CHESS IRELAND - NEWS
NEWS AND RESULTS - Jan 97/Feb 98
BUNRATTY
14-year old Luke McShane won the 1998 Bunratty Masters title in memorable fashion at the Fitzpatrick Bunratty Shamrock Hotel defeating GM John Nunn on time in a blitz play-off after the pair had finished a half-point ahead of a field which included four grandmasters and four IMs as well as several top local players. Trailing just behind the co-winners were resident Russian GM Alexander Baburin and former world championship candidate GM Jon Speelman who drew their individual sixth round game. Significant results by local players included Stephen Brady's win with the black pieces over 2480-rated IM Jonathan Rowson while Antony Fox secured his second consecutive Bunratty draw with GM Baburin.
1998 Bunratty Chess Festival, Feb 20-22: Masters Jt 1st L.McShane (Eng - winner on tiebreak) IM, J. Nunn (Eng) GM 5/6, Jt 3rd J. Speelman (Eng) GM, A.Baburin (Rus/Irl) GM 4.5/6. Best Irish: M.O’Cinneide, S.Brady 4/6. Grading Prize: S. Connolly 3/6. Major 1st-4th B.Thee (winner on tiebreak), F.Noonan, S.Collins, C.Hussey 5/6. GPs G.Freeman, T.Hunter, S.McCabe. Minor Jt 1st C.Jackson (winner on tiebreak), W.Batt 5.5/6, 3rd D.Smith 5. GPs D.O'Shaughnessy, W.Fitzgibbon, B.Austin, G.Gunning, D.Oguz.
Williamson Shield, Belfast
Jan 24-25: lst S.Scannell 5.5, Jt 2nd T.Clarke, A.Pinkerton, N.Graham, M.Holmes, J.Browne 4.5. Grading prizes: T.Beckett, J.McCann.
Ballyfermot CC Annual Tournament, Ierne Ballroom
Jan 31-Feb 1: Senior lst C.Daly 4.5/5, 2nd S.Brady 4, Jt 3rd A.Kelly, J.Killane, D.McMahon 3.5. Intermediate: Jt lst H.Khonji, P.Divilly 4/5, Jt 3rd P.Dunne, R.Goetzee, D.Dempsey, B.J.Horan, G.Behan, B.Luco 3.5. Grading prize: K.Rodgers. Junior: Jt lst P.J.Anderson, S.Kelly 5/5, Jt 3rd E.Gahan, T.Jennings, A.Rodgers 4. GPs: M.Gartry, C.McCrann, M.Duffy.
Junior Interprovincials, Cork: Feb. 14-15
Sponsored by The Examiner and held in Cork, the Junior Interprovincials proved to be something of a procession for the two Leinster teams. U-19: lst Leinster 16.5/18, 2nd Ulster 9.5, 3rd Munster 1. U-16: lst Leinster 18/18, 2nd Ulster 5.5, 3rd Munster 3.5. Connaught did not participate.
Munster League Division One Update
This year Douglas, the perennial champions, have again not fielded a
team, with some of their members now playing for the Carrigaline club.
Waterford are the current holders (the first non Cork team to hold the
title, I'm informed), but are having a difficult time defending their
title.
All matches are over 5 boards in the Munster league. Each team plays the
others twice during the season.
The most notable results have been; Cork 4, CCYMS 1; Charleville 3,
Waterford 2; Limerick 'B' 3, Waterford 2; CCYMS 5, Limerick 'B' 0; Limerick 'A' 2.5
Cork 2.5; Waterford 2.5, Limerick 'A' 2.5;
Leaders at Christmas break
Cork City ; 16 pts after 5 matches
Limerick 'A' ; 16 pts " 5 "
CCYMS ; 15 pts " 5 "
Limerick 'B' ; 11 pts " 6 "
Charleville ; 10.5 pts " 5 "
Waterford ; 9.5 pts " 4 "
Carrigaline ; 7 pts " 4 "
Courtesy Martin O'Grady, Cork CC
Nortel Ulster Senior Championships, 27th-30th December 1997:
Equal 1st M Holmes,
J McDonnell 5.5; T Clarke, S Scannell 4.5; J Nicholson (shared top grading prize)
, S Campbell (shared top grading prize), J Brown (second grading prize) 4;
A Skelton, T Douglas, N Graham, D Murtagh, S Moore 3.5; D Mallaghan, P McLoughlin,
B O'Neill 3; M Kelly 2; D Wilkinson, A Douglas 1.5.
