	10	B-	7	W+	26	B-	9	3
=14-25	17	Mervyn Honner	Bray/G.	1233	W+	31	B-	5	W+	23	B+	22	W-	13	B-	8	3
=14-25	18	Andrew Dobbyn	Elm Mount	1286	W+	10	B-	14	W+	24	B-	11	W-	9	B+	31	3
=14-25	19	Rodney Lakes	Kevin St.	1117	W=	22	B-	11	W=	28	B+	24	W+	21	B-	7	3
=14-25	20	Brendan Kelly	Drogheda	1161	W-	1	B+	35	W-	8	B+	28	W=	22	B=	14	3
=14-25	21	Mark Jeffares	St. Benildus	1283	B+	33	W-	2	B+	32	W-	6	B-	19	W+	29	3
=14-25	22	Eugene Donohoe	Elm Mount	1295	B=	19	W+	25	B=	30	W-	17	B=	20	W=	15	3
=14-25	23	Carl Jackson	Gonzaga	1480	B-	6	W+	39	B-	17	W+	27	B+	30	W-	5	3
=14-25	24	Liam Daly	Artane	805	W-	26	+	FF	B-	18	W-	19	B+	32	W+	30	3
=14-25	25	John Healy	St. Benildus	972	W=	11	B-	22	B=	38	W+	36	B+	27	W-	10	3
=26-28	26	Jamie Dowling	Bray/G.	1234	B+	24	W-	12	B+	29	W-	4	B-	16	W=	28	2.5
=26-28	27	Kevin Burke	St. Benildus	1172	B-	2	W+	33	W=	13	B-	23	W-	25	B+	34	2.5
=26-28	28	Paul O'Brien	St. Benildus	1018	B=	38	W-	3	B=	19	W-	20	W+	34	B=	26	2.5
=29-33	29	Aongus ó Conaire	P'marnock	1068	W+	8	B-	7	W-	26	B+	39	W-	10	B-	21	2
=29-33	30	Patrick Prenderville	Clonmel	1180	B=	3	W+	38	W=	22	B-	13	W-	23	B-	24	2
=29-33	31	Graeme Walsh	Inchicore	921	B-	17	W-	32	B+	34	B-	9	W+	37	W-	18	2
=29-33	32	Eoin O'Higgins	Gonzaga	1169	W-	13	B+	31	W-	21	B-	33	W-	24	B+	35	2
=29-33	33	Stuart Greene	Straffan	1029	W-	21	B-	27	+	FF	W+	32					2
=34-39	34	David Murphy	No Club	1300	W-	9	B-	10	W-	31	+	FF	B-	28	W-	27	1
=34-39	35	Shane Hall	Rathmines	757	B-	16	W-	20	W-	39	B-	37	+	FF	W-	32	1
=34-39	36	Robert Kelly	Straffan	1130	W-	7	B-	8	W+	37	B-	25					1
=34-39	37	Ann Coughlan	Cork	1137	B-	12	W-	4	B-	36	W+	35	B-	31			1
=34-39	38	David Fogarty	Straffan	1197	W=	28	B-	30	W=	25	B-	10					1
=34-39	39	Stephen McDonald	Straffan	1138	W-	5	B-	23	B+	35	W-	29					1

Prizes

Joint 1st to 4th

Aidan Corcoran

Portmarnock

5/6

£50

Junior Irish Champion on tie break

Joint 1st to 4th

Tom Fitzpatrick

Phibsboro

£50

Joint 1st to 4th

David Smith

Cork

£50

Joint 1st to 4th

Andrew Rodger

Ballyfermot

£50

U-1300 Grading Prize

Karl Vernor

Elm Mount

£20

Open Weekender

This year only one weekender was held, over the second weekend of Saturday 18th (3 rounds) and Sunday 19th July (2 rounds) as the first weekend of the 11th and 12th saw Le Tour de France à Dublin and the World Cup Final as well as other sporting events. 47 entries was greater than either weekender last year but less than their total entry (see entries below). These included 5 young players and one female player who thus won the Ladies' Prize. The Open was won by Stefan Sievers, a German Bundeslige Division 1 player who is working in Ireland for a few months. He defeated Stephen Brady in the final round in a fascinating rook and pawn ending, to win the "East of Ireland Open" on 5/5.

