The latest news on next weekends Ennis Congress is that English GMs Gawain Jones and Simon Williams will be participating!
p.s. GM Mihai Suba is also playing.
For further information check this out.
May 14
Ennis Congress 2012 Update
May 08
Thursdays Blitz Results (3rd May 2012)
The April blitz was won by WIM Hoang Xuan Thanh Khiet, with 4.5/5.
Fair dues to Paul Ward for being the only player to draw with Kheit.
Second was Pete Morriss with 3.5/5.
This Thursday is the club AGM.
May 02
April/May Blitz Tournament
In the Bridge Club next Thursday, 3 May:
Our monthly blitz event has been somewhat delayed, because of our concentration on team matches.
The usual rules apply: a six round Swiss, with 10 minutes each per player per game. It starts at 8 (prompt); late-comers can be admitted into round 2 (or 3), though you will diminish your chance of winning a prize – and, of course, miss out on playing some chess.
This will be our last blitz tournament until the Autumn – so take the opportunity to play some fast and friendly chess!
May 01
NCC 2012 – Result
The final day of the NCC was a lot more successful as Galway comfortably won both matches. However we faced much weaker teams.
Our match results were:
| Day 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galway | 1 | Adare | 5 | |
| Galway | 1.5 | Gonzaga | 4.5 | |
| Day 2 | ||||
| Galway | 4.5 | Limerick | 1.5 | |
| Galway | 4.5 | Sarsfields | 1.5 |
We came 4th which matches our seeding. Adare had the strength in depth to cruise home in 1st place ahead of Gonzaga. Ennis came third after loosing to Gonzaga’s board order tricks:
| Place | Team | Avg Rating | Team Score | Game Score | ECC 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adare | 2211 | 3.5 | 16.5 | Qualified |
| 2 | Gonzaga | 2007 | 3 | 16.0 | Qualified |
| 3 | Ennis | 2068 | 2.5 | 15.0 | |
| 4 | Galway | 1909 | 2 | 11.5 | |
| 5 | Sarsfield | 1824 | 1 | 10.5 | |
| 6 | Limerick | 1503 | 0 | 2.5 |
A full set of results can be found at the ICU website.
For an Ennis perspective on the event go here.
Apr 29
NCC 2012 – Update
The National Club Championships are under way in Adare, Co. Limerick. Galway lost the first round to 5 – 1 to the favourites Adare. See here for individual scores. Most of us were out rated by about 300 points. Even so I think the team was a bit disappointed not to give them a better run for their money.
Galway on the left in action against Adare
One Galway player however didn’t read the script. Yuri Rochev on board one for Galway scored a very impressive win over Romanian IM Valeanu.
In Round 2 we faced Gonzaga. This was a more even contest. However Gonzaga gambled on board order. Only Sam Collins on top board was where you’d expect him to be. The plan worked as they won 4.5-1.5.
Game of the round was John Cormican against Gordon Freeman on board 5. John had Gordon on the ropes after a great N for 2P sac. Gordon hung on playing only-moves for ages until Johns attack fizzled out. I’ll post it as soon as I can get it.
Apr 25
National Club Championships 2012
This event and the associated qualification for the European Club Cup have been the source of endless controversy since Galway first played in 2005. I could run an entire blog on the various machinations of this one event!
Galway has on occasion been in the eye of the storm. We used to get a free pass into this event when other teams had to win their provincial league. Connaught had only one senior chess club team so we would look forward to our one and only outing in the year. In fact it was the exact same scenario as with the Galway hurlers free pass into the All Ireland hurling semi final for many years. The fallout of much begrudgery against Galways right to play was an open event where any team can play as long as the average rating of the team was above 1600.
For anybody present at any NCC since 2005 you’d have to laugh at any question of Galways right to play. For a start we have always had a team with a fair chance of finishing 1st or 2nd. And then there’s the fact that every year we are the only team whose players all live and work in the geographical area the club represents. Holding to the spirit of the founders of the event is important to the club.
8 of the most talented Galway players will once again line out next weekend (28th – 29th April 2012) in the Dunraven Arms Hotel, Adare, Co. Limerick.
Pop in if you are in the area and check this site for live updates.