Ulster Intermediate Championships, 13th-14th December 1997: N Graham 5.5; G Annesley 4.5; B O'Neill 4; J Masterson (grading
prize), R
Henderson, W McGrattan 3.5; A Burns, S McConaghy, S Moore, B Jaffa 3; J
Strawbridge, B Jamison, N Fisher, C Dunleavy 2.5; R Proctor 1; P McLoughlin 0.5.
Ulster Junior Championships, 13th-14th December 1997: D Truesdale 6; J Canning 4.5; A Parker 3.5; A Beckett 3 (grading
prize); S Scullion,
A Elliot, B Shaw, F Marlow 2.5; S Elliot 2.
Kilkenny Congress, Nov 30-Dec 1
League tables
Division 1 P W D L Pts Division 2 P W D L Pts Division 3 P W D L Pts
---------- ---------- ----------
N Belfast A 4 4 0 0 21.5 NorTel 4 3 1 0 21.5 Shorts B 4 4 0 0 23.5
Newtownards 5 2 2 1 19 Bangor A 4 3 0 1 17.5 Fisherwick C 5 3 0 2 20.5
Malachians 4 2 0 2 14 Fisherwick B 3 2 1 0 15 Bangor C 4 2 1 1 15
Fisherwick A 4 1 1 2 13 Shorts A 4 2 0 2 14.5 St Agnes B 4 2 1 1 15
CIYMS A 3 0 1 2 7 Bangor B 4 0 1 3 8.5 Carrick 5 1 0 4 12.5
Civil Service 3 0 0 3 4.5 Magherafelt 3 0 2 1 7.5 Post Office 4 2 0 2 12
N Belfast B 3 1 1 1 1 St Agnes A 4 0 1 3 6.5 CIYMS B 4 0 0 4 6.5
Caledonian Masters - Final IM Norm for Bryan Kelly
Monday 15th to Friday 19th December, 1997. 1st D Gormally (IM 2425) 6.5/9; 2-3rd
K Arkell (GM 2480), B Kelly (IRL 2390); 4-7th P Lehtivaara (FIN 2370), L McShane
(IM 2455), Ri Bates (IM 2345), C Crouch (IM 2375). With this third norm Bryan
needs a rating of 2400 to secure the IM title. Recent performances should achieve
this.
Kilkenny Congress, Nov 30-Dec 1
Iona Technologies Int. Masters lst GM M.Adams 5.5/6, 2nd GM A.Baburin 5, 3rd IM M.Orr 4.5, Jt 4th GMs J.Nunn, D.King, IMs M.Hennigan, D.Gormally, L.McShane, M.O'Cinneide (best untitled Irish player prize).
Major lst E.O'Connor 5.5/6, 2nd R.O'Rourke 5, Jt 3rd S.O'Cearnaigh, S.Connolly, M.O'Grady, T.Rufli, W.Sauer 4.5. Grading prizes: R.McDermott, L.Brady, S.Short, E.Spring.
Junior Jt lst P.Hayes, J.McKeon 5.5/6, Jt 3rd B.Horan jr, J.O'Leary, T.Creighton, S.Scott 5.
Dec 1, Iona Blitz: Final GM Watson bt M.Heidenfeld (semi-final conqueror of M.Adams).
Limerick Open, Oct.24-26
lst C.Daly 6/6, 2nd M.Burniston 5, Jt 3rd D.Collins, P.McMahon, P.Walsh, L.O'Toole, P.O'Connell. Grading prizes: C.McInerney (4.5), P.Fahy, P.Donovan, P.Fahy, T.Fitzpatrick, T.O'Flynn (4), A.Coughlan, C.Cleary, G.Casey, K.Forde, L.Hackett, W.Brennan, D.Gray (3.5).
City of Dublin Championships, Wynn's Hotel, Sep 20-21
Senior Jt lst C.Daly, S.Brady 4/5, Jt 3rd D.McMahon. Grading prize: D.Collins 3.5/5. Intermediate: Jt lst S.Collins, C.Hussey 4.5/5, 3rd E.Bennett 4. GP M.Dooley. Junior: lst G.Behan 5/5, Jt 2nd D.O'Brien, C.O'Neill 4.5/5. GPs: J.Ryan, B.Robinson, G.Henrick.