Prizes

1st

Stefan Sievers

Bundeslige

5 / 5

£200

Joint 2nd to 5th

Martin Schmidt

Dublin

4.5

£28

Joint 2nd to 5th

Donal O'Boyle

Drogheda

4.5

£28

Joint 2nd to 5th

Paul Kiely

Waterford

4.5

£28

Joint 2nd to 5th

John Crowley

Rathmines

4.5

£28

U-1600 Grading Prize

Stuart Turner

Phibsboro

3.5

£30

U-1400 Grading Prize

Aidan Corcoran

Portmarnock

£25

U-1300 Grading Prize

Shay Scott

Malahide

2.5

£20

Irish Chess Championships, 1998, East of Ireland Open Weekender

Final Rank with Crosstable

Place	Rnkk	Name	Club	Rating		Rd	1	Rd	2	Rd	3	Rd	4	Rd	5	Pts/5

1st	1	Stefan Sievers	Bundeslige	2350	f	B+	25	W+	8	B+	12	W+	6	B+	7	5
=2-5	2	Martin Schmidt	Dublin	1960		W+	19	B+	11	W+	22	W=	7	B=	6	4
=2-5	3	Donal O'Boyle	Drogheda	1781		B+	20	W+	30	B-	6	W+	15	B+	14	4
=2-5	4	Paul Kiely	Waterford	1791		B+	36	W+	9	B-	7	W+	22	B+	13	4
=2-5	5	John Crowley	Rathmines	1613		W+	47	=	FF	B+	29	W=	14	B+	12	4
=6-11	6	Ian Sutton	England	2100	f	W+	17	B+	16	W+	3	B-	1	W=	2	3.5
=6-11	7	Stephen Brady	Public Serv.	2270		W+	37	B+	13	W+	4	B=	2	W-	1	3.5
=6-11	8	Stuart Turner	Phibsboro	1579		W+	38	B-	1	W+	34	B=	24	W+	21	3.5
=6-11	9	David Path	Phibsboro	1532		W+	45	B-	4	W=	10	B+	38	W+	24	3.5
=6-11	10	John O'Brien	Phibsboro	1523		B=	33	W=	29	B=	9	W+	27	W+	26	3.5
=6-11	11	Gerry Behan	Public Serv.	1533		B+	44	W-	2	B=	25	W+	39	B+	23	3.5
=12-20	12	Pat Reynolds	Bray/G	1873		W+	26	B+	18	W-	1	B+	21	W-	5	3
=12-20	13	Tom O'Brien	Elm Mount	1694		B+	46	W-	7	B+	33	B+	20	W-	4	3
=12-20	14	Michael Kennedy	Crumlin	1484		W+	42	B+	31	W=	21	B=	5	W-	3	3
=12-20	15	Alan Burns	CIYMS Belf.	1484		W-	21	B+	47	W+	16	B-	3	W+	35	3
=12-20	16	Garth Fitzmaurice	UCD	1655		B+	39	W-	6	B-	15	W+	30	B+	31	3
=12-20	17	John Strawbridge	CIYMS Belf.	1494		B-	6	W+	46	B+	30	W=	23	B=	22	3
=12-20	18	Vincent Bissett	Malahide	1514		B+	32	W-	12	B-	24	W+	FF	B+	29	3
=12-20	19	Aidan Corcoran	Portmarnock	1391		B-	2	W+	44	B-	23	W+	42	B+	34	3
=12-20	20	Terry Creighton	No Club	1367		W-	3	B+	43	B+	42	W-	13	W+	32	3
=21-28	21	Tim McCarthy	St. Benildus	1981		B+	15	W+	27	B=	14	W-	12	B-	8	2.5
=21-28	22	Brian Hayden	Tralee	1522		W+	43	W+	23	B-	2	B-	4	W=	17	2.5
=21-28	23	Roland McDermott	Public Serv.	1718		W+	41	B-	22	W+	19	B=	17	W-	11	2.5
=21-28	24	David Salter	Public Serv.	1890		B-	31	B+	37	W+	18	W=	8	B-	9	2.5
=21-28	25	Carl Jackson	Gonzaga	1480		W-	1	B+	45	W=	11	B-	26	B+	39	2.5
=21-28	26	Paddy Quinlan	Waterford	1635		B-	12	B+	41	W=	31	W+	25	B-	10	2.5
=21-28	27	Stephen Burns	Dun Laoire	1539		W+	28	B-	21	W=	38	B-	10	W+	33	2.5
=21-28	28	Shay Scott	Malahide	1248		B-	27	=	FF	W-	35	B+	41	W+	40	2.5
=29-37	29	Andrew Dobbyn	Elm Mount	1286		W+	35	B=	10	W-	5	B=	33	W-	18	2
=29-37	30	Eric Bennett	Dun Laoire	1795		W+	34	B-	3	W-	17	B-	16	W+	38	2
=29-37	31	David Smith	Cork	1388		W+	24	W-	14	B=	26	B=	35	W-	16	2
=29-37	32	Stephen O'Brien	Portmarnock	962		W-	18	B-	34	+	FF	W+	FF	B-	20	2
=29-37	33	Joseph Hayden	No Club	1172		W=	10	B+	40	W-	13	W=	29	B-	27	2
=29-37	34	Tom Fitzpatrick	Phibsboro	1374		B-	30	W+	32	B-	8	W+	37	W-	19	2
=29-37	35	Shannon Clements	Dublin	1555		B-	29	W=	39	B+	28	W=	31	B-	15	2
=29-37	36	Feargal O'Beirne	Finglas	1538		W-	4	B-	38	W+	45	S-	FF	B+	43	2
=29-37	37	Colm Purcell	Phibsboro	1365		B-	7	W-	24	W+	47	B-	34	B+	42	2
=38-41	38	Paul McLoughlin	Nth. Belfast	1321		B-	8	W+	36	B=	27	W-	9	B-	30	1.5
=38-41	39	Martin Kelly	CIYMS Belf.	1309		W-	16	B=	35	W+	40	B-	11	W-	25	1.5
=38-41	40	Gearóidín Uí Laighléis	Aer Lingus	1393		=	FF	W-	33	B-	39	W+	44	B-	28	1.5
=38-41	41	John Orchin	CIYMS Belf.	1351		B-	23	W-	26	B=	44	W-	28	B+	47	1.5
=42-46	42	Shane Hall	Rathmines	757		B-	14	+	FF	W-	20	B-	19	W-	37	1
=42-46	43	Brian McGrath	Portmarnock	1157		B-	22	W-	20	B-	46	+	FF	W-	36	1
=42-46	44	Seamus Martin	Skerries	1230		W-	11	B-	19	W=	41	B-	40	W=	45	1
=42-46	45	Patrick Prendeville	Clonmel	1180		B-	9	W-	25	B-	36	W=	47	B=	44	1
=42-46	46	Stephen Kelly	Ayrfield	1341		W-	13	B-	17	W+	43	S-	FF			1
47th	47	Eugene Donohoe	Elm Mount	1295		B-	5	W-	15	B-	37	B=	45	W-	41	0.5

