Club EGM on Friday Next

After the dreadful impact of COVID the club has been shut for more than two years. In addition, we have lost our premises as the parish has shut the parish centre.

Efforts are being made to restart activity in some form. We still haven’t found a suitable premises so currently it looks like we will have to merge with another club if the members wish to play in leagues this year.

To discuss this and any other options that members may suggest we are holding an EGM for all members on Friday next August 26th at 8pm in Colaiste Eanna, Rathfarnham.

Club Update

Club Update

In these difficult times hopefully we are all getting through as best we can.

Hopefully, we can get to an end of this situation and get back together to playing chess across-the-board both socially and competitively.

In regard to leagues, LCU are setting about the planning of resumption. They’re hoping to have something up and running in the new year but, as things stand, that’s looking very doubtful. We’ll let you know as soon as we have an update.

In advance of any opening-up we have a more pressing problem in the club. The Club’s premises on Grosvenor Road  are closed indefinitely so we have to find an alternative premises.We have looked et several possibilities but nothing definite yet there. If anyone has a suggestion for a suitable premises in the Rathmines/Rathgar/Terenure area we would appreciate letting us know and we can follow up and check the suitability.

Regarding premises either reply to this post or contact Jack, Nick, Peter, Pat or myself directly.

Tony

Chess During Closure

The club will remain closed until it is safe to return to over-the-board play. This is not likely to be for some time.

Meanwhile, there are many online sites for chess play: chess.com, chess24 etc. The ICU are running daily tournaments on lichess, see icu website and https://www.icu.ie/articles/888.

 

Club Closure

Due to Covid 19 the club will remain closed until further notice. All league matches are also postponed. Hopefully this will be come under control before too long and we can again enjoy our chess together. Meanwhile, there are more important considerations. Take care of yourself and especially those who are vulnerable.

Rapid Cancelled

Due to the Covid19 emergency the rapid scheduled for this evening has been cancelled.

Rapid in Club Next Thurs 12th

We will be holding a rapid in the club next Thursday, 12th. Time control  10mins + 5secs which amounts to about 30mins in total per game. First round at 8pm so we should have 5 or 6 rounds.

Rapid On Next Thursday 30th

We have a week free from league matches this week so on Thursday we are running a club blitz.

First round at 7.45pm. Time control of 10min + 5 secs so we should be able to have 5 or 6 rounds.

Make it if you can – the more the merrier!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our members. Wishing you all an enjoyable chess year. The club will be open from next Monday Jan 6th and thereafter on each Monday and Thursday.

 

Christmas Blitz Time Again

One of the highlights of the club calendar, the Christmas Blitz, will take place on Thursday 19th with first round at 8pm. With lots of prizes we hope that as many members as possible can make it and bring their Christmas spirit.

For those interested in ‘that sort of thing’ we will afterwards be adjourning to a local hostelry for a seasonal drink.

Rapid On Thursday Next 24th 8pm

We will be holding a rapid on Thursday next for all members and newcomers. The time-control will be 10mins +5secs per move each which amounts to about 15mins each per game. All going well we should have at least five rounds.

The draw will be seeded to avoid major imbalances as far as possible in match-ups.

The more we have playing the better for all  so if you can give it a go and we can have a fun tournament.

New Season Warm-Up On Thursday

With the leagues due to start in the next couple of weeks, we will have an informal warm-up competition on Thursday next, 18th, with first round at 8pm.

We’re probably not up to full blitz speed yet so we’ll play 5min+ 5sec which is the equivalent of 10mins each.

See you in the club.

New Season Under Way

The new 2019/2020 season is underway and now is a good time to get back into play on club nights.

• Club nights Monday And Thursday from 7.30.
• Experienced players welcome to come along and perhaps join one of our league teams.
• Beginners and novice adult players welcome. We don’t run formal classes but we can help players with their learning and development.
• League teams will be going into action within the next few weeks so make your interest known either in the club or through rathmineschessclub@gmail.com.

Reminder: Club AGM On Thursday

As previously announced the club agm will take place on Thursday next, 29th Aug at 8pm. All members are invited and we are hoping for a large attendance. It is important to get the views of members on matters of importance to the club.

To keep the club running smoothly takes quite a bit of effort in the areas of opening/closing, finances, team organisation, team captaining, competition organisation etc. There is always scope for extra volunteers to contribute to this work. In particular, this year with the retirement of John Maher, who performed a number of the functions mentioned, we will need wider participation in the administration of the club.

Perhaps you can help?

In any event, the agm is a good opportunity for us all to take stock and consider how best to keep the club in the forefront of chess in Dublin in the future.

I hope to see you there

 

Tony Bermingham

Club AGM Thursday August 29th

The Annual General Meeting of Rathmines Chess Club will be held in the Club Rooms on Thursday 31st August at 8pm.

All members are invited to attend and participate. We’re hoping for a good attendance means we can have the views of members on all matters related to the club and its future.

Any member wishing to propose motion, nominations or items for discussion should forward them to the Hon Sec, Michael Kennedy at mjdkennedy@hotmail.com by Thursday 29th August.

Tony Bermingham

President

Mid Summer Celebration Blitz

With the league season over we can look back on the club’s key achievements. Ennis A, Ennis B, BEA A and BEA C all had good seasons and finished midtable. BEA B had a great year and were just pipped for promotion in a play-off. Unlucky there.

The real drama came in the last round of the Heidenfeld. With our weakened Armstrong team facing a likely relegation, it fell on the Heidenfeld team to achieve promotion and keep Rathmines in the Armstrong. Going into the last round we were battling to overtake our rivals and pick off the second promotion spot.

It all boiled down to the last key boards in the matches of all the teams in contention. On our side Abul and Jack were the final boards to finish and both pulled off difficult wins. Still, we need other matches to go our way and thankfully they did.

The final count was a tie between four teams for second which we won on a tie-breaker.

We will be holding a celebration blitz on next Thursday 27th at 8pm. We’ll have tea, biscuits etc in the club and those with a taste for such things can adjourn to the pub afterwards.

Some of the Heidenfeld team after the final round. Tony Scannell and Michael Kennedy were gone at that stage.