European U-20s, Tallinn Estonia
Brian Kelly finished on 6.5/11 in joint 6-12th position.
Dublin Classic, Dublin Arts Club, August 30-31
lst C.Daly 4.5/5, Jt 2nd G.O'Connell, D.McMahon, R.O'Rourke, S.Collins 4. Grading prizes: R.McDermott 3.5, M.Burniston 2.5.
National Club Championships, QUB, Belfast, Sep. 13-14
lst Nth Belfast 13, 2nd Crumlin 11, 3rd Malachians 7, 4th Waterford 5.
City of Dublin Championships, Wynn's Hotel, Sep 20-21
RESULTS: SeniorJt lst C.Daly, S.Brady 4/5, Jt 3rd D.McMahon. Grading prize: D.Collins 3.5/5. Intermediate: Jt lst S.Collins, C.Hussey 4.5/5, 3rd E.Bennett 4. GP M.Dooley. Junior: lst G.Behan 5/5, Jt 2nd D.O'Brien, C.O'Neill 4.5/5. GPs: J.Ryan, B.Robinson, G.Henrick.
European Juniors at Tallinn, Estonia (August 97)
Irish scores: U-12: Simon Jeffares 2.5/9; U-14: Neil D'Rosario 3/9; U-16: Paul Dempsey 3.5/9.
Joe Ryan - 1997 Irish Champion.
The 1997 Irish champion is Joe Ryan who won the national title and £500 first prize last weekend at the Teachers Club with a near perfect tally of 8.5/9. Won in style, the title was not however won without a struggle. The 28-year old Dubliner was one of two players to impose themselves on this year's event and it took fully nine rounds to separate the rivals' contending claims. After a draw in their individual game in round two, the eventual winner and former two-times champion Stephen Brady each beat second seed Colm Daly on consecutive days before setting about the rest of the challengers in the 18-man field. Both had dropped only a half-point when Ryan's final round four-hour victory over Danny Roberts left Brady needing to match him for a share of the spoils. After six and a half hours of trying to win a Q and opposite colour bishop ending a pawn up, Brady let Antony Fox in for a perpetual check draw and with it let slip a share of the title. In a year of extravagant scoring unmitigated by the Swiss pairing system, last year's joint winner Colm Daly ironically produced his finest ever score in the national championship ... only to end up a point and a half shy of the victor.
RESULTS: 1997 Irish Senior Championship, Dublin, July 12-20 - lst J.Ryan 8.5/9, 2nd S.Brady 8, 3rd C.Daly 7, Jt 4th D.McMahon, G.O’Connell 5. 18 played. Irish Intermediate: lst B.Fitzpatrick 5/6, 2nd E.Bennett 4.5, Jt 3rd T.O'Brien, G.Freeman 4. Irish Junior: 1st M.Dooley 5, Jt 2nd D.Path, D.Smith, A.Burns 4.5. Irish Novices: 1st M.McGuire, 2nd C.Kenny, 3rd A.Doyle. Summer Weekender #2: Jt lst K.Butler, P.Murtagh, R.Dunne, R.McDermott, T.O'Brien 4/5. Grading prize: J.O'Connell.
ICU cttee, 1997/98
1. J.Crowley Ratings
2. H.Scarry Membership
3. G.O'Connell Treasurer
4. S.Brady Vice-Chairman
5. M.Buckley Chairman
6. J.Forde Junior
7. M.O'Cinneide Secretary
8. M.Crowe Development
Brian Kelly's second full IM norm
Congratulations are due to Brian Kelly who has made his second IM norm with a round to spare at a closed ten player IM tournament in Newport, Wales and should now be ratified as Ireland's second native IM. The 18-year old Belfast player, Irish champion in 1995, made an IM "performance norm" at the Linares Zonal in November 1995, a norm proper at the World Junior Championships in the Balearics last year. If - big if, according to Kevin O'Connell, Irish FIDE delegate - his performance norm at Linares is allowed to count towards the title, his latest success will be his third qualifying norm and will bring his grading to over ELO 2400, the current grading threshold for the IM title. At the ICU AGM on Sunday 13th, the ICU advised that it would be submitting an IM title application for Brian on the basis of the above results.