Apr 18
Winter League 2011/12 Final Result
The winter league came to a conclusion a couple of weeks ago. The winner was Pete Morriss with a score of 6/7. Congratulations Pete on your second winter league title!
Second was Felix Calleja who was the main challenger to Pete for the last few rounds.
A notable mention should be made for Joona Kiiska who joined the competition after the first 3 rounds and managed to score 4/4.
| Place | Name | Rating | Score | Buch | Progr | MBuch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morriss, Pete | 1888 | 6/7 | 18.0 | 26.5 | 21.0 |
| 2 | Calleja, Felix | 1511 | 5.5/7 | 20.0 | 29.0 | 23.5 |
| 3-4 | Path, David | 1966 | 4.5/7 | 21.0 | 30.0 | 20.5 |
| 3-4 | McCann, David | 1581 | 4.5/7 | 16.5 | 23.5 | 18.5 |
| 5-7 | Ward, Paul | 1595 | 4/7 | 19.5 | 27.0 | 17.0 |
| 5-7 | Abberton, Ger | 1200 | 4/7 | 18.0 | 25.0 | 15.0 |
| 5-7 | Kiiski, Joona | 1900 | 4/4 | 14.0 | 20.0 | 10.0 |
| 8-9 | Abberton, Eamonn | 1410 | 3.5/7 | 19.5 | 25.5 | 15.0 |
| 8-9 | Baird, David | 1572 | 3.5/7 | 19.0 | 27.0 | 16.0 |
| 10-12 | Cunningham, Amos | 1000 | 3/7 | 15.5 | 22.0 | 12.0 |
| 10-12 | Golz, Adam | 1375 | 3/7 | 14.0 | 20.5 | 14.0 |
| 10-12 | Piercy, David | 941 | 3/7 | 14.0 | 20.5 | 10.5 |
| 13 | Korir, Paul | 800 | 2.5/7 | 15.0 | 20.0 | 7.0 |
| 14 | O Connell, Michael | 1200 | 2/7 | 17.0 | 23.5 | 9.0 |
| 15-16 | Byrne, Andrew | 800 | 1.5/7 | 14.0 | 19.0 | 1.0 |
| 15-16 | Pop, Melinda | 1500 | 1.5/7 | 12.5 | 17.0 | 2.0 |
The next league will begin in September (I’ll post details closer to the time).
Apr 13
Ennis Chess Congress 2012
In May the annual Ennis Chess Congress is happening as usual in the Auburn Lodge.
The Ennis Congress is, from my experience, the most chilled out tournament of the year. By the time this tournament comes around the pattern to your season is well defined. It’s too late to change your fortunes. It’s time to eschew your boring-but-reliable lines you’ve been frustrating opponents to death with all year (c3 Scillian and Colle players take a bow) and uncork those fanciful lines Morozevich et al. have been playing. Or maybe find out first hand why the Budapest is rubbish and have a laugh about it later with your opponent 
Of course there’s always the craic to be had in the company of the Ennis lads. And in the last few years there has been a GM or two floating around.
Here’s the info:
Venue : Auburn Lodge Hotel, Galway Road, Ennis
Dates : 18th - 20th May
2 Sections :
- Under 1400
- Open
6 round event with the 1st Round starting on Friday @ 8 pm
Prize Fund €1600 ( Depending on entries )
Entry Fee : Adults €35 / Juniors €25
All players to be members of ICU
Accommodation : Contact Auburn Lodge Hotel 0656821247 ( Special Congress Rates )
Inquiries and Entries to:
John Cassidy Tel: 0872495913 or 0656824642
email: (put this back together) ennischessclub at hotmail dot com
Apr 12
Club Activity, Thurs, 12 April
This will be a social evening: friendly games with other club members.
Also, by popular request, some members will show us a game or two which they have played recently – which we hope will be instructive and interesting for all.
If you have a game that you would like to show us (and receive – helpful – comments on) then please bring it along. However, please don’t rely on your memory: even grandmasters can’t remember their games faultlessly.
Apr 02
Oissine is Irish U-16 champion!
The Irish Junior Championships took place in Kilkenny last weekend (Mar 30th – Apr 1st). Topping the Under-16 section was Galway chess club member Oissine Murphy.
Congratulations Oissine!
Check out the ICU website for a full crosstable.