Organisation and Statistics

Entries by Section 1998(Dublin) 1997(Dublin)

Senior (Players U-19 yrs old in brackets) >1900 20 (4) 18 (1)

Intermediate <1900 18 (5) 20 (7)

Junior <1500 39 (15) 26 (11)

Open Weekender (1st in '97) - - 39 (6)

Open Weekender (Only one in '98, 2nd in '97) 47 (5) 34 (3)

Total in top four sections 124 (29) 23% 137 (26) 19%

Female entries top four sections [4] 3% [0]

Novices 22 (~20) ? ?

The number of entries was similar to last year which was disappointing although the participation of young players was slightly increased possibly due to the lower entry fee this year for U-19's.

Format

The format was commented upon favourably by some of the players including the following features:

1. Name markers were provided for players in all sections except the novices. This helped players get to know familiar faces by name.

2. Large wall charts were provided for each section as seen in other successful tournaments.

3. Rounds started on time as advertised in general. (Round 1 in the Junior was 13 mins late due to late entries.) This was partly because late entries were reduced thanks to a late entry fee of £3. (The first round draw was done using cards while the other draws were done using Protos 6, except in the senior section where the draw was done manually following an anomalous draw in round 2 by Protos, probably caused by incorrectly inputting results in round 1 as results rather than half point byes.)

4. Sets were provided for all sections. This helped rounds start on time and minimised noise.

5. Players space was increased by generally having no more than two boards per large table and using the large hall for the lower sections when available.

6. The FIDE rules, FIDE and ICU rating lists were available for players to consult.

7. Double scoresheets with carbon copies were supplied for all sections and bulletins were prepared for the Senior,Intermediate and Junior sections.This helped confirm game results minimising errors in the draw.

8. Time controls were lengthened to 2 hrs (Intermediate) and 1 hr 45 mins (Junior) for all moves.

9. A ladies prize was awarded in the Senior and Open Weekender sections.

10. Young players U-19 entered generally for half price.

11. Game commentary on senior games in progress was well attended on two evenings from 6 to 8 p.m.

12. A blindfold simul against two opponents was played by Gerry MacElligott (+2=0-0).

13. Up to date ratings were provided thanks to the rating officers.

The above changes were made in an attempt to raise the status of the Irish Championships in the hope of increasing participation in the years to come. Any comments, favourable or otherwise are welcome. Most of the improvements were copied from tournaments such as Kilkenny, Bunratty, Ballyfermot, City of Dublin as well as tournaments in France and England such as the British Championships. Thanks to the players the chess was played in a friendly, convivial but compeditive atmosphere with no major disputes. Good sporting conduct was observed by all.