Brian went on to Zagan in Poland for the World U-20s after Newport and ended up scoring 6/13. Some notable results included draws against current French champion Christian Bauer (FIDE 2525), third seed Sergei Movsesian (2555) and a win against fifth seed, Boris Avrukh (2550), the latter two both GMs. By my calculations, Brian needed a win in round 10 against IM Florian to definitively nail the IM title by registering another IM norm .... he lost this game and appears to have tired near the end of the event.
St Benildus
* RESULTS: St Benildus Tournament, June 28-29. Open Jt lst C.Daly (winner on tiebreak), J.Ryan 4/5. 3rd S.Brady 3.5/5. Grading prize: P.Walsh. Intermediate: Jt lst G.Freeman, C.Fitzmaurice 4/5. Jt 3rd E.Casey, J.Kennedy snr, J.Phelan, R.McDermott 3.5. GP: B.Horan. Junior lst K.Rodgers 4.5/5, Jt 2nd A.Rodgers, P.Hayes, N.Connors 4/5. GPs: K.Burke, J.Thompson.
C.Daly bt J.Ryan in last round, S.Brady in rd 3 after losing to Paul Walsh in rd 2. Danielle Collins drew with S.Brady, beat me. 70 played.
European Championships - Irish results by round
Pula, Croatia - May 5-15th 1997
Notes: Irish FIDE ratings where applicable / ETCC scores: Daly 2310, 4.5/9, Heidenfeld 2335, 0/6, Ryan
2245, 2.5/9, O'Cinneide 2255, 5/9, Hurley 2205, 0.5/3. Connolly 2.5/7, Collins 1.5/7, Quinn 0.5/4. Player in
bold had white pieces.
Round 1
Men - Ireland v Sweden (1-3)
Colm Daly draw GM Pia Cramling 2545
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 GM Ralf Akesson 2515
Joe Ryan 0-1 IM Johan Hellsten 2485
Mel O'Cinneide draw IM Lars Degerman 2480
Women - Ireland v Spain (1-1)
Suzanne Connolly 1-0 WIM M.-L. Cuevas Rodriguez 2230
Danielle Collins 0-1 WIM Monica Calzetta 2200
Round 2
Men - Ireland v Croatia II (0.5-3.5)
Colm Daly draw GM Ognjen Cvitan 2550
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 IM Robert Zelcic 2455
Joe Ryan 0-1 IM Davor Rogic 2455
Mel O'Cinneide 0-1 IM Hrvoje Stevic 2400
Women - Ireland v Poland (0-2)
Suzanne Connolly 0-1 WGM Agnieszka Brustman 2415
Danielle Collins 0-1 Monika Aksiuczyc 2165
Round 3
Men - Ireland v Scotland (3-1)
Colm Daly 1-0 Timothy Upton 2285
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 IM Andrew Muir 2300
Joe Ryan 1-0 Jonathan Grant 2275
Mel O'Cinneide 1-0 Chris Morrison 2215
Women - Ireland v Croatia II (0.5-1.5)
Danielle Collins draw WIM Mara Djeno-Jelica 2190
Debbie Quinn 0-1 Brigita Stadler 2075
Round 4
Men - Ireland v Slovenia (1.5-2.5)
Colm Daly 1-0 GM Drazen Sermek 2575
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 IM Georg Mohr 2495
Joe Ryan 0-1 IM Aljosa Grosar 2495
Mel O'Cinneide draw IM Dusko Pavasovic 2460
Women - Ireland v Slovakia (0-2)
Suzanne Connolly 0-1 Regina Pokorna 2195
Debbie Quinn 0-1 Andrea Ciganikova 2115
Round 5
Men - Ireland v Austria (1-3)
Colm Daly 0-1 IM Nikolaus Stanec 2460
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 IM Franz Hoelzl 2415
Joe Ryan 0-1 IM Georg Danner 2430
Mel O'Cinneide 1-0 Alfred Felsberger 2395
Women - Ireland v Turkey (0.5-1.5)
Suzanne Connolly draw Nilufer Cinar 2070
Danielle Collins 0-1 Emine Sanli
Round 6
Men - Ireland v Wales (2.5-1.5)
Colm Daly 1-0 IM David Cummings 2375
Joe Ryan 0-1 Charles Morris 2215
Mel O'Cinneide 1-0 Alan Spice 2185
John Hurley draw John Saunders 2240
Women - Ireland v Portugal (0.5-1.5)
Suzanne Connolly draw Maritza Valdes 2120
Danielle Collins 0-1 Aida Ferreira
Round 7
Men - Ireland v Portugal (1.5-2.5)
Colm Daly draw IM Rui Damaso 2465
Joe Ryan 0-1 Sergio Rocha 2405
Mel O'Cinneide 1-0 IM Antonio Frois 2350
John Hurley 0-1 Carlos Santos 2340
Women - Ireland v Italy (1-1)
Suzanne Connolly draw Alessandra Riegler 2050
Debbie Quinn draw Giuliana Fittante
Round 8
Men - Ireland v Azerbaijan (1-3)
Colm Daly 0-1 IM Aidyn Guseinov 2430
Joe Ryan 1-0 Anar Allaherdiev 2380
Mel O'Cinneide 0-1 Rauf Gadjilu 2290
John Hurley 0-1 IM Fikret Sideif-Zade 2435
Women - Ireland v Austria (1-1)
Danielle Collins 1-0 WIM Helene Mira 2230
Debbie Quinn 0-1 Jutta Borek 2085
Round 9
Men - Ireland v Turkey (0.5-3.5)
Colm Daly 0-1 IM Can Arduman 2405
Mark Heidenfeld 0-1 IM Turham Yilmaz 2390
Joe Ryan draw Suat Soylu 2395
Mel O'Cinneide 0-1 Ali Ipek 2300
Women - Ireland v Sweden (0-2)
Suzanne Connolly 0-1 WIM Victoria Johansson 2135
Danielle Collins 0-1 Eva Jiretorn 2070
ALL-IRELAND COLLEGES RESULTS
RESULTS: April 25-26, Belfast: U-19 lst Methodist 12.5, 2nd RBAI 11, 3rd
Blackrock 9.5. U-16 lst Gonzaga 15, 2nd Spirid Naomh 9. U-14 lst Gonzaga 13.5, 2nd RBAI 10.
With 3/3, Brian Kelly helped Methodist to victory in the U-19s. Brian will be representing Ireland at
the World Junior championships in Poland in July.
NA FIANNA'S 96/97 CAMPAIGN IN THE 4NCL
96-97 results from the 4NCL
Round
1 Na Fianna 6-2 Celtic Knights
2 Slough 6-2 Na Fianna
3 Witney 3-5 Na Fianna
4 NW Eagles 6-2 Na Fianna
5 Na Fianna 2-6 Invicta Knights
6 Na Fianna 3.5-4.5 Northumbria
7 Na Fianna 1.5-6.5 BCM
8 Bristol 5.5-2.5 Na Fianna
9 Richmond 4.5-3.5 Na Fianna
10 Na Fianna 2-6 Wessex
11 Na Fianna 4.5-3.5 Croydon 1859
12 Barbican 4.5-3.5 Na Fianna
Individual results for rounds 3-8
3 4 5 6 7 8
D.King 1 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 0
J.Richardson 0 0
C.O'Shaughnessy 1 0.5 0 0 0 0.5
M.Heidenfield 1 1
M.Lyell 1 0 0 0 0 0
P.Wallace 0
R.McMichael 0 0 0 0.5 1
C.MacKenzie 0 0
R.Thomas 0.5 0.5
R.Pearce 1 1 0.5