Accounts

											Calc			Actual
Income	Adult	Youth	Entries					Tot	Tot	Tot	Tot			Totals
in IR£	Entry	Entry	Adult	Youth	Total	Late	No.	Late	Adult	Junior	Entry			'98
	fee/£	fee/£				fee/£	lates	fees	fees	fees	fees
Senior	30	20	16	4	20	3	2	6	480	80	566			566
Inter	15	7	13	5	18	3	3	9	195	35	239			239
Junior	13	6	24	15	39	3	1	3	312	90	405			405
WEnd	15	7	41	6	47	3	6	18	615	42	675			675
Novice	0	0			22	0		0	0	0	0			0
ICU grant														1000
Total			94	30	146	12	12	36	1602	247	1885			2885

Expenditure
Senior			1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	GP		Ladies
	Plan		500	250	150	100	50	50		30		Total
Factor	0.7		1	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7		0.7
	Real		500	175	105	70	35	35		20		940
Inter			1st	2nd	3rd			GP
	Plan		200	100	60			40
Factor	0.7		1	0.7	0.7			0.7
	Real		200	60	35			25				320
Junior			1st	2nd	3rd			GP
	Plan		120	70	40			30
Factor	0.7		1	0.7	0.7			0.7
	Real		120	40	24			18				202
WEnd			1st	2nd	3rd	gp1	gp2	gp3		Ladies
	Plan		200	100	60	60	45	30		20
Factor	0.7		1	0.7	0.7					0.7			Prizes
	Real		200	70	42	30	25	20		15		402	1864
Expenses
Rooms Rental												400
Controllers Exp.					Ideal Rate	Fac	Real Rate		sess.	Rate/£	Amt/£
Senior	JL147	AT10	KR10		15	0.7	10.5		16	10.5	168
Inter	EMcM								4	10.5	42
Junior	RMcD	42	DOB	10					5	10.5	52.5
WEnd+Com	CQ								4	10.5	42
Comm(SB)	5	JC	5	MH	5	GM	5		2	10.5	21	325.5
Other Exp.				Pritt,	tape					7
				Scor	shts					74
				Paper						10
				Card						10
				Misc			Disc			22
				Inter	Trophy					100
				Ink						27			Tot ex
				Bar	Staff					40		290	1015.5
Total Expend	Prizes	and	Exp.											2879.5
											profit-	loss=		5.5
Not claimed:	Phone	Post
Not included	above			Bull-	etin			Inc.	126	Cost	25	profit	101
Expenses	to pay			Est	12	to	44				net	profit	57

Acknowledgements

The Irish Chess Championships 1998 were run principally by members of Elm Mount Chess Club, Dublin and Drogheda Chess Club, Co.Louth.

Thanks to

Eugene McMurrow (Elm Mount) Controller Intermediate Section, produced the wall charts, assisted with Senior Section

Roland McDermott (Public Service) Controller Junior Section, assisted with Senior Section

Ciarán Quinn (Elm Mount) Controller Open Weekender, assisted with Senior Section, game analysis in Commentary Room

Andrew Thomson (Drogheda) Asst. Controller Senior Section, Sat 11th

Kieran Rogers (Drogheda) Asst. Controller Senior Section, Sun 12th

Donal O'Boyle (Drogheda) Asst. Controller Junior Section, Wed 15th

Michael Crowe, Gay Martin and Christy Dowling Controllers Novices Section, Tues. 14th

Joe Reid, Karl Vernor, John Crowley Assisted during busy periods

Gerry MacElligott (Elm Mount) Blindfold Simultaneous Display (+2=0-0), assisted with Senior Section

Stephen Brady (Public Service) Commentary Room Analysis

Michael Dooley (St. Benildus) Input Games in Senior Section

Pat Constant Input Games in Senior Section

John Kennedy Input Games in Senior Section

Various players Input Games in Intermediate and Junior Sections.

Brian, Dave and all the Bar Staff

Tadgh and Stephen for their co-operation as management

Gerry O'Connell and the Irish Chess Union Supplied and Delivered Chess Sets and Clocks

John Hurley and the Leinster Chess Union Supplied and Delivered Chess Sets

Herbert Scarry Supplied FIDE Rules and Handbook, ICU Membership Lists, ICU Rules.

Mervyn Honner and John Crowley Provided up to date ratings.

Andrew Thomson Hand Carved the Intermediate Trophy

Gerry Graham Limerick) Supplied the ICU laptop at short notice with new software.

Members of the ICU Committee who helped with advice and moral support included:

Gerry O'Connell, Michael Crowe, Maurice Buckley.

Publicity Stephen Brady, Rebecca Jeffares, Michael Crowe, John Hurley and others.

Thanks to The Irish Times for the picture of John Kennedy playing in the Senior Section, published on Monday 13th July 1998.

Apologies to anyone I have left out.

John Loughran, Tournament Director, ICU.

(Member of Elm Mount and Drogheda Chess Clubs)