L.Suzuki 0
S. Connolly 0 0.5 0.5 0 0
M.O'Siochru 1 0 0 1 0 0
League Placings:
Midland Monarchs, Invicta Knights 18/18
Slough, Northumbria Vikings 14
Barbican 13
BCM 12
Wood Green 10
North West Eagles, Richmond, Bristol, South Wales Dragons 8
Wessex, Croydon, Guildford 6
Witney, NA FIANNA, Hertford 4
Celtic Knights 0
A couple of inglorious defeats:
McDonald (INVICTA KNIGHTS) - O'Shaughnessy (Na FIANNA)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3
Qc7 9.OOO b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 h6 12.Bh4 Be7 13.a3 Rc8 14.Kb1 g5
15.fg5 Ne5 16.Qe2 Nfd7 17.Qh5 Nc5 18.gh6 Bh4 19.Qh4 Qe7 20.Qf2 Rh6
21.h3 Qf6 22.Qe3 Qg7 23.Bf1 Rf6 24.g4 Qh7 25.g5 Rf1 26.Rf1 Ne4 27.Ne4
Be4 28.Rf2 Nc4 29.Qf4 e5 30.Qg4 Rc7 31.Re1 d5 32.Nf5 Qg6 33.Re4 de4
34.Qe4 Qg5 35.Qa8+ Qd8 36.Ng7+ 1-0
Baker (BRISTOL)- King (NA FIANNA)
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.OO Bg7 7.d3 a6 8.Bxc6 Bxc6
9.Kh1 Qd7 10.Qe1 Nh6 11.Bd2 f5 12.Nd5 fxe4 13.Qxe4 Nf7 14.Rae1 Bxd5
15.Qxd5 OO 16.Ng5 Qc6 17.Qxc6 bxc6 18.Ne6 Rfb8 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.f5 gxf5
21.Rxe7 Re8 22.Bc3+ Kg6 23.Rfe1 Ne5 24.Rc7 Re6 25.Rxc6 Rae8 26.Rxa6 Ng4
27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Rxe8 c4 29.h3 cxd3 30.Rg8+ Kf7 31.Rg7+ Ke6 32.cxd3 Nf2+
33.Kg1 Nxd3 34.Rxh7 Kd5 35.Rf7 f4 36.Kf1 Re6 37.a4 Ke4 38.a5 Ke3 39.Rf6
Re4 40.a6 Ra4 41.Re6+ 1-0
Alasdair comments: "Leaves Na Fianna on 6/24 match points, some way behind the leaders
Midland Monarchs on 21 with Slough, Invicta Knights and Northumbria on
20. Still it is an improvement on last year with some narrower defeats" and notes "also a C.Daly has
played 2 games (1.5 points) on board 2 for Northumbria. Shame he's playing for the wrong team!"
(ed. Colm was invited to play by the shortmanned Northumbria team at the end of the Cardiff IM tournament in February - the
IM tournaments run by Adam Raoof generally end the day before the weekend 4NCL programme.)
Late addition courtesy of Nigel Johnson
4NCL Marketing Director. Na Fianna relegated.
Final Table
4NCL P W D L MP GP
1 Midland Monarchs 12 10 1 1 21 62.5
2 Invicta Knights 12 9 2 1 20 59.0
3 Slough 12 10 1 1 20 64.0
4 Northumbria 12 9 2 1 20 61.5
5 Barbican 12 9 1 2 19 57.0
6 BCM 12 8 1 3 17 53.0
7 Bristol 12 7 0 5 14 47.5
8 North West Eagles 12 6 1 5 13 51.5
9 Wood Green 12 6 0 6 12 53.0
10 South Wales Dragons 12 5 1 6 11 43.0
11 Guildford 12 5 0 7 10 45.0
12 Richmond 12 4 1 7 9 44.5
13 R Wessex 12 4 0 8 8 45.5
14 R Croydon 1859 12 3 1 8 7 42.5
15 R Na Fianna 12 3 0 9 6 38.0
16 R Witney 12 2 0 10 4 37.5
17 R Hertford 12 2 0 10 4 32.5
18 R Celtic Knights 12 0 0 12 0 24.5
R = Relegated to Division 2.
Round 11
Na Fianna Croydon 1859
1 w J Donaldson 2405 ½-½ J. Wilson 2285
2 b S Berry 219 ½-½ C Dunworth 2335
3 w M Lyell 2200 1 - 0 S Ledger 2250
4 b R. McMichael 2200 ½-½ A. Harley 2265
5 w C. MacKenzie 187 ½-½ G Moore 2250
6 b R. Pearce 185 ½-½ D. Gunter 2155
7 w S. Connelly 155 0 - 1 J. McGrath 186
8 b M. O'Siochru 160 1 - 0 S. Turvey 128
4½-3½
Barbican Na Fianna
1 w P Lehtivaara 2365 ½-½ J Donaldson 2405
2 b C. Pritchett 2325 ½-½ S Berry 219
3 w A. Plueg 2310 1 - 0 C O'Shaughnessy 2260
4 b D Sands 2260 ½-½ M Lyell 2235
5 w M Twyble 2310 0 - 1 R. McMichael 2200
6 b G Kenworthy 2275 1 - 0 C. MacKenzie 187
7 w J Moore 2065 ½-½ S. Connelly 155
8 b H. Lang 2065 ½-½ M. O'Siochru 160
4½-3½
St Benildus A win the Branagan Cup
Results: LCU Branagan Cup, April 12-13 - lst St Benildus A 21/25 , 2nd Gonzaga 19 (team grading prize). Jt best game prize: O.Dunne / E.Casey .
A reinforced St Benildus A team (Ryan, Daly, O'Connell, McCarthy, Lyons etc) dominated from the
start. Disappointing turnout - eight teams participated.
Irish Teams for the European Championships
The Irish teams going to the European Championships in Pula, Croatia (May 5-15) are as follows:
Men - Colm Daly, Mark Heidenfeld, Joe Ryan, Mel O'Cinneide. Reserve / captain: John Hurley.
Women - Suzanne Connolly (captain), Danielle Collins, Deborah Quinn.
Easter Open - Eric McMahon
Results: lst E.McMahon 6/6. 2nd B.Galligan, C.Fitzmaurice 5/6. Grading prizes: S.Collins, N.Connors. Only 62 players
participated.
Irish Junior Championship results
Results: April 2-4: U-12 lst S.McDonald 7/8, 2nd E.Carey 6.5. U-14 lst
P.Keane 5.5/7, 2nd E.Welsh 5. U-16 lst C.Fitzmaurice 5/6, 2nd E.Casey. U-19 lst E.Spring 3.5/4.
Ladies U-19 - M.Cowley.
Ireland v Austria, friendly email international
Started March 1997, a ten board email international between Ireland and Austria features the following pairings:
Dr Mark Orr (IM fide) v Alexander Kure
David Houston v Mag. Zoedl Heinrich
David Blair v Mag. Robert J. Felber
Kieran Moynihan v Dr. Franz Patocka
John Gibson v Hartmuth Beck
John Hurley v Dr. Wolfgang Schmidt
Trevor Hunter v Markus Pock
Philip O’Connell v Wolfgang Kantner
Michael O’Callaghan v Roland Schweiger
Domhnall Bannigan v Dominik Troger
Brendan Kelly v Michael Csitkovics
Stephen Scannel first at Ulster Bank tournament, Belfast, March 14-16
Senior section S Scannell 5.0; K Greer, C Daly, T Douglas (u-1900 grading prize),
M Redman 4.5; M Holmes, D McAllister, P McLoughlin (u-1600 grading prize) 4.0; N Graham,
G Heathwood, R Henderson, T Clarke, D Mallaghan, I MacDonald 3.5; S Moore, R Proctor
(u-1500 grading prize), M Flanagan, A Pinkerton, A Burns 3.0; S McConaghy, S Lynn,
J Strawbridge, B Jamison, W McGrattan, A Cootes 2.5; D Truesdale, T Beckett, P McKillen 2.0;
B ONeill, M Kelly 1.5; C Dunleavy, B McCaughy 1.0. Junior section M Barr 5.5; N Fisher,
S McCann, F Marlow 4.0; B Walshe (u-1300 grading prize), G Collins (u-1200 grading prize) 3.5;
G Bell, G White, B Shaw 3.0; S Scullion, S Elliott, G Jackson 2.5; A Beckett 2.0;
J Downey 1.0.
Cork City Congress - GM BABURIN WINS
Results: lst A.Baburin 6/6, 2nd J.Joyce 4.5/6. GP P.Dempsey. JUNIOR lst C.Walsh 5.5/6, Jt 2-5th M.Burniston, J.O'Brien, W.Batt,
C.Kostick 4.5. GPs: P.O'Donovan, J.McKeon, L.Hackett, P.O'Donnell.
COLM DALY BEATS MCSHANE BUT MISSES IM NORM
Colm Daly came close to an IM norm at the Cardiff International Masters last week. With wins against Luke McShane, German IM Siebrecht and
top English junior Simon Williams, Colm was on 4/6 needing a win and two draws in his last two rounds to make the required 6/9. In the event, a penultimate round
loss to James Cobb cost him his chance while securing for Cobb one of the three norms (McShane, Gormally were the others) achieved in the tournament. Colm will have a chance
to make amends at the LCU International Masters, a similar format tournament (10 player, FIDE rated all-play-all) starting on March 25th in the Teachers Club.
At present, the nearly-complete line-up for this tournament is
as follows: IM Summerscale (ENG) 2500, IM Dumitrache (ROM) 2495, IM Etchegaray (FRA) 2275, FM Brady 2325, Daly 2310,
S.Gillen 2290, O'Cinneide 2255, Ryan 2245, A.Gillen 2230 with one player yet to confirm.
MEL O'CINNEIDE SHARES FIRST WITH GMs AT BUNRATTY
The Bunratty Masters was won jointly by GMs Speelman,
King and Mel O'Cinneide 4.5/6. O'Cinneide drew with Speelman, Orr (black pieces) and with Baburin (white) in the last round.
Note that Tony Fox also drew with GM Baburin.
RESULTS/GAMES: Bunratty Chess Festival, Feb 14-16: Bunratty Masters - Jt lst-3rd GM J.Speelman, GM D.King, M.O'Cinneide 4.5/6, Jt
4th-6th GM A.Baburin, P.Short, IM J.Rowson 4, Jt 7-8th J.Hurley, E.Keogh 3.5 (GPs). Intermediate - lst
P.Walsh 5.5/6, Jt 2nd-4th S.Jeffares, L.O'Brien, M.Ni Siochru 5/6. Grading prizes: J.Crowley, P.O'Connell.
Junior lst R.O'Mahony 5.5/6, Jt 2nd-3rd M.Gartry, P.O'Sullivan 5. GPs: P.Lynch, D.O'Shaughnessy, D.Smith,
N.Douglas, D.Turpin.
JOE RYAN WINS BALLYFERMOT SENIOR
RESULTS: Ballyfermot Congress, 30th Jan-lst Feb: Senior lst J.Ryan 4.5/5, 2nd C.Daly 4, 3rd O.Dunne 3.5.
Intermediate: lst E.Spring 4.5/5, 2nd T.Fitzpatrick 4, Jt 3rd D.Quinn, S.Turner, T.O'Flynn, P.Malone,
J.Kennedy. Junior: Jt lst: John Farren, E.Gahan, A.Lowy 4.5. Novice: lst A.O'Kearney 4.5, Jt 2nd P.Malone,
J.Burke, K.Howey. Grading prize: D.Piggott. 130 players took part.
Surprises were Christian Fitzmaurice's draw against Colm Daly which cost the latter a share of first place.
The winner of the Intermediate, Eoin Spring (13) from Straffan looks like a great prospect.
DALY, KELLY JT FIRST
RESULTS: Belfast, Williamson Shield, January 24-26. Jt lst C.Daly, B.Kelly 5/6 (not without mishaps...both
top seeds lost their third round games to, respectively, Steven Scannell and Adrian Skelton, and ended
without playing eachother), Jt 3rd T.Clarke, A.Skelton, S.Scannell 4.5. Grading prizes: T.Douglas,
W.McGrattan, S.McCann.
XMAS IN THE UK
At the Edinburgh International Masters in December, Colm Daly scored 3.5/6 to finish
behind winner Mark Ferguson (6.5) and IM norm achievers Kinsman (final norm) and McShane (6). Colm
started off well with a draw as black against Kinsman and was doing well on +1 before losing the last three
games.
At Hastings, fewer Irish competed than in previous years. Peter Cafolla scored 4/9 (recovering from 1.5/6) while
Tony Fox scored 3.5/9.
CARRICKFERGUS ACTIVE
RESULTS:Carrickfergus Castle Active Tournament, Sat 18th Jan 1997: N
Green, N Graham 4.0; P McLoughlin, B McComb, C Johnston 3.5; R
Henderson, N Cooper 3.0; A McConnell, B Walshe 2.5; M Kane, P
McKillen, J Steen, P Morrison 2.0; P McDermott 1.5; G Hindley 1.0;
M Robinson 0.5.